Press Releases | Visit Pensacola

January 24, 2024

Visit Pensacola Event Marketing Mini Grants Available Up to $5,000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024 MEDIA CONTACTS: Nicole Stacey, Visit Pensacola, nstacey@visitpensacola.com Pensacola, Florida – Visit Pensacola’s event marketing mini grants are available for 2024. Annually, Visit Pensacola allocates funds from its budget to a grant program for local groups and organizations that coordinate events with a demonstrated history of visitor impact or the significant potential to draw visitors to the area. The maximum mini-grant request is $5,000. Mini-grant dollars are to be used 100% on the marketing of events creating awareness and bringing visitors from outside of Escambia County. Information on guidelines and applications can be found…

January 10, 2024

Visit Pensacola Set to Celebrate National Plan for Vacation Day with a Three Night Vacation Giveaway for Two, Here’s How to Enter

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 MEDIA CONTACTS: Nicole Stacey, Visit Pensacola, nstacey@visitpensacola.com Pensacola, Florida – To celebrate National Plan for Vacation Day, one lucky winner will receive a three-night vacation for two in Pensacola including lodging and airfare valued over $2,000. “National Plan for Vacation Day is a great way for our organization to kickstart the year and encourage people to travel. Not only does travel stimulate the economy, but it also improves people’s overall well-being and happiness,” President and CEO Darien Schaefer said. To enter the contest, travel-seekers must be on Instagram. Users must like the dedicated…

December 27, 2023

Pensacola, Fla. Set to be Featured on Discovery Channel’s Adventure Cities Dec. 31, Public Invited to Watch

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA CONTACTS: Nicole Stacey, Visit Pensacola, nstacey@visitpensacola.com Pensacola, Fla. – Pensacola, Pensacola Beach, and Perdido Key are set to be featured on Discovery Channel’s popular television series, Adventure Cities, on Dec. 31, at 7:30 a.m. CT. Hosted by award-winning journalist Jonathan Thompson, the show searches for adventures and reveals the wonderful cultures, allures, and attractions of the world's most fascinating urban centers. Visit Pensacola played a major part in attracting the show to the area. “As a part of Visit Pensacola’s public relations and marketing efforts, the team meets with media at various media shows and missions…

October 18, 2023

Visit Pensacola Celebrates 2023 Tourism Successes at Annual Meeting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA CONTACTS: Nicole Stacey, Visit Pensacola, nstacey@visitpensacola.com Pensacola, Florida – On Wednesday, Visit Pensacola welcomed members of the community and tourism industry professionals to its Annual Meeting. Marking the beginning of a new fiscal year, Visit Pensacola and company thanked the outgoing FY 2023 board of directors, voted, and welcomed in the FY 2024 board of directors, and celebrated industry successes. “Visit Pensacola’s mission is to lead, connect, collaborate, and communicate the importance of tourism in our community,” President and CEO Darien Schaefer said. “By continuously sharing The Way to Beach™, we’ve seen positive data on how…

October 17, 2023

PENSACOLA USHERS IN THE FALL/WINTER SEASONS WITH NEW DIRECT FLIGHT ROUTES, MAJOR MILESTONES, FRESH DINING, FESTIVALS AND MORE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA CONTACTS: Erica Benken, Giant Noise, erica.benken@giantnoise.com Nicole Stacey, Visit Pensacola, nstacey@visitpensacola.com Lindsey Steck, Visit Pensacola, lsteck@visitpensacola.com Pensacola, Fla. (Oct. 13, 2023) – While temperatures across the state might not be cooling down just yet, Pensacola, Fla. is ready to usher in the fall/winter seasons with new direct flight routes from Pensacola to New York City, momentous milestone celebrations and events, new dining options for visitors and more throughout the destination. Getting to Pensacola When planning a visit to the destination, getting to Pensacola has never been easier, with direct flights from major hubs like Atlanta, Dallas-Fort…

October 11, 2023

Visit Pensacola Launches New App, Public Information Kiosk, and Visitor Center Displays to Share Destination Information

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA CONTACTS: Nicole Stacey, Visit Pensacola | nstacey@visitpensacola.com Pensacola, Florida – Visit Pensacola is excited to announce the launch of several destination information applications for visitors and locals to use including a new and improved mobile app, a stand-alone kiosk at the Pensacola International Airport, and new display boards in the Visitor Information Centers. “Our goal at Visit Pensacola is to be destination experts and share The Way to Beach™ at different access points for the public,” President and CEO Darien Schaefer said. “The new applications allow us to share detailed area information for those looking to…

