Press Releases | Visit Pensacola

April 24, 2020

Visit Pensacola COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Update #8

Media Contact: Nicole Stacey Visit Pensacola (850) 434-2142 nstacey@visitpensacola.com Dear Tourism Stakeholder: I am your new President/CEO, Darien Schaefer, and am finishing up my first week here in Pensacola. I am very excited to join Visit Pensacola and to promote one of the best beach destinations in the nation. I understand this is a challenging time for the Pensacola area and will remain focused on helping the tourism industry recover from the COVID-19 pandemic as quickly as possible. I am looking forward to meeting and working with partners, stakeholders, and the Pensacola community. As each week passes and these unchartered…

April 20, 2020

Visit Pensacola Welcomes President and CEO Darien Schaefer

Media Contact: Nicole Stacey Visit Pensacola (850) 434-2142 nstacey@visitpensacola.com Pensacola, Fla. (April 20, 2020) – Visit Pensacola is pleased to welcome its President and CEO, Darien Schaefer. Schaefer joins the team from Visit Big Bear in Big Bear Lake, Calif. where he served as CEO for the past three years. He brings to the team over 20 years of destination marketing experience, including his most recent roles as CEO of VISIT Lake Geneva and Executive Director of the Wausau/Central Wisconsin CVB and Sports Authority. “I'm very excited to join Visit Pensacola and work with its excellent staff to promote one…

April 17, 2020

Visit Pensacola COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Update #7

Media Contact: Nicole Stacey Visit Pensacola (850) 434-2142 nstacey@visitpensacola.com Dear Tourism Stakeholder: As each week passes and these unchartered times continue, Visit Pensacola strives to continues as a resource to our partners, stakeholders, and community with the most current updates. Travel Trends Visit Pensacola's marketing partner, Showcase Pensacola, prepared a report based on COVID-19-related industry research. We want to share this with our stakeholders to help you understand what's happening in the travel space. More importantly, having this information helps us work together as we move forward. Click here to view the Marketing Trends report. Virtual Resources Our focus is…

April 10, 2020

Visit Pensacola COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Update #6

Media Contact: Nicole Stacey Visit Pensacola (850) 434-2142 nstacey@visitpensacola.com Dear Tourism Stakeholder: I know concerns about your health, the health of your families, the economy, and your own employment are weighing heavily on your minds at this time. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect all of our lives and what once were regular activities. I am encouraged and amazed by the outpouring of love and support for others demonstrated daily in our community and our industry. As the weeks of this new normal continue, we remain focused on keeping our employees, families, and friends safe during this global pandemic. I…

April 3, 2020

Visit Pensacola COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Update #5

Media Contact: Nicole Stacey Visit Pensacola (850) 434-2142 nstacey@visitpensacola.com Dear Tourism Stakeholder: As these unchartered times continue, your Destination Organization for Escambia County continues as a resource to our partners, stakeholders, and community with the most current updates. Starting 12:01 a.m. on April 3, 2020 Governor DeSantis has placed a Safer at Home, executive order. This order encourages all Florida residents to only leave their home for essential services and activities. Essential services include activities such as going to work, the grocery store, picking up prescriptions and taking care of pets. Beach Closures The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners…

March 30, 2020

Visit Pensacola COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Update #4

Media Contact: Nicole Stacey Visit Pensacola (850) 434-2142 nstacey@visitpensacola.com As these unchartered times continue, your Destination Organization for Escambia County continues as a resource to our partners, stakeholders, and community with the most current updates. The Board of County Commission will meet on April 2, 2020, for their regularly scheduled meeting. This meeting will also allow the commissioners to re-evaluate the current regulations set for Escambia County. The meeting will be streamed live and archived online, seating will be limited due to CDC recommendations of social distancing. The virtual method of communication technology is encouraged. Visit Pensacola will hold our…

March 20, 2020

Visit Pensacola COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Update #3

Media Contact: Nicole Stacey Visit Pensacola (850) 434-2142 nstacey@visitpensacola.com As the Destination Organization for Escambia County, we remain a resource to our partners, stakeholders, and community with current updates in these unprecedented times. On March 17, Escambia County activated its Emergency Operations Center at a level 2 and declared a local state of emergency. Visit Pensacola is participating in this initiative and will continue to send the most up to date information we receive within our community as well as within the tourism industry. As of midnight, March 20, 2020, all Escambia County public beaches will be closed for thirteen…

March 20, 2020

Visit Pensacola COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Update #3 March 20, 2020

Media Contact: Nicole Stacey Visit Pensacola (850) 434-2142 nstacey@visitpensacola.com As the Destination Organization for Escambia County, we remain a resource to our partners, stakeholders, and community with current updates in these unprecedented times. On March 17, Escambia County activated its Emergency Operations Center at a level 2 and declared a local state of emergency. Visit Pensacola is participating in this initiative and will continue to send the most up to date information we receive within our community as well as within the tourism industry. As of midnight, March 20, 2020, all Escambia County public beaches will be closed for thirteen…

March 17, 2020

Escambia County, City Following Governor’s Order to Close Bars, Nightclubs

Bars and nightclubs in Escambia County and the City of Pensacola must close for 30 days starting at 5 p.m. today, Tuesday, March 17, per an executive order from Gov. Ron DeSantis.

March 16, 2020

Visit Pensacola COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Update #2

March 16, 2020 Dear Tourism Stakeholder: Visit Pensacola, as Escambia County's destination marketing organization, is continually monitoring the COVID-19 situation and is in close communication and coordination with Escambia County, City of Pensacola, Visit Florida and state officials. With no confirmed cases of COVID-19, we want to remain a resource to our partners, stakeholders and community with current updates in this rapidly changing time. At 8 a.m. tomorrow, March 17, Escambia County will activate its Emergency Operations Center at a level 2. The county will also declare a local state of emergency. Visit Pensacola is participating in this initiative and…

March 13, 2020

Visit Pensacola COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Update #1

Dear Tourism Stakeholder: Visit Pensacola, as Escambia County’s destination marketing organization, is continually monitoring the COVID-19 situation and is in close communication and coordination with Escambia County, City of Pensacola, Visit Florida and state officials. As Tom Lowery, Editor-in-Chief stated in today’s Skift newsletter, “The travel industry has never faced times like these. Ever! That is why we are more committed to our mission to provide you with trusted information, analysis, and research.” With no confirmed cases of COVID-19, we want to remind everyone that Pensacola Beach, Perdido Key, Pensacola, and Escambia County are wide-open and ready for business. As…

March 10, 2020

Visit Pensacola Announces New President/CEO

Visit Pensacola announced today that Darien Schaefer will be its next President/CEO. Schaefer and the organization reached an agreement and the Board of Directors held a special meeting earlier today to vote on contract negotiations.