FRLA’s Greater Pensacola Chapter Announces New Officers and Board of Directors for 2015

Contact:

Elizabeth Ray
FRLA Communications Director
850.224.2250 x255
[email protected]

(Pensacola, FL) – The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association’s (FRLA) Greater Pensacola Chapter today announced the installation of new officers. The installation took place in recently at the Hilton Garden Inn in Pensacola. The 2015 officers are:

2015 President	Gus Silivos, Scenic 90 Café/Nancy’s Catering & Events
VP of Lodging	Joe McCay, Margaritaville Hotel
VP of Restaurants	Dave Knudsen, Beef O’Brady’s
Treasurer	Robert Remig, Fisher Brown Insurance
Secretary	Becky Jones, Highpointe Hotel Corporation

“Our Greater Pensacola Chapter hit the ground running. We were thrilled to launch earlier this year and are proud to now have some of the best in the business on our area Board of Directors. We look forward to advocating for the hospitality industry at the local level and are excited to help continue to promote the state’s number one job creator,” said Gus Silivos, owner of Scenic 90 Café and Nancy’s Catering & Events.

In addition to the officers, the Greater Pensacola Chapter also swore in the following Board of Directors:

Lisa Assante, University of West Florida	Reid Radford, Alsco Linens
Steve Sapp, Heartland	Steve Mobley, Johnny Huston’s Grille and Bar
Dennis Barnes, Barnes Insurance	Beverly McCay, Holiday Inn Express Hotel
Maria Goldberg, Great Southern Restaurants Group	Alt: Drew Hardgrave, Hiles McLeod Insurance

For more information on the FRLA’s Greater Pensacola Chapter, please contact Regional Director John Bloodworth at [email protected]. You may also visit http://frla.org/chapters/greater-pensacola/.

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About the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association:

FRLA is Florida’s premier non-profit hospitality industry trade association. Our mission is to ‘Protect, Educate and Promote’ Florida’s $82 billion hospitality industry which represents 23% of Florida’s economy and more than 1.1 million employees – making it the state’s number one industry. We offer regulatory compliance and food safety training needs (RCS and SafeStaff®); industry developed career-building high school programs (FRLAEF); sponsor the only event in Florida exclusively serving the restaurant and foodservice industry (FR&L Show, October 6-8, 2015 in Orlando); and we safeguard the needs of the hospitality industry by providing legislative advocacy. We represent and serve more than 10,000 independent and household name members, suppliers, and theme parks. For more information, go to www.FRLA.org and find us on Twitter @FRLAnews, Facebook and YouTube.

About 2015 Chapter President, Gus Silivos:

Owner and Chef Gus P. Silivos is a third generation restaurateur. He owns and operates Scenic 90 Cafe and Nancy’s Catering & Events. Following in the footsteps of his step-father and grandfather, Gus began working in the family business at the age of 11. He learned each aspect of the restaurant with hands on experience. His formal education includes graduating with a Business degree from the University of West Florida. From there he pursued his love of the culinary by attending the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. He graduated in May of 1982. After graduation and internship he returned to Pensacola to the family business. Gus is a founding member of the local chapter of the American Culinary Federation. He has served as president and treasurer. He was instrumental in the development of a local culinary and apprenticeship program with Pensacola State College. Gus is actively involved in the Pensacola community. He is a member of Five Flags Rotary and a Paul Harris fellow. He has been a member of the FRLA for more than 40 years.

About 2015 Chapter VP of Lodging, Joe McCay:

Joe began his career in hospitality at the Dunes Hotel on Pensacola Beach after an 18 year career in education as a teacher and football coach. He took the job temporarily while awaiting his teaching transcripts to transfer. He became hooked on hospitality management. He went on to manage the Holiday Inn Pensacola Beach and currently is the General Manager of the Crowne Plaza Pensacola Grand and Operations Manager of the Margaritaville Beach Hotel, the first hotel and standard bearer of a successful new franchise. The Crowne Plaza has won two IHG Torchbearers and three IHG Quality Excellence Awards over the past five years. Margaritaville was named to the Expedia Select list and the Trip Advisor Hall of Fame after being open only five years. Joe has served as past President of the Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce. When not running between the 2 hotels Joe enjoys sailing, swimming, kayaking, and traveling, all with his wife, Bev.

