Peer Pods bring together small groups of attraction professionals in similar roles for candid virtual conversations focused on real-world challenges. These interactive “roundtables” create space to share experiences, learn from peers, and gain practical insights that strengthen both individual leadership and our industry.

Fresh Ideas in Food & Beverage Peer Pod

This Peer Pod will explore emerging food and beverage trends, creative menu ideas, and practical strategies for improving the guest experience while increasing revenue. Participants will share successful concepts, operational challenges, lessons learned, and ideas related to menu development, guest service, pricing, presentation, local flavors, dietary preferences, and memorable dining experiences across attractions of all sizes.

The discussion will be facilitated by Sam Burr, Regional Manager, SSA Group and  Lee Capitano Director of Business Operations, St Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum.  They will guide the conversation, share lessons from their own revenue-optimization strategies, and encourage participants to exchange ideas, challenges, and proven practices.

Don't miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and grow alongside your fellow leaders.

Important Participation Expectations

To ensure a meaningful and engaging experience, participation is limited. Peer Pods are designed for active discussion—not passive attendance.

Participants should:

• Join with cameras on
• Be prepared to share challenges and experiences
• Contribute ideas, solutions, and perspectives
• Engage openly with fellow leaders

By registering, you are committing to be fully present and actively participate in the conversation. Facilitators may also assign brief pre-session preparation to help support a productive discussion and maximize the value of the session for all attendees.

The Florida Attractions Scholarship Foundation (FASF) invites you to contribute an item or experience to our annual Holiday Silent Auction. Your generous donation helps raise funds to provide educational scholarships and professional development opportunities for individuals within Florida's attractions industry.

Click for Details & Donate

The Florida Attractions Association Board of Directors invites our attraction and associate members to a special Florida Attractions Networking Dinner during the week of the 2026 IAAPA Expo. It's a great opportunity to catch up with old friends, make new connections, share ideas and enjoy good food and conversation with fellow attractions professionals. No presentations, no formal agenda—just a relaxed evening with great people who share your passion for Florida's attractions industry.

Your attraction is more than a place to visit. It's an economic engine, an employer, a taxpayer and an important contributor to your community's quality of life. But do the people making public policy understand its value?

With Florida's Legislature conducting Interim Committee Weeks and the 2027 Legislative Session fast approaching, now is the time for attraction leaders to build relationships with elected officials and make their voices heard.

Join fellow attractions professionals for an interactive Peer Pod exploring the important role industry leaders play in government relations and advocacy. Participants will share experiences, challenges and best practices for educating policymakers, building meaningful relationships and communicating the economic and community impact of their attractions.

Whether you're already actively engaged in government relations or wondering where to begin, this conversation will offer practical ideas for becoming a more effective advocate for your attraction and Florida's attractions industry.

Facilitators: Chrissy Schwartzman, Sawgrass Recreation Park, and Andrew Morawski, The Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum.

Good public policy begins with informed policymakers. Make sure your attraction's story is part of the conversation!

First impressions set the tone for a guest's visit, and last impressions can determine whether they'll return!

Join fellow attractions professionals for an interactive Peer Pod focused on creating smooth, welcoming and memorable arrival and departure experiences. Designed for those responsible for managing the first and last moments of a guest's visit, this discussion will explore common challenges, innovative solutions and best practices for reducing friction and enhancing guest satisfaction.

From parking, ticketing and entry procedures to crowd flow, exiting and those all-important final interactions, participants will share what's working, what's not and what they've learned along the way.

Facilitators: Nick Romeo, Guest Services, and Lee Capitano, St. Augustine Lighthouse.

Come prepared to exchange ideas, learn from your peers and discover practical ways to make every guest's visit exceptional—from hello to goodbye!

Artificial Intelligence is changing how hospitality and attractions organizations operate, creating new opportunities to improve decision-making, enhance guest experiences, support employees, reduce errors and streamline work. But where can AI truly make a difference, and where does the human touch remain essential?

Join fellow hospitality and attractions professionals for a candid, practical conversation about moving AI beyond the hype and into real-world application. Explore how AI can augment employees, improve operational consistency, reduce repetitive work, minimize human error and help organizations make better, faster-informed decisions.

Participants will share real-world experiences, successes, challenges and lessons learned in applying AI to attraction operations, marketing, guest services and administration. We'll also explore the potential costs, risks and unintended consequences of adopting new technologies, including their impact on the personal connections that make our industry special.

Whether you're already using AI or just beginning to explore its possibilities, come ready to exchange ideas, learn from peers and identify where AI can create meaningful value for your employees, guests and organization.

Facilitators: Rick Beddow, Universal Destinations & Experiences, and Chad Light, Ponce de Leon's Fountain of Your Archaeological Park

The goal isn't to use more technology. It's to use the right technology, in the right places, for the right reasons.