In order to understand the tourism industry perceptions regarding emergency preparedness and crisis management, 364 phone interviews were conducted by the Florida Survey Research Center with key tourism organization leaders.

The sample of tourism decision makers (N=364) was based on the list of attendees from the 2008 Tourism Industry Association conference and the entire list of the Florida Governor’s Conference attendee list (2007).

The initial sample of 364 contacts was reduced to a usable sample of 335 contacts due to 16 non-working numbers, 11 wrong numbers, and two fax numbers. A maximum of six call backs were performed when the individual to be interviewed was not immediately reached. One hundred and fifty eight (n=158) phone interviews were completed resulting in a response rate of 47%.

• Most of the business entities interviewed had a written evacuation plan
• Promotional organizations seemed more involved than attractions and lodging properties in emergency preparedness planning
• The crisis situations perceived as more likely to impact the business entities interviewed were weather emergencies and natural disasters.