About 2015 Chapter VP of Restaurants, Dave Knudsen:

David Knudsen for the past 10 years has been a Franchise Consultant for Family Sports Franchise Company, DBA, Beef ‘O’ Brady’s. His area covers 42 locations in nine states, along with locations in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Prior to his current role, David was Owner/Operator of Mr. Manatee’s Casual Grille, Cisco’s Mexican Restaurant, and Quietwater Beach Concessions. He also served as Vice President of Panhandle Foods, 18 Rax Restaurants in Florida, Mississippi, and Louisiana and as Director of Operations for seven Wendy’s in Pensacola and Ft Walton Beach. David has been with the FRLA since 1996, is a past Chapter President and served as Chairman of the FRLA’s Educational Foundation. He served in the United States Marine Corps, attended Harper College and LaSalle University, and has two children: Eric David and Allison.

About 2015 Chapter Treasurer, Robert Remig:

Rob Remig is Vice President, Insurance and Risk Consultant, with Fisher Brown Insurance. His responsibilities include risk analysis, program design, client development and retention. Prior to joining Fisher Brown, Rob held similar positions at Marsh and Aon in Silicon Valley. Rob began his career as an underwriter and reinsurance broker, with Aetna C&S and TPF&C, in New York.Rob holds a Bachelor’s degree with a Major in Insurance and Risk Management, from The Tobin School of Business, St Johns University. Rob lives in Gulf Breeze Florida with his sons. In his free time, Rob tinkers with his classic sports car and plays golf.

About 2015 Chapter Secretary, Becky Jones:

Becky Jones was promoted to the Area Sales Manager for Highpointe Hotel Corporation in 2014, representing the Hampton Inn Pensacola Airport, Homewood Suites Cordova Mall and the Hilton Garden Inn Pensacola Airport. Becky’s previous positions with Highpointe over the past 12 years include Director of Sales at Homewood Suites Cordova Mall, Sales Manager at Hilton Garden Inn Pensacola Airport, and Director of Sales at SpringHill Suites Pensacola Beach. Becky began her hospitality career in 1999 at the Comfort Inn Pensacola Beach, where she worked her way from Front Desk Representative to Sales Manager and then Assistant General Manager. Becky and her husband Charlie both grew up and live in Gulf Breeze, and are the parents of a nine year old daughter named Bella. In her spare time, Becky loves the beach, paddle boarding and spending time with her family.

Endless Summer Songwriters Series Brings Nashville’s Top Songwriters to Sandestin for Free Concerts

Contact:

Elizabeth Ray
FRLA Communications Director
850.224.2250 x255
[email protected]

(Miramar Beach, FL) – The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) in conjunction with Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI) is thrilled to present a FREE concert series on Thursday, October 1 through Saturday, October 3, 2015, at The Village of Baytowne Wharf in Miramar Beach, Florida. The sixth annual event, hosted by Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, will showcase more than a dozen BMI songwriters who will sing country’s biggest hits and share the stories behind the songs. The FRLA is the prime sponsor of these concert performances through its Endless Summer Songwriters Series program designed to promote the local tourism and hospitality industry throughout the year.

“This is a must-attend event for music fans. It’s an opportunity to interact with the songwriters who wrote the top singles on the radio and to hear the stories that inspired them,” said Carol Dover, President and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association. “We are eager to have festival goers take advantage of this exclusive opportunity to meet the artists in the incredible venues with fantastic views at The Village of Baytowne Wharf located within Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. It’s the perfect pairing of wonderful entertainment with a picturesque destination in Florida.”

“We are very excited about the Endless Summer Songwriters event coming to Sandestin,” said Mark Hodgdon, Senior Vice President and General Manager at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. “This is a great opportunity for people to visit South Walton to enjoy more than a dozen great songwriters performing inside The Village of Baytowne Wharf for an amazing weekend of music. We appreciate the partnership and vision of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association to bring this event to Sandestin where we plan to make it home for years to come.”

The concert schedule features acoustic performances by Nashville Songwriters including: Aaron Barker, Kendell Marvel, Alissa Moreno, Steve Bogard, Brent Cobb, Will Rambeaux, Sherrie Austin, Trent Summar, Karla Davis, Hailey Steele, Jamie Lee Thurston, Hugh Mitchell, Even Stevens and Carl Anderson whose songwriter resumes boast songs for chart-topping artists such as Blake Shelton, George Strait, Luke Bryan, Faith Hill, Rascal Flatts and many more. The public is invited to attend these free performances.

