WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), the ranking member of Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene a field hearing titled “Threats Facing Florida’s Tourism Driven Economy” on Thursday, August 10, 2017, at 1:00 p.m. EDT in St. Petersburg, Florida. The hearing will examine tourism’s impact on Florida’s economy and threats to the industry. Florida attracted 112 million visitors last year, which generated $108 billion for the state’s economy and supported 1.4 million jobs. Sen. Nelson will lead a discussion on negative impacts to Florida’s tourism industry and ways to protect and bolster it.

Witnesses:
 
•   Dr. Sherry Larkin, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Research, University of Florida
•   Dr. Mitchell Roffer, Ph.D., President, Roffer’s Ocean Fishing Forecast Service, Inc.
•   Ms. Robin Sollie, President and CEO, Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce
•   Ms. Maryann Ferenc, Board of Director, US Travel Association and Brand USA, and CEO of Mise en Place

 
* Witness list subject to change
 
Hearing Details:
 
Thursday, August 10, 2017
1:00 p.m. EDT
Full committee
University of South Florida, St. Petersburg
University Student Center
200 6th Avenue South
St. Petersburg, Florida
 
NOTE: Free parking is available on levels 2-5 in the parking garage located at  260 5th Avenue South, directly across the street from Student Center.
 
Witness testimony and opening statements will be available on www.commerce.senate.gov. Media interested in attending the event should contact Bryan Gulley at bryan_gulley@commerce.senate.gov.