Coral Gables, FL (January 17, 2014) – All Aboard Florida, the highly-anticipated passenger rail line, addressed the international and domestic tourism community for the first time this week sharing details on this history-making project and its impact on the state’s tourism future during Florida Huddle, the state’s longest-running tourism symposium.
For more than 20 years, there has been rising demand for high speed rail service connecting South and Central Florida, with travelers making hundreds of millions of trips between these communities each year, making it one of the most actively traveled areas in the U.S. Operating between Orlando and Miami, with stops in West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale, All Aboard Florida will set a new standard in rail travel by combining speed, design, technology and service, providing a truly hospitality-driven experience for travelers fashioned around their needs, wants and desires.
Don Robinson, President and Chief Operating Officer of All Aboard Florida shared details with Huddle attendees about this transformative project including specifics on the locations of each station, passenger experience, and how All Aboard Florida hopes to expand Florida’s tourism offerings to visitors by working with convention and visitors bureaus, hotels, attractions, tour operators and wholesalers. Specifically, by offering a new, first-of-its-kind mode of transportation, All Aboard Florida will encourage more in-state tourism leading to greater opportunities for promoting Florida’s many offerings in exciting new ways through creative packaging, visitor programs, promotions, and other cross-marketing endeavors.
“All Aboard Florida will change the tourism landscape and how Florida residents and visitors travel throughout the state’s major tourism destinations by providing an unmatched hospitality-driven experience – from on-board Wi-Fi, dining and entertainment, to service options designed to meet a variety of passenger wants and needs,” said Mr. Robinson. “In addition, All Aboard Florida will drive tourism growth for the rail’s four destination markets by helping each expand their appeal to new customer segments.” The state of Florida has experienced a rise in tourism of 2.3 percent year over year, welcoming more than 91 million visitors in 2012, and more than 72 million visitors in the first three quarters of 2013.
The 38th annual Florida Huddle is being held January 14-16, 2014 at the Palm Beach County Convention Center. Florida Huddle brings together every region of Florida’s tourism industry under one roof for a three-day convention to facilitate meetings with tour operators and wholesalers, spotlight destinations and attractions, and forecast travel trends for the coming year.
Mr. Robinson was the featured speaker during the show’s kick-off breakfast January 15, where he addressed an audience of 500 domestic and international travel industry leaders and professionals on what the All Aboard Florida project means to Florida’s tourism future.
As President and Chief Operating Officer of All Aboard Florida, Mr. Robinson is responsible for developing all the operational functions for the passenger rail project, including procuring rolling stock and managing the engagement of third-party partners. Together with President and Chief Development Officer P. Michael Reininger, Mr. Robinson will also work to define All Aboard Florida’s brand and customer service experience. Prior to joining All Aboard Florida in 2013, he served as President of Baha Mar Resorts Ltd., where he oversaw the design, development and construction of a $3.5 billion resort destination located in Nassau, Bahamas. He has more than 35 years of experience developing, managing and branding complex, multi-faceted hospitality and recreational projects throughout the world. Mr. Robinson was a senior executive for The Walt Disney Company for three decades, serving as Group Managing Director/Executive Vice President for Hong Kong Disneyland, Senior Vice President for Walt Disney World Operations and Senior Vice President for Walt Disney World Resorts, among others.
In addition to the scheduled presentation by Mr. Robinson, Huddle attendees will be among the first to qualify for a select number of limited-edition commemorative coins distributed during the event that will allow the holder to be part of an inaugural group of riders to experience All Aboard Florida once fully-operational. For more information, stop by All Aboard Florida’s Booth #6 during Florida Huddle. To stay up to date during Florida Huddle, be sure to follow @AllAboardFlorida on Twitter and utilize the official hashtag, #FLHuddle.
