Internationally Renowned Tradeshows Hosted in Ocala/Marion County

OCALA/MARION COUNTY, Fla.—Hundreds of travel industry experts from around the globe experienced Ocala/Marion County last week at Florida Huddle and Encounter 2025. For the first time, Ocala/Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau partnered with VISIT FLORIDA and World Equestrian Center—Ocala (WEC) to host these two renowned international travel trade and meeting planners tradeshows at WEC, Monday-Wednesday, Feb 3-5, 2025. Florida Huddle is the Sunshine State’s Official Travel Trade Show and Florida Encounter is one of the longest running appointment trade shows in the meetings and conference industry. Combined, these events welcomed industry experts like tour operators, travel agents, airlines, accommodators, destination marketing organizations, travel journalists, event and meetings planners and so much more.


VISIT FLORIDA’s Florida Huddle and Encounter are two concurrent tradeshows that broke records with an impressive 550 attendees representing 27 countries, who engaged in over 7,000 pre-scheduled appointments. The Ocala/Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau team alone completed 76 scheduled one-on-one appointments in just two days.


“We are immensely proud to have hosted Florida Huddle and Encounter here in Ocala/Marion County this week and are so thankful to our fantastic partners who have helped make this happen,” said Loretta Shaffer, Tourist Development Director for the Ocala/Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau. “The exposure from these two incredible tradeshows will deliver amazing results and future business for our community for years to come.”


The success of Florida Huddle and Encounter not only solidified its position as a premier international gathering, facilitating valuable connections and fostering potential partnerships, but also showcased both Ocala/Marion County and WEC as a top meeting destination. In addition to two days of appointments, the events featured an international update from VISIT FLORIDA, a media press briefing, speakers, an equine panel featuring local equestrian experts, networking events and more.


The Ocala/Marion County community embraced the attendees at Monday evening’s opening reception leaning into the Horse Capital of the World® with a derby theme, featuring a showcase from Grandview Clydesdales and welcoming remarks from Marion County Board of County Commission Chairman Kathy Bryant, Commissioner Carl Zalak, III, Tourist Development Director Loretta Shaffer, former VISIT FLORIDA CEO Dana Young, Senior Director of Sales at WEC Sarah Thacker and Director of Group Sales at WEC Rodney Gutierrez.


Florida Huddle and Encounter provided a dynamic platform for travel industry professionals to connect, collaborate, and explore new opportunities. The significant international presence underscored the excitement of the event being in Ocala/Marion County and the tradeshows’ global reach and impact. Ocala/Marion County proved to be an ideal host location, offering Expo 1 at WEC for the tradeshows’ floor, the Stirrups Terrace for the Opening Reception, and the entire WEC property for exploring and learning more about the Horse Capital of the World®.


Multiple additional venues, properties, restaurants, hotels and attractions took part in showing the attendees a warm welcome. The Ocala/Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau, VISIT FLORIDA and additional state tourism partners hosted various off-site special events at Bank Street Patio, The Pavilion at Green Gaits, Silver Springs State Park, The Canyons Zip Line and Adventure Park, Ivy on the Square, Mojo’s and Todd and Shelly's Farm Fresh Restaurant, Elevation 89 and Protea Weddings and Events.


# # #


About: Internationally renowned among equestrians, cyclists, geologists, and even the world of classic cinematography, Ocala/Marion County still feels like a hidden gem to those who aren’t already insiders. And yet, when you’re here, you’re never an outsider. The relaxed, genuine friendliness of the county’s communities makes you feel welcome wherever you go. From its otherworldly natural springs to the compounds of World Equestrian Center and Florida Aquatics Swimming and Training to its vibrant restaurants, quaint shops, dynamic arts and culture, and historic sites, the destination takes you by surprise in the best of ways. For more information about Ocala/Marion County, visit OcalaMarion.com or call toll free 1.888.FL.OCALA.