The Florida Keys just launched a brand-new website that uses high-tech tools to promote the low-key luxury that defines the island chain. The new site also comes with a more user-friendly web address — visitfloridakeys.com.
As of this week, the uncomplicated visitfloridakeys.com is the Florida Keys’ official tourism website — no more fussy punctuation or abbreviations that were part of the decades-old fla-keys.com.
But visitors will find plenty of familiar images and features on the new website, which still showcases each region of the Florida Keys with activities, lodging options, special events and more.
“We wanted the new site to be different and unique, but not jarringly unfamiliar,” said Jeanne Quinn, the TDC’s senior vice president of partnerships and technology. “We have a lot of great content from the original site, which is still featured on the new site, so there’s still a familiar twinge.”
Embracing AI technology
“Building the new site from the ground up let us focus on AI and digital-first innovation from the start,” said Quinn. “We now have a best-in-class platform that will continue to evolve to keep the Florida Keys and our tourism partners at the forefront of visitors’ minds, however and wherever they are doing their travel planning.”
Perhaps most significantly, the new website is completely optimized for artificial intelligence (AI), which is changing the way people plan their trips, choose their vacation spots, book their hotels and schedule their activities.
“When you think about online search results these days, more and more, you’re getting AI-generated overviews in paragraph form, at the top of the results,” Quinn said. “And as AI changes the way people plan their travel, we had to build the site so it works for both people — with pretty images and engaging descriptions — and for the machines (AI).”
Quinn said the data and information on the site has to be easily accessible and included in specific formats, so an AI chatbot can find whatever a person asks it for. And when a website’s goal is to bring tourists to a destination, then that website has to ensure the destination is discoverable and visible to the AI bots, Quinn said.
That AI optimization was designed throughout the entire website, which now features free, AI-optimized and highly discoverable listings for 2,000 local businesses and organizations — a significant increase from the 300 or so business listings on the original website, Quinn said.
“Plus, the new Keyswide events calendar is fatter and more robust. We can update the business listings and event information in seconds. And, of course, they’re all AI-optimized to show up in those search results,” Quinn said, adding that the site features its own chat bot.
The “Conch-cierge” is a virtual travel assistant that helps visitors plan their trips. It’s fluent in over 45 languages, and instantly and intuitively helps travelers uncover hidden gems, local insights and the best ways to experience the community, making the Florida Keys more accessible than ever to a global audience.
Keyswide webcams: Real-life views in real time
In addition to videos from special events, beach days and fishing boats featured throughout the site, visitfloridakeys.com also features live webcams streaming unedited footage from nearly 60 locations throughout the island chain. Watch sunrises and sunsets over the water, check out the day’s catch at busy marinas or pick out a pool chair at the hotel before you come down. The webcams offer a front-row seat to island life, streaming 24/7, with more locations being added soon.
Next generation of digital marketing
“The new platform represents a major leap forward in how visitors can plan, explore and experience the Keys, with powerful new tools designed to benefit both travelers and tourism partners,” states a press release from the TDC, which worked with MMGY Global to develop the new website, which took seven months to build and cost about $400,000.
“The new website positions the Keys for the next generation of digital marketing and represents a new standard for how destinations can engage the modern traveler,” said Kara Franker, the TDC’s president and CEO. “The new website is part of our growing focus on artificial intelligence and data innovation. As travel planning shifts from search engines to AI chatbots like ChatGPT, the new site ensures Florida Keys businesses remain discoverable when travelers ask AI where to go. This is because the website acts as the primary source of verified information that AI agents and travel platforms can draw on, helping Keys businesses and experiences remain visible in an AI-powered future.”
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