[Tallahassee, Fla.] Today, Gov. Ron DeSantis unveiled his budget, The Bold Vision for a Brighter Future, recommending $76 million for VISIT FLORIDA. This amount keeps the funding at its current level and underscores the importance of the tourism industry to our state’s economy. VISIT FLORIDA serves as the official tourism marketing organization for the state and targets potential visitors from out-of-state as well as out-of-country through a variety of partnerships and programs.

“We are proud to see that Gov. DeSantis recognizes the importance of tourism in Florida and has chosen to recommend we continue to support VISIT FLORIDA,” said Carol Dover, CEO / President of the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association. “The number of visitors to our great state has risen as a result of the marketing efforts of VISIT FLORIDA, and I am excited to see how this continuation of support will positively impact our state’s economy.”

Regarding his budget recommendation, Gov. DeSantis said, “While Florida continues to grow and diversify economically, it is undeniable that the tourism industry is one of our state’s economic foundations. Florida’s prosperity in recent years is due in no small part to the economic activity generated by over 100 million visitors to Florida every year. Although our state has much to offer, we cannot rest on our laurels and hope that our tourism success will continue without a strong state-level marketing program.

“The Bold Vision for a Brighter Future budget recommends $76 million for VISIT FLORIDA, the same amount as in the current fiscal year. VISIT FLORIDA serves as the state’s official tourism marketing corporation and Florida’s official source for travel planning to visitors across the globe. The organization, along with its partners, facilitates tourism industry participation through various domestic and international marketing opportunities (e.g. domestic and international trade shows and consumer shows and media missions) to top global visitor markets. VISIT FLORIDA also works closely with tour operators, travel agents and event planners as part of its marketing activities. In addition, the state’s five Official Welcome Centers are staffed by VISIT FLORIDA. At this proposed level of funding, we can be assured that Florida will set another record for the number of tourists visiting our state.”

In addition to VISIT FLORIDA’s domestic and international marketing efforts, the organization works to drive visitors to areas that have been negatively impacted by various disasters. Programs such as Red Tide Recover and Hurricane Recovery Support offer complimentary brochure distribution at the state’s welcome centers, marketing partnerships and exposure on the VISIT FLORIDA website. Designed to help areas quickly recover in the wake of a disaster, these programs benefit tourism-related businesses like hotels and restaurants.

For more full details of Gov. DeSantis’ Bold Vision for a Brighter Future budget, click here.

[Destin, Fla] On Jan. 31, the Northwest Florida Chapter of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) partnered with Visit South Walton and the Emerald Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) to recognize the men and women who have had a positive impact on the area’s tourism. Nearly 300 people gathered at The Henderson Beach Resort to celebrate the those on the frontlines of the region’s critical tourism industry. Area hotels, vacation rentals and restaurants nominated more than 50 individuals for 12 categories designed specifically to acknowledge those making a difference in Walton County hospitality. Last night’s winners each received a plaque and $500 to thank them for their commitment to hospitality.

“Tourism is the state’s largest industry, and it’s certainly an economic driver here,” said Nick Lowe, Regional Director for FRLA and the event’s organizer. “A great experience brings visitors back again and again, and our honorees are the ones ensuring our guests have positive, memorable trips year after year. We are proud to honor these heroes for their service and impact.”

The 2019 Hospitality Heroes are:

Best Restaurant Manager: Jason Schiess, Great Southern Café, 45 Central Wine & Sushi Bar, Meltdown on 30A

Best Hotel/Resort Manager: Phyllis Shanks, ResortQuest by Wyndham

Best Culinary Manage: Chef Jim Shirley, Jim Shirley Enterprises

Best Front of House Associate, Restaurant: Angelia Anderson, Floyd’s Shrimp House