These nightly concerts will be held at numerous venues inside The Village of Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin and will be staged progressively, so fans will have the opportunity to see all performances. Locations inside the Village where the songwriters will perform include: Rum Runners, The Village Door, Hammerhead’s Bar & Grille, Graffiti & The Funky Blues Shack, and the Village Events Plaza stage.

Click here for more details about the songwriters and for the event schedule. Information about accommodations can be found here.

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About the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association
FRLA is Florida’s premier non-profit hospitality industry trade association. Our mission is to ‘Protect, Educate and Promote’ Florida’s $82 billion hospitality industry which represents 23% of Florida’s economy and more than 1.1 million employees – making it the state’s number one industry. We offer regulatory compliance and food safety training needs (RCS andSafeStaff®); industry developed career-building high school programs (FRLAEF); sponsor the only event in Florida exclusively serving the restaurant and foodservice industry (FR&L Show, October 6-8, 2015 in Orlando); and we safeguard the needs of the hospitality industry by providing legislative advocacy. We represent and serve more than 10,000 independent and household name members, suppliers, and theme parks. For more information, go to www.FRLA.org and find us on Twitter @FRLAnews, Facebook and YouTube.

About Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort
Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort is a major destination for all seasons and all ages, andwas named the #1 resort on Florida’s Emerald Coast. The resort invites guests to a world of 2,400 acres and 30 charming neighborhoods featuring more than 1,250 South Walton vacation rentals, condominiums, villas, town homes and the best in hotel accommodations. As a member of Visit South Walton and Visit Florida, the resort features more than seven miles of beaches and pristine bay front, four championship golf courses, 15 world-class tennis courts, 19 swimming pools, a 113-slip marina, a fitness center and spa, meeting space and The Village of Baytowne Wharf, a charming pedestrian village with events, shopping, dining and nightlife. People are invited to download Sandestin’s APP for iPhone and Android devices, or become a Facebook Fan or Twitter follower for the latest events and news.

FRLA Partners with Strategic Value Media to Develop Buyer’s Guide

(Tallahassee, FL) – The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) proudly partnered with Strategic Value Media (SVM) to develop a new buyer’s guide for its members. The Guide will serve as a resource that features updated and expanded company and product listings. Designed as an efficient way to browse for goods and services, it will offer restaurant and lodging suppliers an exceptional opportunity to showcase products and services. The Guide is now available online: http://www.flhospitalitybuyersguide.com/.

“The Guide is sure to be an essential resource for our members who are faced with day-to-day purchasing decisions,” said Dan Murphy, FRLA Vice President of Membership and Corporate Relations. “We want to be sure they have direct access to a vast network of industry suppliers and we are happy to provide them with this necessary information.”

SVM is a nationwide publisher and marketer of digital and print-based publications. They work with national, regional, state and local trade and industry associations to develop non-dues revenues. To learn more about advertising your products or services in The Guide, please email [email protected].

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About the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association
FRLA is Florida’s premier non-profit hospitality industry trade association. Our mission is to ‘Protect, Educate and Promote’ Florida’s $82 billion hospitality industry which represents 23% of Florida’s economy and more than 1.1 million employees – making it the state’s number one industry. We offer regulatory compliance and food safety training needs (RCS and SafeStaff®); industry developed career-building high school programs (FRLAEF); sponsor the only event in Florida exclusively serving the restaurant and foodservice industry (FR&L Show, October 6-8, 2015 in Orlando); and we safeguard the needs of the hospitality industry by providing legislative advocacy. We represent and serve more than 10,000 independent and household name members, suppliers, and theme parks. For more information, go to www.FRLA.org and find us on Twitter @FRLAnews, Facebook and YouTube.

FL Virtual Business Emergency Operations Center Activated

In response to the “West Central Florida Flooding 2015 Event” and the issuance of Governor’s Executive Order 15-158, the State Emergency Response Team through its Emergency Support Function-18, Business, Industry, and Economic Stabilization has activated the Florida Virtual Business Emergency Operations Center (FLVBEOC) to assist in assessing the impact that local businesses have experienced from the flooding. Affected businesses are being asked to complete a Business Damage Assessment Survey that can be obtained at: http://flvbeoc.org/index.php?action=bda. The survey results will be shared among various state and local agencies to expedite implementation of appropriate disaster relief programs for affected businesses.

