Florida Addresses Its Business Travel Slump by Adding Leisure to the Mix
Photo Credit: Visit Florida has made bleisure travel growth a priority in its 2018-2019 marketing plan. Pictured are travelers in Clearwater, Florida. Visit St. Pete/Clearwater
Skift Take
Florida probably has a better chance than most states to convince business travelers to turn into tourists for a couple days, but it will also take more employers to give the thumbs up to this trend.
Florida doesn't have a problem getting leisure travelers to visit its beaches and theme parks but business travel has been a mixed bag for the state's tourism industry in recent years.
Visit Florida, the state's tourism board, plans to capitalize on the state's world-famous attractions – and a growing bleisure travel trend – to convince business travelers to choose Florida and stick around for a few days before or after their trips.
Business travelers often have more disposable income than some leisure travelers but are more time restricted with vacations, but Florida already has a strong brand for meetings and conventions.
Data from D.K. Shifflet and Associates, a travel research company, show Florida had the second highest number of domestic overnight stays that were specifically for a business conv
