VISIT FLORIDA announced the recipients of the 2020 Florida Tourism Hall of Fame and Flagler Awards on Monday, November 23, 2020.
Each year, leaders in Florida tourism are chosen by selection committees to receive these prestigious awards.
Since 2001, individuals have been chosen annually to be inducted into the Florida Tourism Hall of Fame. This honor, presented by the VISIT FLORIDA Board of Directors, recognizes contemporary and historic figures whose vision, creativity and drive have had a positive and significant impact on the development of Florida as a desirable visitor destination.
The 2020 Florida Tourism Hall of Fame inductee is Ed Fouché, a former Disney senior sales executive and two-time Chairman of the VISIT FLORIDA Board of Directors. Fouché has long been a champion of Florida’s tourism industry, leading global efforts for the Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, Disney Cruise Line, and Adventures by Disney for nearly 25 years before retiring. During an unprecedented two terms as VISIT FLORIDA Board Chairman, Fouché worked tirelessly to reposition tourism marketing as a legislative priority, and helped lead Florida’s tourism economy to recovery following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Ed’s experience, expertise, and dedication have been essential to the success of Florida’s tourism industry, and the impact of his work continues to enrich the Sunshine State vacation experience today.
Named for Henry Flagler, the Flagler Awards were established in 2000 to recognize outstanding tourism marketing in Florida. Annually, the Flagler Awards honor many of the countless individuals and organizations that help maintain and improve Florida’s position as one of the world’s most popular travel destinations. The awards are open to all individuals, private businesses and not-for-profit organizations offering a product or service that promotes tourism to or within the state of Florida.
As in previous years, the 2020 Flagler Awards drew entries from Florida’s tourism partners, large and small. Working independently, eleven judges evaluated the creativity, innovation, production quality and effectiveness of each entry. Based on the judges’ cumulative scores, awards were presented to the top three entries in each category: the Bronze Award for the third highest scoring entry, the Silver Award for the second highest scoring entry, and for the highest scoring entry in each category, the Henry Award. The 2020 Flagler Award winners in 18 categories, plus Best in Show at three budget levels, are listed below.
Creativity in Public Relations
Silver: Amelia Island Convention & Visitors Bureau for NYC Media Event
Henry: Florida Keys & Key West for Connect and Protect The Florida Keys & Key West
Silver: Franklin County Tourist Development Council for The Villages “Open for the Business of Peace & Quiet” Invitation
Henry: Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Beach Resort & Spa for Sand Canvas
Silver: Visit Tampa Bay for Baycrafted Niche Marketing Campaign
Henry: Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach Visitor & Convention Bureau for the Outsiders Welcome Video Series
Silver: Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium for Come SEA for Yourself
Silver: Visit Central Florida for Florida’s Sweet Spot
Henry: Destin-Fort Walton Beach for the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Rebrand
Silver: Florida Keys & Key West for Florida Keys & Key West Travel App
Henry: Amelia Island Convention & Visitors Bureau for Moments Campaign – Mobile
Silver: Visit Sarasota County for Sarasota’s Newtown Lands on U.S. Civil Rights Trail
Henry: Visit Panama City Beach for Chasin’ The Sun
Silver: Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention and Visitors Bureau for Atlanta Outdoor Takeover Blankets Buckhead
Henry: Florida Keys & Key West for 2019 UK Taxi Program
Silver: Destin-Fort Walton Beach for Destin-Fort Walton Beach Rebrand Print Campaign
Henry: The Florida Keys & Key West for 2019 Fishing Print Campaign
Silver: Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention and Visitors Bureau for Pandora Radio Summer Sensation
Henry: St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches Visitors & Convention Bureau for St. Augustine/Ponte Vedra Travel INTRAnationally Radio
Bronze: Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach Visitor & Convention Bureau for Outsiders Guide
Silver: Amelia Island Convention & Visitors Bureau for Amelia Island Augmented Reality Experience Map
The Henry: Visit Gainesville, Alachua County for Newsletter
Silver: Experience Florida’s Sports Coast for Florida’s Sports Coast Marketing Guides
The Henry: Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention and Visitors Bureau for Meet Well Campaign
Silver: Visit Sarasota County for Farm Guide of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties
The Henry: Play Hard Florida for Florida’s Forgotten Coast Promo Video – A Pro Bono Hurricane Relief Effort
Silver: Visit St. Pete/Clearwater for the Visit St. Pete/Clearwater Video Social Series
The Henry: Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention and Visitors Bureau for Sharing a Millennial Story Using Instagram
Silver: Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority for the Pineapple Grove Art & Music Fest 2019
Henry: City of West Palm Beach for Holiday in Paradise
Silver: Gulf County Tourist Development Council for Design By Nature Environmental Advocacy
The Henry: Visit Panama City Beach for STAY IT FORWARD
Silver: St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches Visitors & Convention Bureau for “St. Augustine | Ponte Vedra Travel INTRAnationally” Television
The Henry: Florida Keys & Key West for 2019 Direct Flight TV Campaign
Silver: Ocala/Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau for Local Engagement Content Shoot
Silver: Experience Florida’s Sports Coast for Introducing Florida’s Sports Coast
The Henry: Visit Panama City Beach for “Make it Your Real Fun Beach” Panama City Beach Website
Annual marketing budget between $500,000 †$2 million: Discover Crystal River Florida for Swimming with Manatees Campaign Landing Page
Annual marketing budget greater than $2 million: Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention and Visitors Bureau for Meet Well Campaign
