Visit Florida President and CEO Announces Retirement

Dana Young, president and CEO of Visit Florida, has announced her retirement after six years in the role. The longest-serving agency head during the DeSantis administration, she will stay in her role until a new president and CEO is appointed. 

"Dana Young's leadership at Visit Florida has been transformative, ensuring Florida remains the top destination for travelers," said J. Alex Kelly, Florida's secretary of commerce. "Her tireless dedication has created record-breaking and lasting success for Florida's economy and tourism industry. We are grateful for her years of service and wish her the best in her retirement."

Retiring at the top

During Young's tenure, Florida's tourism rose by 7.3 percent, while economic impact grew 32.4 percent. Also under her leadership, Visit Florida expanded its membership to include every destination in the state, secured record funding and elevated the state to the top overseas destination, surpassing New York for the first time since 2001. In 2023, more than 140 million visitors spent $127.7 billion in the state. Furthermore, Florida's recovery from the pandemic significantly outpaced the rest of the United States, beating projections by two years. 

"[Young] has done more for our state and industry than we could ever measure, guiding us through challenging times with unwavering determination and leading the way to record-breaking visitation," said John Lai, regional director of the Florida Resident and Lodging Association, and chairman of Visit Florida's board of directors. "We owe her a tremendous debt of gratitude for her hard work and dedication, and I am excited to see her embark on her next chapter."

Prior to joining the organization, Young served in the Florida Legislature for eight years, representing Tampa and parts of Hillsborough County. 

"I am so grateful to Gov. DeSantis for the opportunity to lead Visit Florida for the past six years," she said. "I am very proud of the work we have done — and will continue to do, maximizing return on investment for Florida taxpayers. This has truly been the best job I have ever had, and I will miss my amazing team."