GREATER FORT LAUDERDALE’S NEW VIRTUAL VACATION VIDEOS INVITE CONSUMERS TO LOOK BEFORE THEY BOOK

Check Out Kiteboarding, Upscale Dining and Celebrity Mansions on www.sunny.org With Videos Showcasing Casual Sophistication and Diverse Activities

GREATER FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – February 20, 2008 – Consider it the travel version of Cliff’s Notes. Greater Fort Lauderdale has made researching a beach chic getaway easy by creating a dozen short videos for its official tourism website, www.sunny.org.  

A visit to www.sunny.org/podcasts provides enticing overviews of Greater Fort Lauderdale’s “big picture” and lends detailed insight on niche topics such as arts and culture, scuba diving and gay travel. The webpage also features videos showcasing Greater Fort Lauderdale’s vibrant nightlife, family-friendliness and natural beauty ranging from 23 miles of golden sand beaches to the wild and exciting Florida Everglades.

Several videos also give professional insight and behind-the-scenes access. Options include a trade secrets interview with Jordi Panisello, renowned pastry chef at the luxurious St. Regis Resort, Fort Lauderdale; a beginner’s course in kiteboarding – a trendy sport mixing surf and chutes – provided by former professional kiteboarder and local instructor Neil Hutchinson; a guided tour of the Intracoastal Waterways featuring fabulous, celebrity-owned mega-mansions; an introduction to Greater Fort Lauderdale’s natural beauty at Butterfly World and the Museum of Discovery and Science; a stroll through the historical, arts and culture scene of the Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment District with the renowned Broward Center for the Performing Arts; get the inside track on planning a family reunion; discover underwater treasures of 69 miles of natural coral reef in Greater Fort Lauderdale; Hollywood nightlife; rainbow travel; interviews with locals and visitors; a tour of the multicultural offerings including the African-American Research Library one of only six in the country; and even a guided presentation on relaxing breathing exercises to de-stress on vacation.

“With so many choices of things to do in Greater Fort Lauderdale, planning the ideal, personalized itinerary is now even easier to navigate with these new online videos,” said Nicki E. Grossman, president of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. “The webpage is essentially a ‘test before you try’ travel tool. It takes the stress out of trip planning – which is about the only potentially stressful experience visitors to Greater Fort Lauderdale ever have.”