Governor Rick Scott Highlights $74 Million for VISIT FLORIDA to Continue Record Tourism in the Sunshine State

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott visited the Clearwater Marine Aquarium to highlight $74 million in the “KEEP FLORIDA WORKING” budget to continue attracting record numbers of tourists to Florida. Last year, Florida welcomed a record 98.9 million visitors, who spent a total of $73 billion while in the Sunshine State.

Governor Scott said, “Florida is the best tourist destination for families. Every 85 visitors to our state support one job, and a growing tourism industry means more opportunities for our families and a stronger economy. With countless attractions like the Clearwater Marine Aquarium throughout our state, we are welcoming a record number of visitors to Florida each year. I look forward to our investments in VISIT FLORIDA continuing to grow jobs and promote Florida as the ultimate travel destination across the world.”

The number of travel-related jobs is up 4.8 percent over last year, employing 1.2 million Floridians. For every dollar that was invested in VISIT FLORIDA last year, the state saw a return of $3.20. This May, Governor Scott announced that according to VISIT FLORIDA, more than 28 million visitors came to Florida in the first quarter of 2015, an increase of 6.2 percent over last year and the largest first quarter for visitation in the state’s history.

Will Seccombe, President and CEO of VISIT FLORIDA, said “Our thriving tourism industry employs 1.2 million Floridians and is essential to maintaining the growing economy in our state. VISIT FLORIDA is grateful to Governor Scott for his support as we continue our work of promoting everything the Sunshine State has to offer and attracting another record number of visitors.”

The Clearwater Marine Aquarium rescues and rehabilitates injured animals in order to release them back into their natural habitat. They also provide long term care when animals cannot be released. In 2014, the Aquarium welcomed approximately 600,000 visitors, and are on track to welcome 800,000 visitors this year. The Clearwater Marine Aquarium also hosted the filming of both Dolphin Tale movies, which had an economic impact of $1.3 billion for the state from 2012-2014.

David Yates, President and CEO of Clearwater Marine Aquarium, said, “In the past four years, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium has welcomed an incredible number of visitors from across the country, and we appreciate Governor Scott’s focus on growing the economy and investing in tourism. The animals at our facility, including the beloved Winter and Hope from the Dolphin Tale movies, serve as symbols of courage, perseverance and hope, and we are proud to share their stories with the thousands of individuals who visit our Aquarium each year.”

Senate President Andy Gardiner said, “Florida is a world-class travel destination, and our state’s record number of tourists last year helps us continue to build on that reputation. More visitors mean more jobs for Florida’s families, which is why Governor Scott and the Legislature continue to invest in our thriving tourism industry.”

Senator Jeff Brandes said, “Governor Scott’s work to improve the economic climate and make investments in VISIT FLORIDA helps make Florida a top tourist destination. With this investment, our great attractions and beautiful climate, we look forward to welcoming another record number of visitors to our great state.”

House Speaker Steve Crisafulli said, “I am proud to join Governor Scott in recognizing our improved economic climate, our recent record tourism numbers, and the over 1 million Floridians that are employed by the tourism industry. By continuing to make strategic investments in tourism, we are working to build on this exciting success and create even more opportunities for families across the state.”

Majority Leader Dana Young said, “The $74 million for VISIT FLORIDA in the “KEEP FLORIDA WORKING” budget is great news for our state. This money will help Florida recruit more tourists to enjoy our world renowned beaches, attractions, and climate. We have made impressive gains in tourism, and we are excited to welcome more people to Florida.”

Rep. Larry Ahern said, “As Florida’s tourism industry continues to boom, I want to thank Governor Scott on behalf of beach communities and tourist destinations around the state for being so supportive. The growth of our state and our state’s economy is tied to those who choose to visit us. I applaud the Governor for keeping his focus on making Florida the best place to work, play, retire and visit.”

Representative Kathleen Peters said, “I thank Governor Scott for his investments in VISIT FLORIDA. Every 85 visitors that come to Florida support one Florida job, and we look forward to reaching our goal of 100 million visitors in Florida this year.”

