Florida Attractions Association upcoming events

FASF Holiday Silent Auction (November 17, 2026)

Tue, 17 Nov 2026 05:00:00 GMT

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

FAA Networking Dinner (November 18, 2026)

Wed, 18 Nov 2026 23:30:00 GMT

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.

Details & Registration

Peer Pod | Partnerships & Sponsorships – Turning Relationships into Results (December 03, 2026)

Thu, 03 Dec 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Corporate sponsors and other business partners can be an important source of revenue for attractions—but turning opportunities into results takes a clear value proposition, creative ideas and a plan for measuring success.

Join fellow attractions professionals for an interactive Peer Pod focused on growing sponsorship and related revenue. We’ll explore how attractions identify prospects, structure attractive packages, establish pricing and create opportunities that deliver value for both sides.

From expanding existing agreements and developing new sources of support to delivering memorable on-site activations, participants will share what’s working, what’s not and what they’ve learned along the way. We’ll also discuss how to measure outcomes, demonstrate return on investment and use those results to strengthen future agreements.

Facilitators: Cameron O’Connell, Senior Director, Sales & Partnerships, ZooTampa at Lowry Park, and Anthony Rivera, Chief Operating Officer, Brevard Zoo.

Come prepared to exchange ideas, compare approaches and discover practical ways to turn strong relationships into measurable revenue results!

Peer Pod | Government Relations – Making Your Attraction's Voice Heard (January 14, 2027)

Thu, 14 Jan 2027 19:00:00 GMT

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!

Peer Pod | Arrivals & Departures – Making First and Last Impressions Count (January 27, 2027)

Wed, 27 Jan 2027 21:00:00 GMT

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!

Peer Pod | Artificial Intelligence – Enhancing Operations, Empowering People (February 08, 2027)

Mon, 08 Feb 2027 20:00:00 GMT

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.

Florida Attractions 2027 Annual Conference (June 07, 2027)

Mon, 07 Jun 2027 04:00:00 GMT