Press Releases

April 30, 2020

Visit Pensacola Set to Lead Virtual National Travel and Tourism Week Celebration May 3–9

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 spotlight resilience and hope in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic with this year's theme: The Spirit of Travel. Now more than ever, the travel and tourism community must come together, support each other and remind our country that even through the most challenging times, the Spirit of Travel cannot be broken. "Although we can't meet in person, we can stay connected, unified and supportive of each other from…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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.

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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…

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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…

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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.

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March 5, 2020

Visit Pensacola Statement on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Media Contact: Nicole Stacey Visit Pensacola (850) 434-2142 nstacey@visitpensacola.com Visit Pensacola, Inc. is closely monitoring statements from the Florida Department of Health, MyEscambia, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, US Travel, and the World Health Organization regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19). We are committed to keeping our partners and stakeholders informed of the latest updates and to following the guidelines from these agencies and local departments. While the risk remains low, we encourage our area tourism partners, residents, and visitors to take any appropriate preventative measures. The federal government has not recommended limiting domestic travel. Visit Pensacola remains aware and looks…

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March 5, 2020

Visit Pensacola Statement on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Visit Pensacola, Inc. is closely monitoring statements from the Florida Department of Health, MyEscambia, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, US Travel, and the World Health Organization regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

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March 2, 2020

Visit Pensacola Announces 2020 Grant Recipients

Visit Pensacola is pleased to announce its 2020 grant recipients for events taking place between May 1, 2020 – Sept. 30, 2020.

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