Representative Chris Sprowls said, “Every year, more and more visitors come to visit the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, and this year they are on track to welcome 800,000 visitors from across the country. Funding for VISIT FLORIDA will help highlight attractions that create jobs, like the aquarium, and show visitors that Florida is the best travel destination in the world.”

Representative James Grant said, “I am grateful to Governor Scott for his support as we work to continue welcoming record numbers of visitors to the Sunshine State. The tourism industry is directly tied to Florida’s economy and is essential to job growth. Last year, 99 million visitors came to Florida and spent $73 billion, and we know VISIT FLORIDA will continue to recruit even more visitors to the Sunshine State.”

Representative Chris Latvala said, “I am proud Florida is one of the top tourist destinations in the world and that we on our way to reaching our goal of 100 million visitors in Florida. I congratulate Governor Scott for making important investments in tourism, which will greatly pay off for Florida’s economy and families.”

FRLA Statement on FDA’s Menu-Labeling Mandate Delay

Elizabeth Ray
FRLA Communications Director
850.224.2250 x255
[email protected]

(Tallahassee, FL) – The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has pushed the effective date for the federal menu-labeling regulation for chain restaurants and similar foodservice establishments to December 1, 2016. The FDA had originally set December 1, 2015, as the compliance date but said today that it is extending the compliance date in response to requests and in order to further clarify the rule’s requirements. Today, the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) released the following statement in response to the FDA’s determination.

“We applaud today’s decision by the Food and Drug Administration to require a nationwide, uniform menu-labeling standard for chain restaurants. The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, along with the National Restaurant Association, have long supported this universal approach, rather than inconsistent state-by-state guidelines which place undue burdens and restrictions on our restaurateurs. We look forward to our continued work with the FDA and the NRA in identifying best practices within many national establishments currently incorporating menu-labeling,” said Carol Dover, President and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association.

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About the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association
FRLA is Florida’s premier non-profit hospitality industry trade association. Our mission is to ‘Protect, Educate and Promote’ Florida’s $82 billion hospitality industry which represents 23% of Florida’s economy and more than 1.1 million employees – making it the state’s number one industry. We offer regulatory compliance and food safety training needs (RCS and SafeStaff®); industry developed career-building high school programs (FRLAEF); sponsor the only event in Florida exclusively serving the restaurant and foodservice industry (FR&L Show, October 6-8, 2015 in Orlando); and we safeguard the needs of the hospitality industry by providing legislative advocacy. We represent and serve more than 10,000 independent and household name members, suppliers, and theme parks. For more information, go to www.FRLA.org and find us on Twitter @FRLAnews, Facebook and YouTube.

Hospitality Industry Leaders Headline FRLA’s Marketing + Operations Summit

Media Contact:

Elizabeth Ray
FRLA Communications Director
850.224.2250 x255
[email protected]

(Tampa, FL) – The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) is proud to present its annual Marketing + Operations Summit, scheduled for Wednesday, July 29 and Thursday, July 30 at the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina. The two-day event is designed to spotlight hospitality industry leaders who have instituted best-practices in their own companies and introduce new business trends to increase sales and customer satisfaction. Featured world-class presenters from Coca-Cola, Firehouse Subs, Bloomin’ Brands, and Tijuana Flats will share marketing and operation tips and trends on how to manage your restaurant or hotel more effectively.

“This event is an opportunity to gain invaluable knowledge from some of the best in the business and this year, our line-up of speakers is truly stellar. We believe our Marketing + Operations Summit helps our colleagues in the hospitality and tourism industry boost their bottom lines and enhance their businesses. Here in the Sunshine State, we are incredibly proud of the exceptional guest experiences created every day and are excited to continue to cultivate our world-class service,” said Carol Dover, President and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association.

For a full schedule of events, including speaker bios, please click here. Media is invited to attend portions of the two day event and asked to contact FRLA Communications Director, Elizabeth Ray at [email protected] or 850.224.2250 x255 for confirmation.

WHAT:
Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association’s Marketing + Operations Summit

WHEN:
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
*Registration opens at 11:15 AM

12:15 – 1:15 PM Keynote: Ty Bennett, Founder of Leadership Inc.

