A long lineup of notables, including the Tampa and Key West Mayors, heads of major Florida destinations and LGBTQ+ thought leaders are set to take center stage at the Florida OuCoast Convention (FLOCC) hosted by OutCoast
Next month, the Hilton Tampa Downtown will host a remarkable gathering of statewide and international tourism leaders for the Florida OutCoast Convention (FLOCC), a groundbreaking conference that aims to unite the thriving LGBTQ+ inclusive destinations, hotels, businesses, nonprofits, pride organizations, and travel influencers of the sunshine state. FLOCC comes at a crucial time in the state’s history, as political debates over LGBTQ+ rights and travel advisories have infused the national conversation in recent months. This three-day event will be held August 1-3, 2023 and opens with an evening reception on July 31st at Yeoman’s Topgolf Swing Suite.
FLOCC is being hosted by OutCoast.com, an online state-focused LGBTQ editorial and video travel blog that highlights Florida’s inclusive destinations and businesses.
“For the first time, we have a dedicated conference for Florida’s tourism and LGBTQ leaders to unite, evolve and flourish as one community,” said Rachel Covello, Publisher of OutCoast. “The conference format is designed to provide stakeholders a comfortable space to ‘FLOCC together’ to create, deliver and sustain ideas and solutions to strengthen the Florida tourism industry.”
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, the first woman and openly gay person to serve as Tampa Police Chief, kicks off the conference, followed by sessions on navigating tourism advisories, understanding the impact of diversity in tourism, recruiting hospitality employees with inclusion in mind, working with LGBTQ+ influencers, marketing to LGBTQ+ travelers, and much more.
Day one panelists and speakers include Visit Lauderdale CEO Stacy Ritter, Key West Mayor Teri Johnston, and Visit Tampa Bay CEO Santiago Corrada, along with representatives from the American Hospitality & Lodging Association (AHLA) Foundation, the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA), the LGBT Meeting Professionals Association (LGBT MPA), to name a few.
On the second day, LGBTQ+ market segment leaders for Visit Lauderdale, Greater Miami CVB, Key West & the Florida Keys, and Paradise Coast weigh in on the impact of their roles at the destination marketing level. Later breakouts look at trends in LGBTQ+ travel planning, strategies for developing an inclusive brand story, and discussions around LGBTQ+ bars, venues, entertainment, and events as they relate to Florida tourism.
FLOCC has spared no effort in drawing top notch entertainment throughout the event, whether it’s Sarah Potenza and Jay Miah, from America’s Got Talent and Alter Ego, keynote speaker Kevin Finke, the guru behind BELONGING JOURNEY™ and workplace inclusivity, LGBTQ comedian Jeff Klein, or local pianist Nathan Daugherty.
The conference will also feature FLAMBOYANCE, an afternoon award and cocktail reception recognizing LGBTQ+ tourism and leadership accomplishments throughout Florida. Registration and sponsorship offerings can be found at flocc.lgbt/.
Florida is historically known as one of the world’s premier LGBTQ travel destinations, beckoning with year-round warmth, top-notch dining and clubs, inclusive events and festivals, and friendly accommodations. According to market research, approximately 4 million LGBTQ tourists visit Florida each year, representing more than $3 billion in annual revenue2. According to Reports and Insights1, the total value of the global LGBT tourism market is slated to reach US$ 568.5 Bn by 2030.
“As the weather heats up, so is our destination as we look forward to continuing to welcome all travelers in search of adventure in the heart of Florida’s Gulf Coast,” says Santiago C. Corrada, President and CEO of Visit Tampa Bay. “We are excited to host the first ever FLOCC conference and highlight some of our world-class partners and attractions.”
The Hilton Tampa Downtown, FLOCC host hotel, is an ideal setting for the convention, having long been inclusive and supportive of LGBTQ+ travelers (and employees). While the FLOCC room block rate is no longer available, rooms are still available at competitive rates.