Did You Know? Things Visit Jacksonville Does...

Resources for Accessible TravelersWe thought it was time we took the effort to share more. Starting this week, we will be telling you more about the things Visit Jacksonville does and sharing ways you can take advantage of opportunities or learn more. You will see these things posted weekly on our LinkedIn page, shared biweekly in this newsletter, and loaded to this website as an ongoing resource.

1. We send a biweekly email called Only In Jax Facts. It includes all the things you need to know about what’s going on in Jacksonville, opportunities to work with Visit Jacksonville and more. Obviously, those of you reading this in the email already know this, but does the rest of your team get our email? Have you fully explored all that you can find inside this email? Watch this video for a quick overview of all you can find in our bi-weekly email. Share this sign-up link with others and help us grow this email list.

2. Let us show you the numbers! Visit Jacksonville subscribes, gathers and commissions research constantly. We regularly update our Research and Development page for you to pull information whenever you need it. We also have a dedicated staff member, Laurie Degon, who is here to assist you when you need data. So next time you’re curious about visitor or hotel stats, development info, or other research, check out that page first!

3. Visit Jacksonville’s sales team is out on the road monthly looking for new group business to bring to Jacksonville. Did you know you or your sales team can join us? Reach out to Maryana Karpeeva to learn more.

4. You may know about our main Visitor Center at our corporate offices on Laura Street Downtown, but did you know there are others? The circular desk at the bottom of the escalator at Jacksonville International Airport and Seymour Jax, our mobile visitor center, offer opportunities for visitor interaction. These locations are staffed by fully trained Visit Jacksonville team members. Send visitors our way and we will help them plan their trip. You are welcome to swing by to pick up brochures or learn from our team, as well!

5. We develop and manage community-wide initiatives, like Kids Free November. Certain times of year can be a little slower here in Jax for certain businesses and nine years ago we set out to help attractions in November. In partnership with many local attractions, we started Kids Free November and were successful from the start. Let Lauren Hickox know if you are interested in being a part of Kids Free November in the future.

6. Visit Jacksonville works with a vendor, Threshold 360, to provide complimentary 360-degree videos of your business. We have already created over 1,000 videos for local businesses. The video is uploaded automatically to your Google listing and the Visit Jacksonville website and is available for you to use on your website or for other marketing purposes. Let Laurie Degon know if you would like to arrange to have a video captured of your business. If you had a video captured previously but need a new one due to renovations or other changes, just let us know.

7. Visit Jacksonville hosts writers and influencers/content creators to help tell the story of Jacksonville to the world. This fall has been very busy as we've hosted 11 trips so far. Some notable names include Cory Lee, Josh Denzel, Tykesha Burton and Sally Cohen. If you would like to host an upcoming influencer or writer at your hotel or business, please contact Andrea Mestdagh.

8. Need the latest airport info? Do you have clients asking about flights into Jax? Visit Jacksonville works directly with the Jacksonville Airport Authority to update our airlift information monthly.

9. We host community meetings several times a year. Visit Jacksonville hosts educational meetings for tourism businesses, sharing the latest things happening and great business opportunities. Be on the lookout for meeting announcements.

10. Are you looking to book more group business in 2024? Come on the road with Visit Jacksonville, we offer plenty of opportunities for you or your sales team to join us in our tradeshow booth or at an event in 2024.

11. Did you know the round information desk at the bottom of the escalator near baggage claim at Jacksonville International Airport is a regional visitor center staffed by Visit Jacksonville? Send your visitors our way, or stop by yourself and say hi!

12. Wondering what’s on the horizon for developments around Jacksonville? Quarterly, we update a presentation with all the latest and greatest information.

13. We provide toolkits to businesses and event organizers in the community. For a refresher on all the benefits available to you, check out our toolkits. For the business toolkit, click here. For the events toolkit, click here.

14. Visit Jacksonville delivers seasonal event rack cards and other brochures to our hotels three times a year to share with their guests!

15. Visit Jacksonville has been busy attracting championship sporting events to Jacksonville. Sydney Lindblad leads the efforts to book new sporting events here, like the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Track and Field National Championships.

16. Each week, Visit Jacksonville prepares and shares a weekly recap of hotel statistics. When monthly recaps arrive, we share those with a synopsis on overall trends. Would you like to be added to the weekly distribution list for this? Contact Laurie Degon to learn more.

17. In 2023, Visit Jacksonville started a Tourism Ambassador Program to educate more of our industry and community on Jacksonville tourism and all there is to do in our destination.

18. Visit Jacksonville lobbies local, regional and state legislators for tourism benefits. We work on this year-round to ensure tourism is protected.

