• by Erik Sass  @eriksass1, October 5, 2015

National Geographic is venturing into new areas of sponsored content in its new partnership with the Visit Florida tourism authority, centering on a new content hub highlighting the natural beauty of Florida’s national, state and private parks.

The content hub, called “Florida’s Pristine Parks,” is hosted on the travel section of the National Geographic Web site, and carries display advertising linking to VisitFlorida.com, as well as links to NatGeo’s own branded travel service, National Geographic Expeditions.  

Content includes photo galleries and text about parks and natural preserves, including high-profile destinations like the Everglades National Park, as well as less well-known spots, such as the Gulf Islands National Seashore. Blogs by National Geographic photographers give readers an inside look at their work as they document Florida’s natural attractions (and the human beings who visit and live near them).

One gallery features aerial photography of the parks, while another showcases activities available to visitors like snorkeling and kayaking. The hub also offers travel tips and recommendations for additional tourism destinations near the parks.

To promote the hub, NatGeo is launching an Instagram photo contest called “Explore Florida Outdoors,” inviting photographers to tag photos of Florida’s natural beauty with #FloridaOutdoorsContest for a chance to win a trip for two to Fort Myers and Sanibel.

Earlier this year, National Geographic Travel launched “Florida by Land and Water,” a content hub highlighting the top natural experiences in Florida, including an interactive map and reader recommendations.

NatGeo’s media operations are undergoing a big shake up in corporate ownership. Last month, Fox announced that it will pay $725 million to the National Geographic Society to form a new media entity, called National Geographic Partners. It will be 73% owned by Fox and 27% owned by the National Geographic Society.