Best Front of House Associate, Hotel/Resort: Tamee Huggins, Henderson Park Inn

Best Back of House Associate, Restaurant: Jose Arias, Jr., Brotula’s

Best Back of House Associate, Hotel/Resort: Eddie Gray, Newman – Dailey

Supplier of the Year: Heartland Payment Systems

Best Sales and Marketing Associate: Misty Rae, Saltwater Restaurant Group

Best Arts and Culture Experience: Culture Arts Alliance of Walton County

Best Event: South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival

Spirit of Hospitality: The St. Joe Company

[Palm Beach, Fla] The Palm Beach Chapter of the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association (FRLA) will host the fifth annual Palm Beach E.A.T.S. on Friday, Jan. 25 at the West Palm Beach Hilton. E.A.T.S. is the Education and Agriculture Together Showcase and was designed to highlight Palm Beach County’s tourism and agriculture industries and to benefit hospitality students. Each year, local high school students team up with Palm Beach chefs to create dishes using fresh ingredients from area farms. Open to the community, tickets are available online starting at $100.

“Palm Beach E.A.T.S. is an incredibly powerful event for the hospitality community,” said Nick Velardo, Committee Chair for E.A.T.S. and Vice President of Food and Beverage for The Breakers. “By pairing students who are interested in the culinary arts with seasoned experts, we strengthen the future of the hospitality industry overall. Further, when we add local farmers to the mix and open the event to the public, we promote our county’s top two industries and underscore their importance in Palm Beach.”

This year, E.A.T.S. will be held in the open-air garden of the West Palm Beach Hilton, and attendees will dine on dishes created by the culinary students / chef teams. In addition, guests will have the opportunity to bid on silent auction items including resort getaways, hotel stays, restaurant gift certificates, spa packages and golf rounds. Started in 2014, the Palm Beach E.A.T.S. event benefits high school culinary and hospitality students who wish to pursue an advanced degree. As a result of last year’s event, the Palm Beach Chapter of FRLA granted more than $14,000 in scholarships, and FRLA Regional Director Jodi Cross believes that E.A.T.S. 2019 will be even more successful.

“We have an unbelievable line-up of 12 area restaurants and farms participating this year,” Cross said. “Using locally-grown produce and homegrown goods, the students and chefs will prepare fabulous dishes for all attendees to enjoy.”

For more information on Palm Beach E.A.T.S., please visit FRLA.org/event/palm-beach-eats or contact Jodi Cross at 561-410-0035.

[Tallahassee, Fla.] The Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association (FRLA) today announced the launch of the first state-wide special interest chapter, the Florida Inns Chapter. This new group was formed as a result of a merge with the Florida Bed and Breakfast Inns (FBBI), an organization of 45 tight-knit innkeepers from around the state. Since 2015, FRLA and FBBI have partnered, with FBBI members enjoying a dual-membership in the two associations. As of Jan. 1, the FBBI has formally merged with FRLA.

“The creation of a new chapter is always an exciting time, but the launch of the Florida Inns Chapter marks a new era for us,” said Carol Dover, CEO / President of FRLA. “This first state-wide chapter represents the evolution of our industry and our association by pulling together proprietors from across the state who are focused on the same issues – in this case, the success and growth of independent lodging – to further protect, educate and promote their industry.”

Discussion about an official merge began in July of last year, and the formal vote to accept the proposal was held in September. FRLA staff has worked with FBBI leadership for months to work out how the newly-formed chapter will be administered and what event programming will look like in the coming year. To help ensure stability for the new chapter, the FBBI board agreed to serve as the board for the Florida Inns Chapter until 2021.

“The goal of the Florida Inns Chapter is to combine member resources, to have one mission, one voice and one story at the local, state and national levels,” said Anthony Sexton, President of the FRLA Inns Chapter and Innkeeper at St. Augustine’s Victorian House. “The creation of a new FRLA chapter specifically for bed and breakfast owners is an exciting new avenue for FBBI members, and we look forward to continuing to serve our members in the Florida Inns Chapter.”

The Florida Inns Chapter will be comprised only of FBBI members for the first year but will open to all independent lodging owners and operators next year.

For more information about the Florida Inns Chapter, please visit the chapter’s page or contact Nicole Chapman at 904-574-2259.