Gov. Scott: Florida Smashes All-Time Record Quarter for Tourism

Today, Governor Rick Scott announced that Florida set another record in tourism numbers by welcoming the highest amount of visitors of any quarter in the state’s history according to VISIT FLORIDA. In the first quarter of 2015 (January-March), 28.4 million visitors came to the state, an increase of 6.2 percent over the same period in 2014. The previous high for a quarter for tourism was 26.7 million visitors in quarter one last year. The average number of direct travel-related jobs in quarter one of 2015 was also a record high, with 1,186,900 Floridians employed in the tourism industry – up 4.8 percent from the same period in 2014.

Governor Scott said, “I am proud to announce that the Sunshine State continued our record breaking success and welcomed the most visitors of any quarter in Florida’s history. Our growing tourism industry employs over 1 million Floridians and is helping us meet our goal of becoming the global destination for jobs. We are excited to start 2015 off with our biggest quarter ever, which puts us on pace to exceed our goal of 100 million visitors to Florida this year.”

VISIT FLORIDA estimates that 2.9 million overseas visitors and 1.7 million Canadians came to Florida in quarter one of 2015, both of which are record highs and represent 7.1 percent and 1.2 percent increases over quarter one of 2014 respectively. Estimates also show that 23.8 million domestic visitors traveled to Florida in quarter one of 2015, reflecting a 6.5 percent increase over the same period last year.

“Experiencing the largest quarter for tourism in our state’s history, including and especially a record number of tourism-related jobs, proves that tourism continues to be a vital force in Florida,” said Andrew Hertz, Chair of the VISIT FLORIDA Board of Directors. “These records also emphasize the power of tourism as a way to sustain Florida’s economic growth.”

Tourism and recreation taxable sales for Florida increased year-over-year for January and February 2015 (last reported month), representing a 10.0 percent increase over the same period in 2014. For quarter one of 2015, the average daily room rate (ADR) rose 7.6 percent, the occupancy rate for Florida hotels increased 3.7 percent and the demand in rooms sold grew 5.1 percent compared to quarter one of 2014.

“With all indicators continuing to climb, Florida tourism has strong momentum,” said Will Seccombe, President and CEO of VISIT FLORIDA. “In addition to the record visitation, our market share is outpacing the rest of the nation, putting us well on our way to making Florida the No. 1 travel destination in the world.”

John Tomlin, Vice Chair of the VISIT FLORIDA Board of Directors and Chief Operating Officer for The Auto Club Group said, “Achieving record visitation for the first quarter of 2015 provides strong momentum towards our goal of bringing 100 million visitors to Florida this year. Florida is fortunate to have the strong support of Governor Scott and the Legislature, as well as increased funding matched by dollars from great industry partners. This support allows VISIT FLORIDA to reach even more markets and potential visitors with compelling reasons to visit Florida and create memories for a lifetime. With continued support, the Sunshine State is poised to become the No. 1 travel destination in the world.”

Carol Dover, Member of the VISIT FLORIDA Board of Directors and President & CEO of the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association said, “The hospitality industry here in Florida is world-class, so it’s no wonder why visitors are continuing to flock to our great state in astounding record numbers. We are thrilled to host millions of guests at our exceptional restaurants, hotels and attractions and are proud to create opportunities for families that allow them to enjoy all the Sunshine State has to offer. With continued VISIT FLORIDA support from Governor Scott and the Legislature, we can once again increase the number of visitors, jobs created and revenue generated to ensure Florida remains a wonderful place to live, work and play.”

Bill Lupfer, Chair of the VISIT FLORIDA Public Affairs Committee and President & CEO of the Florida Attractions Association said, “Florida’s outstanding attractions and iconic destinations have a lot to be proud of, and the first quarter is just that – the first in what is sure to be another stellar year. As we continue to shatter industry records and make the Sunshine State the gold standard for tourism across the country and around the world, we are grateful for the hard work of our industry partners and the support of Governor Scott and the Florida Legislature.”

Lino Maldonado, Chair of the VISIT FLORIDA Industry Relations Committee and Vice President of Operations for ResortQuest by Wyndham Vacation Rentals said, “Another record shattering quarter for Florida tourism is not really a surprise. It’s actually the byproduct of tremendous efforts each and every day by those who serve their guests with a passion and deliver GREAT experiences. We are fortunate to have a Governor and Legislature that support our industry and VISIT FLORIDA so that we can continue to share the beautiful stories of our State with the world.”

To view additional Florida visitor data, please go to the Research page on VISIT FLORIDA’s media website.

*Preliminary estimates are issued 45 days after the end of each calendar quarter. Final estimates are released when final data are received for all estimates in the report.

