TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – VISIT FLORIDA and National Geographic are joining forces to tell the world about Florida's great outdoors. The headlines of this three-year partnership include:

-- National Geographic journalists reporting from the Sunshine State;

-- Shared storytelling on the NationalGeographic.com and VISITFLORIDA.com websites.

“Partnering with a travel expert with the global stature of National Geographic is an amazing opportunity,” said Will Seccombe, President and CEO of VISIT FLORIDA. “We know how incredible Florida's natural and wild environment is, and a project of this magnitude will ensure that the world knows.”

The National Geographic Society, established in 1888, is one of the largest nonprofit scientific and educational institutions in the world. The Society reaches over 600 million people worldwide each month through its media platforms, products and events. National Geographic has funded more than 11,000 research, conservation and exploration projects, and its education programs promote geographic literacy.

VISIT FLORIDA is the official tourism marketing organization for the Sunshine State, which hosted 93.7 million global visitors in 2013. VISIT FLORIDA also has established a reputation for storytelling. A network of award-winning journalists has published more than 1,000 stories since 2011 with distribution in multiple languages to hundreds of media outlets.

Keith Bellows, editor-in-chief of National Geographic Traveler magazine, distilled this collaborative adventure: "Too often, we think of Florida as a mecca for sun worshippers and a land of roller coasters and theme rides. But when I go, I seek out the other side of the state – a place of remote waterscapes, fascinating wildlife, great history and indelible characters. This is the Florida we seek to capture in our deep dive into a lesser-known Sunshine State."

Here is an outline of what's planned for the partnership:

-- As a team of National Geographic journalists begins reporting from Florida, National Geographic readers will be invited to submit their favorite Florida “wild and natural” experiences;

-- National Geographic photographers will post on an “On Assignment in Florida” blog;

-- A co-branded booklet detailing Florida's outdoor adventures will appear in the December/January issue of National Geographic Traveler;

-- A Florida hub will debut on the NationalGeographic.com home page in January 2015, with highlights including 25 outdoor experiences by land and 25 by sea, plus an interactive map that captures reporters' and readers' recommendations; and

-- Photo galleries about animals, landscapes and coastlines will roll out in spring 2015 on NationalGeographic.com, plus the reader-driven “Your Shot: Florida."

Also in 2015, National Geographic's reporting will continue with a focus on Florida's state and national parks.

“The words we often use are 'destination diversity,'” said Paul Phipps, Chief Marketing Officer for VISIT FLORIDA. “Florida is the No. 1 tourist destination in the world, well-known in many ways, but there are many lesser known wonders waiting to be discovered and National Geographic will help us do that.”

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Media contact

Laura Cassels, VISIT FLORIDA
(850) 205-3839; lcassels@VISITFLORIDA.org

About the National Geographic Society

With a mission to inspire people to care about the planet, the 126-year-old National Geographic Society is one of the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Working to inspire, illuminate and teach, the member-supported Society reaches over 600 million people worldwide each month through its media platforms, products and events. National Geographic has funded more than 11,000 research, conservation and exploration projects, and its education programs promote geographic literacy. For more information, visit www.nationalgeographic.com.

About VISIT FLORIDA

As the Sunshine State's No. 1 industry, tourism was responsible for welcoming 93.7 million visitors in 2013 who spent $76.1 billion, generating 23 percent of the state's sales tax revenue and employing nearly 1.1 million Floridians. VISIT FLORIDA promotes tourism to Florida through sales, advertising, promotions, public relations and visitor services programs. As a public/private partnership, VISIT FLORIDA serves more than 12,000 tourism industry businesses, including major strategic alliance partnerships with The Hertz Corporation, LEGOLAND Florida Resort, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Universal Orlando Resort and Disney Destinations. To learn more about VISIT FLORIDA, please go to www.VISITFLORIDA.com or follow our corporate blog at www.SunshineMatters.org.