(L-R: John Lai, VISIT FLORIDA Chairman of the Board, Carol Dover, Dana Young, President & CEO, VISIT FLORIDA)
TAMPA, FL – Last night, during the Chairman’s Dinner of the annual VISIT FLORIDA Governor’s Conference on Tourism, Carol Dover, President and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, was inducted into the Florida Tourism Hall of Fame.
Since 2001, the VISIT FLORIDA Tourism Hall of Fame has recognized both contemporary and historic figures “whose vision, creative, and drive have had positive and significant impact on the development of Florida as a desirable visitor destination.”
“I am deeply honored to be inducted into the Florida Tourism Hall of Fame,” said Carol Dover, President & CEO of FRLA. “This recognition is not just a reflection of my individual efforts but a testament to the unwavering support of my faith, family, and the incredible dedication of our team. Over the past 30 years, our collective vision and hard work have shaped the hospitality and tourism industry in profound ways. This achievement is as much a celebration of their commitment as it is of my own. I am truly grateful for this distinction and look forward to continuing our journey of excellence together.”
For 30 years, Carol has led Florida’s premier hospitality trade industry association, whose mission is to protect, educate, and promote Florida’s $112 billion hospitality industry and its two million employees. During her tenure at FRLA, Dover has achieved countless significant victories for the industry, enhancing Florida’s economic strength and solidifying its status as a premier visitor destination.
These include the repeal of the alcohol beverage tax, which has saved hotels and restaurants billions of dollars; her fierce and successful advocacy for VISIT FLORIDA funding and the protection of the usage of Tourist Development Taxes to promote further tourism to Florida; and the creation of events to bring visitors to Florida following disasters like the BP Oil Spill, numerous hurricanes, Zika, COVID, and more, resulting in hundreds of millions in economic impact, supporting and creating new hospitality jobs and businesses. During the COVID-19 global pandemic, she successfully lobbied for Florida restaurants to stay open for curbside and carryout and helped pass alcohol-to-go, saving countless jobs and tens of thousands of Florida establishments whose world-class experiences attract visitors from across the globe.
First hired to run the Florida Restaurant Association, Carol relocated the organization from Hollywood, Florida, to Tallahassee to improve visibility and access to state leaders in the Capitol and influence positive change for tourism and hospitality priorities. In 2006, she led the merger with the Florida Hotel & Motel Association, uniting the industry and strengthening collaboration and advocacy between hotels and restaurants, creating a top influential trade association – the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association.
Ms. Dover has expanded the Florida ProStart Program to the largest in the nation with more than 215 schools and 30,000 students in the program annually – investing in the future of the Florida’s hospitality industry and training those who will welcome guests and create memorable experiences and reinforce Florida as a popular destination for visitors. Carol has provided instrumental influence to expand and fund the Florida Horse Park, helping to establish Ocala as the Horse Capital of the World ®, as well as her promotion of equestrian events across Central Florida and Wellington, contributing significantly to the success of “equi-tourism” to the point of more than $12.8 billion in economic impact for Florida.
FRLA continues it efforts every day to protect, educate, and promote the top industry in Florida – hospitality and tourism, and advance priorities that enhance the success of its more than 10,000 members.
About FRLA: The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) is Florida’s premier non-profit hospitality industry trade association. Founded in 1946 as the Florida Restaurant Association, FRLA merged with the Florida Hotel and Motel Association in 2006. FRLA’s more than 10,000 members include independent hoteliers and restaurateurs, household name franchises, theme parks, and suppliers. The association’s mission is to protect, educate, and promote Florida’s nearly $112 billion hospitality industry which represents 2 million employees. Dedicated to safeguarding the needs of the membership, FRLA provides legislative advocacy to ensure the voices of its members are heard and their interests are protected. The association offers regulatory compliance and food safety training through Safe Staff® and FRLA’s subsidiary, RCS Training. The FRLA Educational Foundation provides industry-developed, career-building high school programs throughout the state, including the nation’s largest ProStart culinary program and the Hospitality & Tourism Management Program.
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