Space Coast’s Top Ambassador: Peter Cranis Named 2025 Space Coast Daily Person of the Year

Space Coast Office of Tourism closed fiscal year with a record-breaking performance

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – By any measure—hotel growth, tourism revenue, or national visibility—2025 has been a milestone year for Florida’s Space Coast.

At the center of that momentum is Peter Cranis, executive director of the Space Coast Office of Tourism, who has been selected as the 2025 Space Coast Person of the Year for his leadership in driving record-setting performance and reshaping how the region presents itself to the world.

Cranis, who has led the county’s official tourism agency since March 2019, closed the most recent fiscal year with a benchmark that few communities ever reach. Brevard’s Tourist Development Tax (TDT) collections finished at $25,957,657 in Fiscal Year 2024–25—an all-time record for a single year.

“We finished the year at just under $26 million… a new record for a single fiscal year,” Cranis said in announcing the final tally. The total surpassed FY 2023–24 by 2.8% ($25.26 million) and edged past the previous high in FY 2022–23 by 1.6%.

That growth caps a remarkable arc under Cranis’ tenure. When he took over the agency in 2019, annual TDT proceeds were about $16 million. Today, they exceed $25 million—a tangible indicator, county leaders say, of both visitation strength and the effectiveness of a modernized destination strategy.

Balancing Growth with Realism

September collections provided a snapshot of the complexity Cranis manages. The month closed at $1.628 million, down slightly—0.7%—from the same month last year. Cranis did not spin the number.

“While we are excited to have reached a new high, we are cautiously optimistic as we enter a new fiscal year,” he said, noting mixed signals such as lower occupancy rates and some softening in Average Daily Rate (ADR).

At the same time, he points to clear tailwinds: the county’s hotel inventory has expanded to 11,438 rooms, up from 10,857 a year earlier. The cruise business remains a major catalyst as well, with the port expecting 18 homeported ships next year, up from 16 this year.

And on land and in the sky, Florida’s most distinctive calling card continues to deliver: increasing rocket launch activity brings travelers and attention year-round.

Turning Launches into Lasting Stays

Cranis has made space tourism a signature advantage. Visitor research shared during an interview on Space Coast Daily TV shows 41% of overnight visitors say a rocket launch attempt is the primary reason they came.

Those travelers stay 4.8 nights on average and spend more than $3,100 per travel party. The Space Coast’s top feeder states after Florida—Georgia, New York, Pennsylvania, and California—reflect the national reach of that draw.

Day visitors tell a complementary story. A county study found 74% travel for leisure, led by beach days (58%) and launch viewing. The average day visitor spends $239 per day, and one in seven pairs the trip with a cruise, underscoring the region’s growing role as a gateway for sailings.

More Rooms—and Opportunity—On the Way

Cranis’ team is also preparing for a significant expansion of the region’s lodging base. Three new hotels opened in 2024, with seven more expected in 2025—adding more than 1,000 rooms. The pipeline continues with three new hotels in 2026, nine in 2027 (more than 1,600 rooms), and five in 2028.

For event organizers and attractions, the Space Coast Office of Tourism is expanding support through its 2025–2026 Marketing Support Program, which offers up to $740,000 to cultural and sporting events that attract overnight visitors. The application window closes June 9 at 9 a.m.

Graduate of Eau Gallie High, UCF

Cranis’ path to the Space Coast has been built on marketing at scale. Before returning to Brevard County to lead its tourism agency, he served as Vice President of Global Consumer & Convention Marketing for Visit Orlando for more than 16 years, a role that put him in the cockpit of one of the world’s most competitive visitor markets.

His career also includes leadership posts at Merlin Entertainments, AAA National, and the Kirchman Corporation.

His resume reflects what the local results demonstrate: strategic marketing, international market development, and the ability to build organizations for growth.

Just as important, colleagues say, is his emphasis on stewardship.

Cranis highlights a growing traveler mindset centered on sustainability—protecting beaches, habitats, and neighborhoods so tourism remains an asset for generations.

His agency now targets visitors inclined to “leave the destination as healthy as they found it,” while partnering with community organizations to connect tourism to economic development and workforce recruitment—inviting visitors to picture a life as well as a vacation on the Space Coast.

Under Cranis, TDT dollars fund more than advertising. The tax supports beach renourishment, capital facilities, community grants for events, and anchor institutions—from the Brevard Zoo to Space Coast Stadium—and the county’s visitor center network.

It’s a portfolio approach: market the destination, protect its natural assets, and invest in experiences that turn first-time guests into ambassadors.

A graduate of Eau Gallie High School, Cranis earned both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in communication from the University of Central Florida, graduating summa cum laude. Away from spreadsheets and strategy meetings, he unwinds with a guitar. “I love playing and singing—mostly to myself,” he says.

Yet the Soundtrack of 2025 remains unmistakable: surf, engines—and rockets.

For turning that soundtrack into sustained success, Peter Cranis is the clear choice for 2025 Space Coast Person of the Year.

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