Panama City Beach Businesses, Community Leaders, and Law Enforcement Prepare for Safe and Successful Spring Break at Hospitality Workshop

Media Contact:
Elizabeth Ray
FRLA Communications Director
850.224.2250 x255
ERay@FRLA.org

Panama City Beach Businesses, Community Leaders, and Law Enforcement Prepare for Safe and Successful Spring Break at Hospitality Workshop

– FRLA’s RCS to Host FREE Responsible Vendor Training in Panama City on Feb. 24^th –

(Panama City Beach, FL) – Regulatory Compliance Services (RCS), a subsidiary of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) is proud to present its 2015 Spring Break Hospitality Workshop to promote a safe and successful spring break season. This free responsible vendor training session will bring together businesses, community leaders and law enforcement to promote alcohol sales best practices, raise staff awareness, and advise the local hospitality industry on recent changes to the local law. The event will be held Tuesday, February 24, 2015 from 2:00 – 4:00 PM at the Boardwalk Beach Resort in Panama City Beach.

“In preparation for spring break, we are pleased to work closely with our local hospitality community and raise awareness of recent local ordinance changes that will cultivate a more safe and enjoyable environment for our businesses and spring breakers alike,” said Panama City Beach Mayor Gayle Oberst.

Mayor Oberst is slated to speak at the event alongside Panama City Beach City Manager Mario Gisbert and Panama City Beach Police Chief Drew R. Whitman. They will be actively involved in discussion during the workshop, which will include training presented by RCS in coordination with Florida’s Division of Alcohol Beverages and Tobacco.

“As Florida’s premier provider of responsible alcohol vendor training, we are passionate about server and seller alcohol education. We are thrilled to partner with Panama City Beach government and business leaders to actively support a safe and memorable spring break season,” said FRLA Vice President of Education and Training, Geoff Luebkemann.

Responsible vendor training is a program offered to bar and restaurant staff. Instructors present state-mandated content that encourages best management practices and patron safety. Participants learn about alcohol laws, avoiding serving underage patrons, and preventing over-serving patrons. The training contributes to fewer underage alcohol sales, reduced DUIs, and increased professionalism and knowledge among those selling and serving alcohol to patrons. Alcohol beverage licensees who successfully qualify and remain responsible vendors enjoy certain protections under the law for their license, and may reduce their risk liability exposure and costs.

The media is invited to attend the workshop and if planning to be present will need to contact FRLA Communications Director Elizabeth Ray at 850.224.2250 x255 or via email at ERay@frla.org.

WHAT:

2015 Spring Break Hospitality Workshop

Includes FRLA’s RCS FREE Responsible Vendor Training

WHEN:

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

2:00 – 4:00 PM

WHERE:

Boardwalk Beach Resort

9450 South Thomas Drive

Panama City Beach, FL 32408

Businesses looking to participate in the event should contact RCS Northwest Regional Manager, Caitie Mook at 850-933-3762 or cmook@frla.org. For more information about RCS please visit http://www.regcomplianceusa.com/.

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 $76.1 billion hospitality industry which represents 23% of Florida’s economy, $4.6 billion in sales tax revenue, and nearly 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.

Chef Emeril Lagasse Tours Family Owned and Operated Restaurants on Latest Episode of Emeril’s Florida

Media Contact:
Elizabeth Ray, ERay@FRLA.org, 850.224.2250 x255
Christina Johnson, Christina@On3PR.com, 850.391.5040

(Tallahassee, FL) – The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) is proud to present this week’s episode of Emeril’s Florida airing Sunday, March 8, 2015, at 2:30 p.m. EST on the Cooking Channel. In Sunday’s episode, celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse travels to Key Largo, Daytona Beach and Homestead to visit two restaurants and a farm that are all family-owned and -operated.

“Family run restaurants create flavors that are unique to Florida and play a vital role in our state’s economy,” said Carol Dover, President and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association. “FRLA is thrilled that this week’s episode of Emeril’s Florida features establishments that have become cuisine landmarks in the state through the support and loyalty of their local communities.”

Emeril’s first stop on the “Family Owned & Operated” episode is Key Largo where he visits the Conch House owned by the Dreaver Family. Ted and Laura Dreaver moved to Florida and opened a restaurant with no prior experience, and it paid off. Family is a big part of their business. All their family members work, or have worked, for the successful restaurant. Over time, the restaurant has become known for great food. The menu is classic Florida Keys cuisine, but with their own family twist. They serve plenty of conch as well as other favorites such as hogfish, yellowtail, and even the newly popular lionfish when available.