October 3, 2023

PENSACOLA NAMED ONE OF CONDE NAST TRAVELER’S “TOP 10 BEST SMALL CITIES” IN 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA CONTACTS: Nicole Stacey, Visit Pensacola | nstacey@visitpensacola.com Erica Benken, Giant Noise | erica.benken@giantnoise.com Lindsey Jackson, Visit Pensacola | lsteck@visitpensacola.com PENSACOLA NAMED ONE OF CONDE NAST TRAVELER’S “TOP 10 BEST SMALL CITIES” IN 2023 Pensacola, Fla. (Oct. 3, 2023) - Visit Pensacola is excited to announce that Pensacola, Fla. has been named one of Conde Nast Traveler’s “Top 10 Best Small Cities” for 2023 in the 36th Annual Readers’ Choice Awards. Announced October 3, Pensacola was selected in the Top 10 following more than 500,000 reader-voted submissions. This accolade celebrates what Pensacolians and visitors to the destination…

September 28, 2023

Visit Pensacola Recognized with Flagler Award at 2023 Florida Governor’s Conference on Tourism

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA CONTACT Nicole Stacey (850) 434-2142 nstacey@visitpensacola.com Pensacola, Fla. - Visit Pensacola was honored by VISIT FLORIDA with a Flagler Award at the recent 2023 Florida Governor's Conference on Tourism in Orlando. Visit Pensacola took home the coveted Henry Award, the top award given in each category, for the special event category for its work on the 2022 Sun Belt Basketball Championship Promotion. In 2021, the Sun Belt Conference chose Pensacola to host its basketball championship from 2021 - 2023, with an option to extend the contract. Visit Pensacola, Pensacola Sports, Escambia County, and the Pensacola Bay…

July 28, 2023

Visit Pensacola Awards 9 Community Event Marketing Grants for Fiscal Year 2023–24; Festivals, Dogs, & More on the Horizon

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA CONTACT Nicole Stacey (850) 434-2142 nstacey@visitpensacola.com Pensacola, FL – Visit Pensacola announced today its event grant recipients for the 2024 fiscal year taking place Oct. 1, 2023 – Sept. 30, 2024. Annually, Visit Pensacola allocates tourism development tax dollars from its budget to a marketing grant program for events in the area. “These grants help market events and attract visitors that contribute invaluable economic impact to Escambia County,” President and CEO Darien Schaefer said. “At Visit Pensacola, our priority is to not only increase tourism in the area, but to build our destination’s products, businesses, and…

July 27, 2023

America’s First Settlement Trail Urban Adventure Slated for August 12 to Celebrate Pensacola’s 464th Birthday; Group Fun, Gamified Adventure, & Cash Prizes in Store

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, July 25, 2023 MEDIA CONTACT Nicole Stacey (850) 434-2142 nstacey@visitpensacola.com Pensacola, Fla. – The America’s First Settlement (A1S) Trail Urban Adventure is slated to take place August 12, between 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. to celebrate Pensacola’s 464th birthday. Facilitated through Gogames, registrants and groups will be given a tiered start time and three hours to complete a game that explores the America’s First Settlement Trail, solves puzzles, and tests knowledge of Pensacola’s history. Tickets are $10 for individual registration or $25 for corporate teams of up to 10 people. “This is a great event to…

June 30, 2023

Visit Pensacola Board of Directors Applications Now Open; Open Position Includes Retail/Attractions/Events Seat

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, June 30, 2023 MEDIA CONTACT Nicole Stacey (850) 434-2142 nstacey@visitpensacola.com Pensacola, FL – Applications for the Visit Pensacola Board of Directors are now open. Open positions for the board include someone employed in the retail/attractions/events sector of the hospitality and tourism industry. Visit Pensacola is governed by an 11-member board. The positions of the board are diverse in region and employment so that the organization's mission, to support tourism growth in Escambia County, remains balanced and inclusive. To be eligible for Visit Pensacola's board of directors, you must be a partner of the organization in good…

May 2, 2023

NAS Pensacola Seven-day Public Access to Begin May 17

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, May 2, 2023 MEDIA CONTACT Nicole Stacey (850) 434-2142 nstacey@visitpensacola.com NAVAL AIR STATION PENSACOLA, Fla. — Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola is scheduled to allow seven-day access to areas of public interest on the installation beginning May 17. As part of a phased reopening, previously scheduled public visitation will remain May 4-7 and May 11-14. While on the installation, the public will be able to visit the Pensacola Lighthouse, Fort Barrancas and the National Naval Aviation Museum (NNAM). Access to Barrancas National Cemetery is always available through the Visitor Control Center (VCC) at the Main Gate…