19. Visit Jacksonville manages and hosts a very expansive event calendar on the website. We work hard to share as many events as possible that we know visitors (and locals) would enjoy! If your business has an event coming up that you would like featured, review the guidelines and submit your event for consideration.

20. Visit Jacksonville is always looking for opportunities to spread the word about tourism and its impact on our community. Michael Corrigan, President and CEO, along with several other team members, regularly give presentations to community groups. Fill out this form to request a speaker for your upcoming Jacksonville event.

21. Visit Jacksonville promotes events by partnering with organizers to host “Enter to Win” contests on social media.

22. Our Destination Experience team works with meeting professionals who request assistance when planning their Jacksonville meeting. They provide expertise on transportation, planning, venues and referrals to community businesses that fit each individual meeting, large or small.

23. Maps are one of the most highly requested items by our visitors. Visit Jacksonville keeps updated printed and digital maps available for visitors and shares them at all of our visitor centers.

24. The Visit Jax app is something you MUST HAVE on your phone! It provides great information right at your fingertips. Find an event calendar, things to do, restaurants, self-guided tours and more. Plus, it's all location-based so you can find what’s near you and map your trip. Download it now in the App or Play Store.

25. Another awesome app feature is the Deals section which provides discounts to over 60 local attractions, restaurants and other tourism-related businesses. Find it under “Deals” in the app menu and enjoy some discounts today.

26. Visit Jacksonville offers a perk to all Duval County front-line employees. We consider a front-line employee as a team member who interacts regularly with visitors. Front Line Industry Perks, aka FLIP, offers free entry or major discounts to some of Jacksonville's top attractions. Learn how to get involved today!

27. Visit Jacksonville helps raise awareness for small businesses. We recently launched the Jax Coffee & Donuts Trail featuring 50+ local coffee and donut shops in Duval County. It creates a fun experience for visitors while also raising awareness for local small businesses.

28. Visit Jacksonville works with local colleges to familiarize new students and their parents with Jacksonville. This year, we are working closely with the University of North Florida and Jacksonville University during their new student orientations to share information on things to do throughout the city.

29. Our Downtown Visitor Center is open during every Downtown First Wednesday Art Walk. We welcome attendees with fun activities and also give local makers, events, and breweries the chance to set up and sell their products. Contact Paige Shrewsbury to learn more.

30. Visit Jacksonville was Florida's first destination management organization to earn the Certified Autism Center™ (CAC) designation. This designation, granted by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES), recognizes organizations that have undergone staff training to understand better and meet the needs of autistic visitors and their families. Each staff member at Visit Jacksonville is trained. Visit Jacksonville is offering a co-op program to help offset costs for your staff to become trained. Learn more here.

31. Hosting a group and wanting to purchase a special VIP gift that is locally sourced? Shopping for a souvenir unique to Jacksonville? The #OnlyinJax Marketplace will introduce you to some amazing local makers that you can purchase local gifts from.

32. Throughout the year, Visit Jacksonville hosts a series of events designed to unite the hospitality community, share insights into emerging trends and honor the exceptional efforts shaping our city.

33. Discover Jacksonville through our local Insiders – a group of local content creators offering unique perspectives on the city's hidden gems, must-see attractions and unforgettable experiences. Follow them across various social media platforms to uncover their insights.

34. We develop new content that inspires. We are very excited about our “Love Letter from Jacksonville” video created by Carl Rosen.

35. Curious about new hotel development across the area? Notice some new construction? Visit Jacksonville updates our Hotel Pipeline Report quarterly with the latest information on local hotel development.

36. Our website, visitjacksonville.com, includes a venue search feature so you can find the best venue for your needs at any time. Find it here!

37. We partner with local medical facilities to connect with patients and their families to assist in any way we can.

38. You know the sales team is on the road often, but did you know our PR team also travels to media and influencer tradeshows and events throughout the year?

39. We provide souvenirs, stickers, buttons and postcards for visitors. Each of our Visitor Centers offers many fun items for visitors to take home and remember their trip fondly.

40. Visit Jacksonville is active on all major social media platforms, where we share exciting and informative content. Follow us today to discover all the amazing things to do in this fantastic destination.

41. The Visit Jacksonville team is comprised of seasoned industry experts who actively share their knowledge and expertise. They lead sessions, serve on panels at conferences, speak on industry webinars and present around the community. Interested in having someone speak at your event in Jacksonville? Complete this online form.

42. Visit Jacksonville partners with locals on the Bring it Home, Jax! campaign to bring the meetings and conferences they attend nationally to Jacksonville.

43. Visit Jacksonville has an accessibility feature on our website. The program, Recite Me, has multiple features including over 100 language translations. Other features include a ruler, dictionary, font size changer, audio, color themes for colorblindness and more. To access the toolbar, click on the accessibility icon on the right-hand side of the screen.