1:35 – 5:00 PM Breakout Sessions

Thursday, July 30, 2015
8:00 – 8:45 AM Keynote: Don Fox, CEO Firehouse of America

James McManemon, General Manager, The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island

9:00 AM – 12:45 PM Breakout Sessions

1:00 – 2:30 PM Keynote: Jim Knight, Founder/Owner of Knight Speaker

WHERE:
Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina
700 South Florida Avenue, Tampa, FL 33602

813-221-4900

COST:
Pre-Registration: $149
At The Door: $169
Hotel and dinner accommodations not included. Seating is limited.

For registration and additional information, please visit: http://frla.org/event/2015-marketing-operations-summit/. To see photos from last year’s event please click here or to view a video, click here. Additionally, be sure to follow this event live on social media by searching for #FRLASummit.

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About the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association
FRLA is Florida’s premier non-profit hospitality industry trade association. Our mission is to ‘Protect, Educate and Promote’ Florida’s $82 billion hospitality industry which represents 23% of Florida’s economy and more than 1.1 million employees – making it the state’s number one industry. We offer regulatory compliance and food safety training needs (RCS and SafeStaff®); industry developed career-building high school programs (FRLAEF); sponsor the only event in Florida exclusively serving the restaurant and foodservice industry (FR&L Show, October 6-8, 2015 in Orlando); and we safeguard the needs of the hospitality industry by providing legislative advocacy. We represent and serve more than 10,000 independent and household name members, suppliers, and theme parks. For more information, go to www.FRLA.org and find us on Twitter @FRLAnews, Facebook and YouTube.

FRLA’s Statement on BP Settlement

On Thursday, BP and five Gulf states impacted by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill announced an $18.7 billion settlement. As part of the agreement in principle, Florida will receive at least $3.25 billion. Immediately following the settlement, FRLA President and CEO, Carol Dover, issued the following statement:

“On behalf of our more than 10,000 Florida hoteliers, restaurateurs, and hospitality and tourism members, we applaud Governor Rick Scott and Attorney General Pam Bondi for their steadfast leadership in fighting for the economic and environmental dollars owed to those who support Florida’s economic engine. Five years after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, we still do not know the extent of the damage done to the Gulf, however this is a first step in making our industry whole.”

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About the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association 
FRLA is Florida’s premier non-profit hospitality industry trade association. Our mission is to ‘Protect, Educate and Promote’ Florida’s $82 billion hospitality industry which represents 23% of Florida’s economy and more than 1.1 million employees – making it the state’s number one industry. We offer regulatory compliance and food safety training needs (RCS and SafeStaff®); industry developed career-building high school programs (FRLAEF); sponsor the only event in Florida exclusively serving the restaurant and foodservice industry (FR&L Show, October 6-8, 2015 in Orlando); and we safeguard the needs of the hospitality industry by providing legislative advocacy. We represent and serve more than 10,000 independent and household name members, suppliers, and theme parks. Find us on Twitter @FRLAnews, Facebook and YouTube.

FRLA Warns Consumers to Watch Out for Hotel Booking Scams

Media Contact:

Elizabeth Ray
FRLA Communications Director
850.224.2250 x255
[email protected]

(Tallahassee, FL) – As families book vacations this summer, the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) is continuing to warn consumers about fraudulent hotel booking practices. Nationally, it is estimated by the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AH&LA) that there are 2.5 million bookings a year that are deceptive, which amounts to $220 million. With one in three travelers booking online, FRLA and AH&LA want to ensure that consumers don’t suffer the consequences from lost rooms, bad bookings, cancellation fees and charges. Earlier this month, the Florida Congressional Delegation sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requesting an investigation into these practices.

“These fraudulent vendors are putting consumers at risk. They’re tricking guests by offering bad deals disguised as discounts, creating false identities and using questionable privacy practices. We commend the Florida Congressional Delegation for urging the FTC to open an investigation. We want visitors to experience the exceptional accommodations we have here in Florida and we aim to help protect them from these scammers,” said Carol Dover, President and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association.

The following is a list of tips for consumers planning to book hotels online:

Beware of where you book: Make sure you know who you are dealing with. Third party vendors often make promises they cannot keep, and they likely cannot help if something goes wrong.

Book direct: Consumers should book directly with the hotel either via web or phone to avoid being scammed. This is always the safest bet and will ensure you are protected and get the best value.

Only use trusted sites: Although the hotel’s name may be part of the URL, double check the website address to ensure it’s not a third-party vendor.

