Florida’s famed tourism industry, a cornerstone of its income-tax-free economy, is facing an unexpected headwind. A series of controversial bills signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis are casting a shadow over the Sunshine State, leading to significant financial losses as major conventions and conferences opt to relocate. The state, traditionally known for its welcoming beaches and vibrant entertainment, is now grappling with the economic fallout of policies perceived as discriminatory and hostile by many organizations. This shift is directly impacting Florida’s lost money in tourism revenue, a critical component of the state’s financial health.
In recent weeks, over a dozen organizations have publicly announced the cancellation or relocation of their planned Florida conferences. These decisions are not merely symbolic; they represent a tangible economic blow. Thousands of attendees and millions of dollars in potential revenue are now being redirected to states perceived as more inclusive and welcoming. While Governor DeSantis’ office dismisses these cancellations as media sensationalism, tourism officials within Florida are expressing growing concern about the long-term implications for the state’s convention business and the associated Florida Lost Money.
Stacy Ritter, President and CEO of Visit Lauderdale, Broward County’s tourism marketing agency, highlights the delayed impact of these cancellations. “Unlike leisure business, which has a very short-term booking window, conference business is long term,” Ritter explained. “We’re booking ’26 to ’30 now, so any impact that this might have is not going to be seen for years to come.” This long booking cycle means the true extent of florida lost money may not be immediately apparent, but the pipeline of future convention business is already showing signs of disruption.
Convention Cancellations Mount, Signalling Economic Concerns
The financial impact of these cancellations is already being quantified. Visit Lauderdale alone reports ten canceled events and conventions directly attributed to recently enacted laws, policies, and travel advisories. This translates to a loss of 15,000 hotel room nights and an estimated $20 million in economic impact for Broward County. While these figures represent a fraction of Broward County’s $123.9 million Tourist Development Tax collections in fiscal year 2022, any reduction in business is a cause for concern, especially considering significant investments in infrastructure.
Ritter notes that the initial signs of concern emerged after the 2022 legislative session and the introduction of the “Don’t Say Gay” law. At that time, leisure travelers began expressing apprehension about Florida’s perceived hostility towards the LGBTQ+ community. “That trickle from last year became a little stronger,” she stated, indicating an escalating trend of organizations and individuals reconsidering Florida as a destination. The uncertainty surrounding the future political climate in Florida is contributing to the anxiety within the tourism sector, and the potential for further florida lost money remains a significant worry.
Broward County’s substantial $1.5 billion investment in an 801-room Omni hotel connected to its renovated convention center underscores the stakes. The expectation was that this new facility, slated to open in late-2025, would attract a surge in convention bookings. However, Ritter reveals a concerning gap in bookings for the years following 2025, suggesting that the anticipated return on this massive investment may be at risk due to the current political climate and the resulting florida lost money in future bookings.
Orlando and Tampa Also Feeling the Effects
The impact is not isolated to South Florida. Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center (OCCC), the second-largest convention venue in the United States, has also experienced significant cancellations. Four major events have been pulled from OCCC: the 2024 AnitaB.org Grace Hopper Celebration, the 2024 National Society of Black Engineers’ 50th annual convention, the 2025 American Education Research Association (AERA) annual meeting, and the 2027 Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) Global Surgical Conference & Expo.
AERA explicitly linked its decision to cancel its 15,000-person meeting in Orlando to Florida’s passage of the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, which prohibits transgender female athletes from participating in women’s sports teams. AERA had previously adopted a policy against holding conferences in states with anti-trans laws, making Florida’s legislation a direct conflict with their organizational values. While AORN officials declined to specify the reasons for their cancellation, the wave of similar decisions points towards a broader trend of organizations avoiding Florida due to its political environment, adding to the growing tally of florida lost money.
In Tampa, while the city’s convention center hasn’t experienced outright cancellations, concerns are palpable. Juan Lopez, the Tampa Convention Center’s sales and marketing manager, stated that organizations still hosting events in Tampa have expressed “displeasure with legislation.” The hesitation among prospective clients to choose Florida destinations is a growing challenge, even as Tampa actively promotes itself as an inclusive and welcoming city. This highlights the difficulty Florida destinations face in overcoming the negative perception created by state-level policies and mitigating further florida lost money.
DeSantis Administration Downplays Concerns
Governor DeSantis’ press office has dismissed the convention cancellations as a “media-driven stunt.” Press secretary Jeremy Redfern emphasized Florida’s “record tourism” and economic growth, citing record visitor numbers in the first quarter of the year and Florida’s strong GDP contribution. The administration maintains that Florida’s economy is “booming” and that concerns about florida lost money due to convention cancellations are overblown.
