TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Craig Mateer to the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.   Craig Mateer Mateer, of Orlando, is the founder of CCM Capital Group and was the founder and owner of Bags, Inc., which he sold to a publicly-held company in 2018. He was named the 2014 “CEO […]

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. —  Today, Governor Ron DeSantis provided an update on the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD) and highlighted some of the troubling findings of the first comprehensive, independent audit of the former Reedy Creek Improvement District in its 55-year history. Additionally, Governor DeSantis extolled the improvements made by the CFTOD for residents, taxpayers, and […]

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Charbel Barakat to the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.   Charbel Barakat Barakat, of Tampa, is the Regional General Counsel for D.R. Horton, Inc. He currently serves as a Commissioner for the Second District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission and serves on the […]

Florida’s unemployment rate remains at a near record low 2.6 percent for the 4th consecutive month. Florida also saw the largest volume of visitors ever recorded in a single quarter between January and March of this year.   TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that Florida has the lowest unemployment rate among the top […]

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced continued record visitation to Florida in the third quarter of 2022. VISIT FLORIDA estimates that Florida welcomed 35.1 million visitors between July and September 2022, marking a 6.9 percent increase from Q3 2021, and the fifth consecutive quarter of overall visitation surpassing pre-pandemic levels. According to VISIT FLORIDA, […]

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that Florida welcomed 36 million total visitors between January and March 2022 according to VISIT FLORIDA estimates. This is a 14 percent increase from Q4 2021, and the third consecutive quarter that overall visitation has surpassed pre-pandemic levels. Approximately 34.1 million domestic visitors traveled to Florida in […]

FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. – Governor Ron DeSantis announced that Florida welcomed 30.9 million visitors between October and December 2021, marking the second consecutive quarter that overall visitation has surpassed 2019, pre-pandemic levels. Overall in 2021, Florida had nearly 118 million domestic visitors, the highest level in state history, as residents of other states flocked […]

FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that Florida welcomed 30.9 million visitors between October and December 2021, marking the second consecutive quarter that overall visitation has surpassed 2019, pre-pandemic levels. Overall in 2021, Florida had nearly 118 million domestic visitors, the highest level in state history, as residents of other states […]

Tallahassee, Fla. — Florida economic development and tourism leaders from across Florida are applauding Governor Ron DeSantis’ support of VISIT FLORIDA’s new in-state marketing campaign to help Florida’s tourism industry and economy recover from COVID-19. “We appreciate Governor DeSantis’ measured approach throughout the COVID-19 epidemic and his focus on getting our economy going strong again. […]