Be sure you call the hotel directly and ask the right questions when booking to ensure you protect your information, your reservation, your points and your credit information.
What is the privacy policy? Make sure your personal information isn’t harvested.
What is the cancellation/trip change policy? Most of these third party booking sites don’t allow cancellations, changes, or any sort of refunds.
Is the site, in any way, affiliated with the hotel? If no, your points may not be honored.
Is it a secure payment site? The URL should have a small lock and should start with https:// as opposed to just http://.

Contact the Federal Trade Commission: If a vendor has misrepresented itself to you or if you’ve fallen victim to a hotel booking scam, contact the FTC to alert them to the issue. Visit ftc.gov/complaint to file your complaint.

About the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association
FRLA is Florida’s premier non-profit hospitality industry trade association. Our mission is to ‘Protect, Educate and Promote’ Florida’s $82 billion hospitality industry which represents 23% of Florida’s economy and more than 1.1 million employees – making it the state’s number one industry. We offer regulatory compliance and food safety training needs (RCS and SafeStaff®); industry developed career-building high school programs (FRLAEF); sponsor the only event in Florida exclusively serving the restaurant and foodservice industry (FR&L Show, October 6-8, 2015 in Orlando); and we safeguard the needs of the hospitality industry by providing legislative advocacy. We represent and serve more than 10,000 independent and household name members, suppliers, and theme parks. For more information, go to www.FRLA.org and find us on Twitter @FRLAnews, Facebook and YouTube.

FRLA Announces Partnership with Florida Bed and Breakfast Inns Association

Media Contact:

Elizabeth Ray
FRLA Communications Director
850.224.2250 x255
[email protected]

(Tallahassee, FL) – The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) and the Florida Bed and Breakfast Inns Association (FBBI) are thrilled to announce their new partnership cultivated to boost hospitality industry advocacy, education and promotion in the Sunshine State. This collaboration will bring together two non-profit organizations aimed at developing unique guest experiences, safeguarding the needs of the industry, and attracting visitors to Florida.

“We are proud to partner with the Florida Bed and Breakfast Inns Association because its members provide intimate atmospheres that give a firsthand glimpse of all that Florida has to offer. They showcase exceptional hospitality and understand the unnecessary burdens faced by many businesses in our industry. Through this partnership, we can help engage more industry leaders all working toward the same objective to ensure the success of Florida hospitality,” said Carol Dover, President and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association.

“With support from the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, we will collectively boost our efforts across the state. FRLA has a proven track record of legislative successes, membership growth, and exciting promotional opportunities. With our unique properties and FRLA’s expansive reach, we believe we can help our industry continue to thrive,” said Patricia Detwiler, Managing Director of Florida Bed and Breakfast Inns.

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About the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association
FRLA is Florida’s premier non-profit hospitality industry trade association. Our mission is to ‘Protect, Educate and Promote’ Florida’s $82 billion hospitality industry which represents 23% of Florida’s economy and more than 1.1 million employees – making it the state’s number one industry. We offer regulatory compliance and food safety training needs (RCS and SafeStaff®); industry developed career-building high school programs (FRLAEF); sponsor the only event in Florida exclusively serving the restaurant and foodservice industry (FR&L Show, October 6-8, 2015 in Orlando); and we safeguard the needs of the hospitality industry by providing legislative advocacy. We represent and serve more than 10,000 independent and household name members, suppliers, and theme parks. For more information, go to www.FRLA.org and find us on Twitter @FRLAnews, Facebook and YouTube.

About Florida Bed and Breakfast Inns
The mission of the Florida Bed and Breakfast Inns Association is Marketing, Advocacy and Education for the Bed and Breakfast Industry in the State of Florida. FBBI is committed to fostering a knowledgeable, caring and conscientious community of professional innkeepers, networking throughout Florida to help member inns achieve their marketing goals and deliver the highest level of professionalism and experience. The vision of FBBI is to increase membership and to promote member inns, improve innkeeping through education and advocacy and enhance the value of membership to innkeepers. FBBI strives to aid the bed and breakfast industry through marketing, by initiating advocacy, providing programs, resources and services that enhance the professional skills of both member innkeepers and aspiring innkeepers and provide education, networking, and business opportunities relating to the bed and breakfast industry.