Internal and External Communication

Internal Communications
The Communications team reads and updates staff on trade and general information, continually updates the central subjects and attractions files and supports the other departments within the VCB on a myriad of projects, including the Visitor Assistance Program, National Tourism Week Program and the Bureau’s Crisis Program.

External Communications
The Communications staff produces monthly status reports and conducts presentations for the Tourist Development Council. The department assists Bureau consultants and the international offices by providing research, reports and coordination of visiting journalists.

They work in partnership with the local tourism industry in hosting journalists, responding to industry requests, supporting industry events, providing strategy and training, recruiting of conferences and conference bid support, and forge alliances for better support of Bureau initiatives. The staff works closely with the state tourism office and acts as consultants to Visit Florida. Also, we serve on the boards of directors for the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).

The Communications team disseminates information to the tourism industry and the community by publishing a bi-monthly e-newsletter, a VCB E-mail News Network, posting images to the Lee VCB Web site and producing a monthly television news segment – Inside Travel & Tourism for WINK-TV (CBS affiliate). They coordinate a monthly TDC recap report to the industry.

The Communications staff coordinates the Bureau’s year-round Tourism Careers Awareness Program (TCAP) in partnership with the local tourism industry. This year the focus will be to assist the Resort & Hospitality Management Program at Florida Gulf Coast University through internships and a speaker’s bureau.

Revised 3/07