Press Releases | Visit Pensacola

June 24, 2021

Visit Pensacola Grant Program Paused, Will Resume Oct. 1, 2021

Media Contact: Nicole Stacey Visit Pensacola (850) 434-2142 nstacey@visitpensacola.com Pensacola, Fla. (Wednesday, June 24) -The Visit Pensacola Board of Directors voted Wednesday to pause the Visit Pensacola grant program for fiscal year 2021 beginning Oct. 1, 2020. The grant program will resume for fiscal year 2022 beginning Oct. 1, 2021. For events taking place between Oct. 1, 2021 – April 30, 2022, workshops will begin April 2021. “In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, we don’t know the future of events right now and our highest priority is the health and safety of those in our community,” Grant Committee Chairman Tish…

June 24, 2021

March Madness Starts in Pensacola!

Tickets on Sale for Sun Belt Conference Basketball Championships: March 5-8 Media Contact: Nicole Stacey Visit Pensacola (850) 434-2142 nstacey@visitpensacola.com Pensacola, Fla. – The 2021 Sun Belt Conference Men's and Women's Basketball Championships will be held Friday, March 5, through Monday, March 8, at the Pensacola Bay Center. Individual tickets go on sale today through Ticketmaster. “We are excited to welcome schools from the Sun Belt Conference and their fans to Pensacola. We hope everyone enjoys their time spent in our historic city and on our beautiful beaches as they cheer on their team,” said Darien Schaefer, president and CEO…

June 1, 2021

Visit Pensacola Set to Celebrate the Power of Travel During National Travel & Tourism Week May 2–9

Media Contact: Nicole Stacey Visit Pensacola (850) 434-2142 nstacey@visitpensacola.com Pensacola, Fla. – National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW), the annual celebration of contributions and accomplishments of the U.S. travel industry, will recognize the POWER OF TRAVEL and the industry’s role in bringing back our vibrant communities, restoring the U.S. economy, rebuilding our workforce and reconnecting America. This year’s celebration will be a combination of both virtual and in-person events and will highlight those that have gone above and beyond in the hospitality and tourism industry. “NTTW takes on a special significance this year as the travel industry looks to rebound…

November 12, 2020

Visit Pensacola Holiday Cube Set to Return Nov. 15; New Location Selected

Media Contact: Nicole Stacey Visit Pensacola (850) 434-2142 nstacey@visitpensacola.com Pensacola, Fla. (Tuesday, Nov. 12) – Visit Pensacola is pleased to announce the return of its Holiday Cube to Downtown Pensacola for the holiday season. This year’s cube will be in Plaza Ferdinand VII adjacent to the Downtown Improvement Board Singing Tree at the corner of Jefferson and Government. The cube will be set up on Friday, Nov. 15, prior to Gallery Night and will be available for photos until January. The cube features four different destination scenes. Visit Pensacola would like to invite people to snap photos and selfies and…

October 27, 2020

Visit Pensacola Annual Meeting Rescheduled to Nov. 9 Due to Inclement Weather

Meeting Free to Attend, RSVP by Friday, November 6 Media Contact: Nicole Stacey Visit Pensacola (850) 434-2142 nstacey@visitpensacola.com Pensacola, Fla.(Tuesday, Oct. 27) – Following the development of Tropical Storm Zeta, Visit Pensacola's annual meeting scheduled for Wednesday, October 28, has been rescheduled to Monday, November 9. The meeting will take place at 4 p.m. at Pensacola Blue Wahoo’s Stadium. The event is free and open to the public. Please RSVP by Friday, November 6. For those wishing to attend the meeting virtually, register here. This year's programming will follow a new format to allow for social distancing and adhere to…

October 23, 2020

Visit Pensacola Announces Interim President, Succession Plan

Media Contact: Nicole Stacey Visit Pensacola (850) 434-2142 nstacey@visitpensacola.com Pensacola, Fla. (Wednesday, Oct. 23) – Visit Pensacola announced today that former county administrator Jack Brown will serve as the organization’s interim president. “Pensacola is home to me and what an exciting opportunity to be involved with an organization that plays such an important role in the community,” Brown said. “I am looking forward to working with the citizens of this community, Visit Pensacola stakeholders and partners and the destination’s future travelers.” As county administrator, Brown oversaw the day-to-day operations of county government, led the county’s 13 departments, recommended an annual…

