The Attractions Insider Newsletter

Volume 2, Issue 2 | 2nd Quarter 2025

In this Issue:

2025 Annual Conference | June 8-11 • VISIT FLORIDA Webinar May 1 • Industry News & Resources • Florida Attractions Scholarship Foundation Update • Member Spotlights • 5 Questions w/ Board Member Jared Reid of Wild Florida

CHAIRMAN'S CORNER: A Message from Dan Donovan

The FAA provides top-notch educational sessions for Florida's attractions, and this year's Annual Conference promises to be exceptional. With a lineup of General Sessions, Breakout Sessions, and Roundtables, we will cover relevant topics and present actionable ideas for every Florida attraction. I am particularly thrilled to lead a session on Monday afternoon alongside my colleagues from Universal Destinations and Experiences. Our company has developed a systematic approach to innovation, and we are excited to share "Innovation by Design" with you.

Given the variety of topics and sessions offered concurrently, we encourage you to bring multiple team members to the conference. Upon reviewing the program of events, you will find that there is an abundance of educational content that one leader from your attraction may find overwhelming.

I recently had the pleasure of presenting last month's Clifton Strengths webinar to our FAA Members. Universal Orlando Resort places a strong emphasis on identifying our Team Members' strengths and aligning them with roles that support their professional growth and our business needs. Stay tuned for another Clifton Strengths webinar this fall.

In terms of upcoming webinars, we have a VISIT FLORIDA webinar scheduled for Thursday, May 1, focusing on their research. Jacob Pewitt Yancey, VISIT FLORIDA's Director of Consumer Insights and Analytics, will delve into tourism trends, statistics, and projections during these uncertain times. Registration details can be found in this e-Newsletter or on FloridaAttractions.org.

Lastly, a round of applause to those who have participated in the Mystery Connect program. Each month, dozens of our FAA members are randomly paired for a half-hour video call to network, share insights, and learn from one another. The feedback on Mystery Connect has been outstanding, and I am eager to hear about the connections that have been forged. If you have not yet joined, click here for more information.

The early-bird registration for our Annual Conference will be ending next Tuesday, April 15th. Take advantage of this opportunity to register at a discounted rate. I am excited to see you in Ponte Vedra Beach on June 8!

Sincerely,

Dan Donovan

Chair, Florida Attractions Association

Sr. Director, Marketing & Sales Talent Orchestration

Universal Destinations & Experiences

FAA Event Updates

Don't Miss this Professional Development Opportunity (or the Savings) --- Early Bird Ends in 4 Days!

We have 40+ industry experts that will be presenting over 6 General Sessions, 15 Breakouts and 12 Industry Roundtables. This conference is 100% attractions-focused and is your chance to gain valuable insight into the latest trends, marketing strategies, operations tactics, and much more. Times are changing, don't get left behind!

May 1 | VISIT FLORIDA Webinar - New Data to Support Florida's Attractions

Join us for a data deep dive with VISIT FLORIDA's Director of Consumer Insights & Analytics, Jacob Pewitt Yancey. We'll be sharing a high level overview of how Florida's attractions have been performing and what factors have been affecting the industry.

RSVP Here

Member Spotlights

Attraction Spotlight

Big Kahuna's Water and Adventure Park

Destin, FL

One of the largest water parks along the beautiful Emerald Coast of Florida, Big Kahuna’s Water Park encompasses thrilling water slides, wave pools, as well as a lazy river, and several kid-friendly play zones.

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Associate Spotlight

Rex Lumber Company

Acton, MA

The company offers wholesale lumber delivery and has an entire fleet of trucks capable of delivering all up and down the east coast of the United States including Florida.

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Industry News & Resources

PGAV Destinations Publishes Voice of the Visitor 2025

PGAV's Voice of the Visitor 2025 is celebrating a significant milestone - its 10th edition! Throughout the past decade, the travel and attractions industry has undergone remarkable transformations, yet the core motivations driving travel have remained constant.

Download

VISIT FLORIDA Unveils Impactful Infographics at Florida Tourism Day

During Florida Tourism Day, VISIT FLORIDA unveiled a series of powerful infographics that illustrate the collaborative efforts between VISIT FLORIDA and Florida's tourism industry to generate positive impacts throughout the state.

View Here

Hospitality Jobs: Dispelling the Myth of Low Wages

In a groundbreaking study conducted by Career Source Central Florida, a comprehensive analysis of hospitality careers in the state challenges the prevailing belief that hospitality jobs are low-wage positions and instead highlights the potential for real career growth and financial success within the industry.

Active Shooter Preparedness Webinar May 8 - DHS/Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) invites you to join a two-hour security webinar to enhance your organization’s resilience in case of an active shooter incident.

Webinar Details

Your Florida Attractions Scholarship Foundation Update

Your Foundation – Our Foundation for the Future

The Florida Attractions Scholarship Foundation, is currently in the midst of our contribution season and evaluating applications in preparation to support the future leaders of our industry and the professional development program for our FAA members.

We would like to extend our gratitude to our FAA Member businesses who voluntarily contributed an additional $150 to their annual dues invoice. This contribution serves as our primary source of revenue for the Foundation, along with funds received to award scholarships as memorials and honorariums.

Throughout the month of February, we accepted scholarship applications from employees of our member businesses and their dependents. We are currently in the process of evaluating these applications and will announce this year's recipients in early May, inviting them to attend our Annual Conference in June.

Furthermore, we are reviewing grant applications received in February and will announce the recipients of our grants during the Annual Conference.

None of these initiatives would be possible without your support. On behalf of the Florida Attractions Scholarship Foundation Board and our Industry Leadership Council, we extend our sincerest thanks for supporting your Foundation.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Berthiaume

Chairman, Florida Attraction Scholarship Foundation

Vice President, Lion Country Safari

FAA Board Member Focus: 5 Questions

Jared Reid, General Manager, Wild Florida

1. How long have you been in the attractions industry?

I have worked in the attractions industry for around 15 years.

2. What is your favorite job you’ve had in the industry and why?

Believe it or not my favorite job in the industry was when I worked in the custodial department at Disney World. I loved the freedom to walk my assigned area throughout my shift and talk to guests all day. It was so fun to watch people enjoy their vacation and to see how happy they were to be at Disney!