Embracing Diversity as a Tourism Strategy With Stacy Ritter, President and CEO of Visit Lauderdale

Stacy Ritter is the President and CEO of Visit Lauderdale, where her primary responsibility is to attract visitors and promote tourism to the Fort Lauderdale area. Over the years, Stacy has held various positions, such as Florida State Representative, Broward County Commissioner, and Broward County Mayor. With her expertise in budgeting, government, strategic planning, community outreach, and public speaking, Stacy is a highly skilled business development professional with a JD from Nova Southeastern University. In addition to her professional achievements, she's also a devoted mother to two children and three rescue dogs.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

If your state is moving in a political direction that runs counter to your region’s core values, can publicizing your willingness to go against the messaging that comes from state government actually be a benefit when it comes to attracting visitors?

Stacy Ritter is responsible for promoting Fort Lauderdale, Florida, as a tourist destination and believes that promoting diversity has been her most effective marketing strategy. The idea is to present Fort Lauderdale as the "Real Florida" and to counter any misconceptions perpetuated by recent political headwinds. According to Stacy, the diverse demographics of Broward County, an area that caters to a wide range of people, make it an international destination. The focus on diversity aligns with her organization’s values and fits with its "Everyone Under the Sun" tagline.

On this episode of From Persona to Personal, Roger Hurni sits down with Stacy Ritter, President and CEO of Visit Lauderdale, to discuss the most effective marketing strategy for attracting tourists to the Florida region between Palm Beach and Miami. Stacy talks about how recent political headwinds in Florida may affect the state's attitude toward diversity, potentially contrasting with Visit Lauderdale's emphasis on diversity as its primary means of attracting new visitors to Fort Lauderdale.