September 19, 2020

Pensacola International Airport Sees Record-Breaking 2 Million Passengers

Media Contact: Nicole Stacey Visit Pensacola (850) 434-2142 nstacey@visitpensacola.com Pensacola, Fla. (Thursday, Sept. 19) – More than 2 million passengers have passed through Pensacola International Airport this fiscal year, setting a record for passenger traffic at the airport. From October 2018 through August 2019, 2,025,273 passengers have arrived and departed at Pensacola International Airport, with approximately a month left until the fiscal year ends on Oct. 1. This breaks last year's record-setting year of 1,902,671 passengers at the end of the fiscal year. “Airports don’t create a demand for air service, airports meet demand for air service,” Airport Director Dan…

June 5, 2020

Visit Pensacola COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Update #14 June 5, 2020

Media Contact: Nicole Stacey Visit Pensacola (850) 434-2142 nstacey@visitpensacola.com Dear Tourism Stakeholder: As we move into Phase 2 of Governor DeSantis reopening plan, Visit Pensacola will strive to remain a resource to our partners, and stakeholders with the most current updates. As we being Phase 2, our team will resume our weekly Flash Friday emails. Please be sure to utilize our calendar of events, and update your partner listings so we can provide the most up to date information. Phase 2: Safe. Smart. Step-by-Step. Plan for Florida’s Recovery Gov. Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-139 to begin today, June 5…

June 1, 2020

Visit Pensacola Launches Experience Pensacola Destination App

Media Contact: Nicole Stacey Visit Pensacola (850) 434-2142 nstacey@visitpensacola.com Pensacola, Fla. – Earlier today Visit Pensacola announced the launch of its Experience Pensacola app. The app is designed to assist both locals and visitors in navigating Escambia County. “This app makes exploring the destination easier than ever, “Visit Pensacola President Darien Schaefer said. “For our residents, I think they’ll find themselves discovering activities and restaurants they never knew existed and for visitors, they’ll find an easy tool to organize and share their vacation with family and friends.” With a built-in location finder, app users can find experiences closest to them…

May 29, 2020

Visit Pensacola COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Update #13

Media Contact: Nicole Stacey Visit Pensacola (850) 434-2142 nstacey@visitpensacola.com Dear Tourism Stakeholder: As May comes to a close, and we continue to reopen our community, Visit Pensacola will strive to remain a resource to our partners, and stakeholders with the most current updates. Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday Begins Today. The 2020 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday begins Friday, May 29, 2020, and extends through Thursday, June 4, 2020. During this sales tax holiday period, qualifying items related to disaster preparedness are exempt from sales tax. However, the sales tax holiday does not apply to the rental or repair of…

May 22, 2020

Visit Pensacola COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Update #12

Media Contact: Nicole Stacey Visit Pensacola (850) 434-2142 nstacey@visitpensacola.com Dear Tourism Stakeholder: As our community reopens, Visit Pensacola strives to continue as a resource to our partners, stakeholders, and community with the most current updates. The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners voted Thursday, May 21, to amend Executive Order 20-6, creating Executive Order 20-8 regarding Escambia County public beaches. Effective Thursday, May 21 at noon, Escambia County Pensacola public beaches are now fully open to the public. Camping on the beach is not allowed per county ordinance 74-36 and consistent with the “Leave No Trace” protections for nesting sea…

May 15, 2020

Visit Pensacola COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Update #11

Media Contact: Nicole Stacey Visit Pensacola (850) 434-2142 nstacey@visitpensacola.com Dear Tourism Stakeholder: Visit Pensacola strives to continue as a resource to our partners, stakeholders, and community with the most current updates. As our community begins to reopen, we are asking that our partners and stakeholders participate in the Escambia County Phase One Reopening Florida Business Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/F9GYMLZ This survey will help to share updated data with local officials and policymakers and will help to develop plans and programs to continue recovery assistance. Our team has also created a “While You Are Here” landing page as we transition from virtual back…