Emeril then heads to Daytona Beach to visit The Cellar, one of the best Italian restaurants in Northeast Florida. Sam and Lina Moggio purchased the historic home of President Warren G. Harding and, seeing a need for fine dining in the Daytona Beach area, transformed the basement into a beautiful cellar restaurant. It opened to the public 11 years ago. Sam, a CIA trained chef and a 31-year veteran of the industry, oversees the restaurant’s kitchen and ensures everything served at The Cellar is authentic and made from scratch. Lina manages the hand-selected wine lists and the front-of-house operations. Emeril sits down with the couple and samples some of their signature dishes including Polenta con Salsiccia e Porcini, Ravioli di Carne alla Montepertuso, and Filetto al Barolo e Porcini.

The third stop for Emeril is Teena’s Pride in Homestead. Teena Borek owns the farm and works alongside her two sons. Teena came to South Florida in the 1970s and met Steven, a Homestead vegetable farmer. The couple married and had two sons, Michael and Steven Jr. After her husband’s untimely death, she ran the 500-acre vegetable farm knowing very little about farming or farm management. For the last 35 years, Teena has been an active member of the Dade farming community, and at one time, was the only female farmer in the area. The farm grows heirloom tomatoes, arugula, spring lettuce, herbs, heritage eggplant and peppers that are supplied to area restaurants as well as more than 350 families throughout the year via their Community Supported Agriculture organization. Emeril spends time with Teena to hear their story and see the farm.

The show reruns on Monday, March 9 at 9:30 a.m. EST and Thursday, March 12 at 10:30 a.m. EST. Please check local listings.

Emeril’s Florida Season Three is a 13-episode series highlighting the Sunshine State through the eyes of Emeril on-location with a focus on food, cooking, events and activities around the state. Throughout the third season, Emeril will be visiting Florida’s top restaurants and resorts. He will also prepare some of his favorite recipes which often will feature some of the best seafood Florida has to offer. The FRLA and VISIT FLORIDA sponsor the series. For additional information on the series, including links to previous episodes, please go to the Cooking Channel website here. For a preview of Sunday’s episode, click here.

Editor’s Note:
For photo and video requests of Emeril Lagasse with local chefs, photos of dishes prepared, and recipes of featured dishes, please contact Elizabeth Ray at ERay@FRLA.orgor 850.224.2250 x255, or Christina Johnson at Christina@On3PR.com or 850.391.5040.

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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 $76.1 billion hospitality industry which represents 23% of Florida’s economy, $4.6 billion in sales tax revenue, and more than one 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.

Tallahassee Restaurants to Offer Fantastic Food at Mouth-Watering Prices During Capital Cuisine Restaurant Week and Concert Series May 14-26

Media Contact:

Elizabeth Ray
FRLA Communications Director
850.224.2250 x255
ERay@FRLA.org

(Tallahassee, Fla.) – The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) is delighted to partner with Visit Tallahassee and VISIT FLORIDA for the fourth annual Capital Cuisine Restaurant Week and Concert Series, May 14 – 26, 2015. During the 13-day event, fresh seafood, farm-to-table creations, fusion fare and tasty tapas will be showcased on multi-course prix fixe menus starting at $15 for lunch and $30 for dinner at many of the area’s local restaurants. In addition to the mouth-watering restaurant specials, Tallahassee will be the backdrop to musical performances held throughout the Week.

“Capital Cuisine Week is a great way for Tallahassee restaurants to show off what this great city has to offer to the palettes of residents and visitors alike,” said Carol Dover, President and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association. “Tallahassee’s culinary offerings continue to expand, and this event provides participants unique and diverse dining experiences in which to showcase our member restaurants.”

Last year, more than two dozen establishments participated in the event, and FRLA sponsored three concerts attended by hundreds of Tallahasseans. This year promises even more participation of both restaurateurs and residents who have been wanting to try local fare.

FRLA urges restaurant owners and chefs to join this unique experience. To learn how you can get involved, please contact FRLA’s Northwest Florida Regional Director Ray Green at 850-545-5901 or by e-mail at RGreen@FRLA.org. You may also contact Visit Tallahassee’s Marketing Communications Director Lauren Shoaf Pace at 850-606-2322 or by e-mail at Lauren.Pace@VisitTallahassee.com.

For additional information such as participating restaurants and their menus, visit http://www.visittallahassee.com/capital-cuisine-restaurant-week-concert-series.

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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 $76.1 billion hospitality industry which represents 23% of Florida’s economy, $4.6 billion in sales tax revenue, and more than one 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. – See more at: http://frla.org/frla-news/item/1537–tallahassee-restaurants-to-offer-fantastic-food-at-mouth-watering-prices-during-capital-cuisine-restaurant-week-and-concert-series-may-14-26#sthash.Nv5bSx9p.dpuf