Franklin County Wins Marketing Awards at Governor’s Conference

The Franklin County Tourist Development Council (TDC) brought back two prestigious VISIT FLORIDA Flagler Awards this week from the VISIT FLORIDA Governor’s Conference held in Orlando September 6-8. The Franklin County TDC was awarded a bronze Flagler award for its Villages re-engagement campaign that featured the popular Captain Finn character and also a bronze Flagler award for its social media “Don’t Take Our Word For It” campaign.

The winning campaigns, which consisted of social media, digital, print and video marketing components, were selected by national marketing and media professionals who judged entries submitted by hundreds of destination marketing organizations, destinations and nonprofit groups from across the state of Florida. 

“I am excited to see that VISIT FLORIDA continues to recognize the great marketing efforts being produced by our Franklin County TDC team!” said Franklin County Commission Chairman Ricky Jones upon hearing of the wins.

The awards were presented during the annual Governor’s Conference Chairman’s Dinner in Orlando on September 6, 2023. Franklin County Tourist Development Council (TDC) director John Solomon and TDC vendors Tana Kendrick, (2K Web Group), Royce Rolstad, (Forgotten Coast TV) and Cindy Clark (Bay Media Services) were on hand to accept the awards.

This makes the eighth VISIT FLORIDA Flagler award that the Franklin County TDC team has won in the last three years.

“I am so very honored for the Franklin County TDC team which includes the Franklin County Commission, TDC Board of Directors, the TDC Vendors, our partners and everyone that works in the hospitality industry in Franklin County,” said director Solomon. “Having our entire marketing team here to accept these awards is a special experience. Flagler Awards are not a participation award. They recognize the great works of everyone in the state for their hard work and dedication to the tourism industry. Seeing the marketing team hear Franklin County’s name called out as a Flagler winner is a wonderful experience.”

During the conference, the Franklin County TDC marketing team were invited to give a talk to conference attendees about the success of Franklin County’s rural marketing efforts in a presentation entitled “Thinking Outside the Box in Rural Marketing.”

The Franklin County TDC also had a booth in the media area where the TDC shared brochures, information and engaged with media and marketing professionals.

Franklin TDC Director John Solomon sits on the Visit Florida Rural Marketing board and serves as a board member on the VISIT FLORIDA Board of Directors.

The Flagler Awards is an annual statewide competition recognizing outstanding Florida tourism marketing. The program was created by VISIT FLORIDA to honor the countless individuals and organizations that help position Florida as the No. 1 travel destination in the world. Each year the Flagler Awards pay tribute to the determined efforts of those who use their skill, resourcefulness, creativity and innovative spirit to market Florida to the world.