GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The Tourism Crisis Management Institute at the University of Florida will host a symposium on Crisis Management for Destinations June 25, 2008, at the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center.

The symposium will be held prior to the opening reception of the annual Florida Association of Convention and Visitor’s Bureau’s Destination Marketing Industry Summit.

The symposium will compare various Florida tourism crisis management plans with a “Best Practices” model and discuss the key elements needed in formulating and implementing crisis management tools. A brainstorming session will explore opportunities for mutual assistance between destinations during a tourism crisis event.

The impetus for developing this symposium was generated from the institute’s think tank meeting on Jan. 18. The meeting brought together UF faculty with crisis management expertise from various departments and the dean of the College of Health and Human Performance, Steve Dorman. UF President Bernie Machen opened the meeting and expressed his enthusiasm and full support of the Tourism Crisis Management Institute. 

The FACVB Destination Marketing Summit is organized to showcase industry experts and their analysis of the latest trends affecting the tourism industry.

 “It’s never been more important for the destination marketing industry to invest in additional training for ourselves and our staff,” said Paul Catoe, chairman of the FACVB board. “To provide you with the knowledge and resources you need to succeed and prosper in the coming year, we have created a one-of-a-kind program.”

For more information, please visit www.facvb.org/events/.

For information, please contact:  Elaine McLaughlin, strategic operations director of the Tourism Crisis Management Institute, (239) 292-0218, emclaughlin@hhp.ufl.edu or Lori Pennington-Gray, director of the Tourism Crisis Management Institute, (352)392-4042, ext. 1318, penngray@hhp.ufl.edu.