However, this perspective clashes with the experiences of tourism officials and organizations on the ground. While overall tourism numbers might remain robust in certain sectors, the convention business operates on a different timescale and is more susceptible to political considerations. The immediate leisure tourism sector may not reflect the long-term damage to the convention industry and the potential for sustained florida lost money if the state’s political climate continues to deter major events.
Safety and Inclusivity Concerns Drive Decisions
For many organizations, the decision to cancel or relocate events is driven by concerns about the safety and inclusivity of Florida for their members. The Math Association of America (MAA), which recently held its annual MathFest in Tampa, proactively addressed these concerns by publishing an extensive list of safety and inclusivity measures for attendees. This included information on gender-neutral bathrooms, security details, and community engagement efforts, demonstrating a recognition of the need to reassure attendees in the current climate.
AnitaB.org, in an open letter, declared that the 2023 Grace Hopper Celebration in Orlando would be their last investment in Florida “until this legislation is overturned and the state becomes more welcoming to all.” They cited laws restricting abortion access, permit-free concealed carry of firearms, targeting undocumented immigrants, and restricting educators’ curriculum related to LGBTQ+ individuals and people of color as reasons for their departure. These concerns go beyond mere political statements; they reflect a genuine apprehension about the well-being and sense of belonging for diverse attendees, directly impacting florida lost money from organizations prioritizing these values.
The National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) also made the difficult decision to move its 2024 event from Orlando. CEO Janeen Uzzell explained that conversations with various stakeholders, including the NAACP and the National Urban League, led to the conclusion that hosting the event in Florida would be detrimental to NSBE’s mission and values. The current climate in Florida, particularly House Bill 999 which restricts diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in state universities, was seen as undermining NSBE’s core principles and creating a “compromised experience” for its members, leading to a significant florida lost money opportunity for Florida.
Similarly, the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP) moved its fall 2023 conference from Florida due to safety concerns. ACSP President Laxmi Ramasubramanian cited worries about “attrition in conference attendance” due to attendees feeling “uncomfortable, unwelcome, or fear for their own safety.” Board member Petra Doan, a retired Florida State University professor, described feeling like a “political refugee” and expressed personal safety concerns about returning to Florida as an openly transgender woman. These personal and organizational anxieties highlight the real human cost of these policies and their economic repercussions in terms of florida lost money and reputational damage.
Historical Context: Travel Boycotts and Economic Impact
Travel boycotts are not a novel phenomenon in the convention business. Jack Johnson of Destinations International points to historical examples in Arizona, Indiana, and North Carolina where controversial legislation led to significant economic losses through convention cancellations and boycotts. These examples serve as cautionary tales for Florida, demonstrating the potential for substantial and long-lasting financial damage when states become associated with discriminatory policies.
California’s state-funded travel restrictions to 24 states with discriminatory laws further illustrate the potential reach and impact of travel boycotts. Organizations increasingly consider social issues when choosing event locations, with Florida, Tennessee, and Texas currently facing heightened scrutiny. While Destinations International generally opposes travel boycotts, the current situation in Florida underscores the growing influence of social and political factors on destination choices and the potential for significant florida lost money.
Visit Lauderdale’s Stacy Ritter argues that boycotts can inadvertently harm the diverse communities within Florida that are working towards inclusivity. She emphasizes that Florida is not monolithic and that many destinations within the state, like Broward County, embrace diversity and inclusion. Ritter hopes that organizations will recognize this nuance and consider the potential negative impact of boycotts on local communities that share their values, even as the state as a whole faces criticism and florida lost money.
Equality Florida, an LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, is witnessing the difficult choices individuals and families are making, with some even leaving the state due to the perceived hostile environment. Co-founder and CEO Nadine Smith describes this as a “gut-check moment” for businesses and organizations to demonstrate their commitment to diversity and inclusion. She warns that the economic damage from these policies may be long-lasting and difficult to quantify, extending beyond immediate tourism losses to include the potential exodus of talent and future economic opportunities, compounding the florida lost money situation for Florida.
Conclusion: Navigating the Uncertain Future of Florida Tourism
The situation in Florida presents a complex challenge for its tourism industry. While the immediate impact on overall tourism numbers may be masked by other factors, the convention sector is clearly experiencing a significant downturn. The long-term consequences of this trend and the full extent of florida lost money remain uncertain. The decisions made by organizations to cancel or relocate events reflect deep-seated concerns about safety, inclusivity, and alignment with their values.
As Florida navigates this turbulent period, the state faces a critical juncture. Addressing the concerns of organizations and individuals who feel unwelcome or unsafe will be crucial to mitigating further economic damage and restoring the state’s reputation as a welcoming destination for all. The future of Florida’s convention business, and indeed a portion of its broader tourism economy, hinges on the state’s ability to address these issues and demonstrate a genuine commitment to inclusivity and respect for all communities, otherwise, the state risks further florida lost money and long-term economic erosion.
