Visit Florida CEO Dana Young Announces Retirement

Dana Young, the president and CEO of Visit Florida, will retire after six years leading the destination marketing organization. 

Young was the longest-serving head under the state agency during Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration. She will remain in the role until a new CEO comes on board. 

“I am so grateful to Gov. DeSantis for the opportunity to lead Visit Florida for the past six years,” Young said. “I am very proud of the work we have done (and will continue to do) at VISIT FLORIDA, 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.” 

During Young’s tenure, Florida visitations grew 7.3% and tourism’s economic impact rose by 32.4%, according to Visit Florida. In 2023, the state had 140.6 million visitors, drawing in $127.7 billion. 

Young also helped secure record funding for the tourism agency, expand its membership, and ultimately place the state higher in the ranks of global travel destinations. Prior to her time at Visit Florida, Young was a Florida state legislator representing the City of Tampa and parts of Hillsborough County. 

“She 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, 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.”