(Tallahassee, Fla.) – The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) is thrilled at Governor Rick Scott’s announcement today that 31.1 million people visited the state during the first three months of 2017. Compared with the same period last year, this is 2.5 percent increase. In 2016, Florida welcomed a record number of tourists with 112.8 million visitors to the state.
“Florida’s hospitality industry is delighted with Governor Rick Scott’s announcement today proclaiming 31.1 million visitors in the first quarter of 2017. This announcement comes at a critical time when lawmakers recently passed a budget with a 67% cut to VISIT FLORIDA’s budget. Not only do our hotels and restaurants rely on tourist spending to support their employees, the overall health of Florida’s economy depends on visitors selecting the Sunshine State as their leading destination,” said Carol Dover, President and CEO of the FRLA.
According to the Office of Economic Demographic Research’s Return on Investment study of VISIT FLORIDA, for every $1 the state invests in VISIT FLORIDA, the state sees a $3.20 return.
The FRLA represents and serves more than 10,000 independent and household name members across the state, including hotels, restaurants, theme parks and attractions.
News Release Category: Featured Newsroom
Students Representing Florida to Compete in National High School Culinary & Restaurant Business Competition in Charleston
(Tallahassee, Fla.) – Hospitality student teams selected from two high schools will be representing Florida in the country’s premier high school competition focused on restaurant management and culinary arts, the National ProStart Invitational®, from April 28-30 in Charleston, South Carolina. These teams earned top rankings at Florida’s ProStart Competition hosted by the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association Educational Foundation (FRLAEF) that occurred March 3-4, 2017 in Orlando.
The Culinary Team from Leto High School and Management Team from Tarpon Springs High School will travel to Charleston, South Carolina for this year’s competition and will compete against high school students across the country for trophies, scholarships, and bragging rights.
Supported by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF), ProStart® is a career and technical education program focused on teaching culinary arts and restaurant management fundamentals through a combination of classroom and industry instruction.
This year, nearly 400 student competitors will put their skills to the test in front of culinary and restaurant business leaders, family, and friends. The top five teams from the culinary and management competitions will earn coveted scholarships to continue their restaurant or foodservice education.
“These exemplary students represent the future of Florida’s hospitality industry and the FRLAEF is thrilled to cheer them on as representatives of the Sunshine State. With more than 20,000 students enrolled, Florida’s ProStart program cultivates extraordinary, young leaders in culinary techniques and restaurant management. By providing real-world experience, this program opens the door for a fulfilling career in a trade that offers numerous opportunities for enrichment and advancement,” said Laura Rumer, Director of the FRLAEF.
“Nearly 140,000 high school students are enrolled in ProStart, making it one of the largest career and technical education programs of its kind,” says Rob Gifford, executive vice president, NRAEF. “And these young people are learning not just culinary and management fundamentals, but the skills they need to succeed in the workplace, such as teamwork and time management. Thank you to all of our 2017 ProStart partners who possible for us to change lives and give these students this amazing opportunity.”
National ProStart Invitational activities begin April 28 with the Business & Education Expo and the weekend officially kicks off Friday evening at the Opening Ceremony. Culinary and management competitions begin Saturday, April 29 and continue through Sunday. Students will have time to unwind and celebrate their successes on Saturday evening at Champions’ Night In. The festivities conclude with an Awards Dinner honoring the winners on the evening of April 30. Outside of the competition, all competitors will have the opportunity to network with restaurant and hospitality industry leaders and learn more about post-secondary education opportunities.
Master Emerging Trends at the 2017 Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show
(Trumbull, CT) – From Sunday, September 10 through Tuesday, September 12, over 8,000 restaurant and foodservice industry professionals will gather for the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show being held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. During this extraordinary three-day event, attendees will find new ideas, new products, and new solutions. The trade show and conference, produced by Urban Expositions and sponsored by the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, will offer educational programs, special events, new food products, and equipment and services from over 450+ leading industry suppliers.
“The energy and excitement on the show floor is always fantastic, fueled by all of the special events and seminars, new product announcements and culinary competitions. We invite all professionals in the restaurant and foodservice industry throughout Florida and the Southeast to join us for this important industry event,” said Mike Carlucci, Sr. Vice President, Specialty Shows at Urban Expositions. “We are working closely with the FRLA again this year to create a must-attend event for their members and all buyers of restaurant and foodservice equipment, technology, food products and services where they will have the opportunity to discover many innovative and dynamic new products and services for the industry and attend dozens of special events.”
Highlights for the show include the presentation of the prestigious Torch Award, The Rapid Fire Appetizer Competition, Food Trends Experience, the well-respected ACF Culinary Competitions, Beer, Wine & Spirits Pavilion, Japan Pavilion, Key Buyer Alliance, Education Station, and the FRLA/NRA Bob Leonard Golf Classic. The trade show’s floor will feature 450+ leading restaurant and foodservice vendors and purveyors.
All attendees have access to 30+ free education sessions, part of the Ferdinand Metz Foodservice Forum, providing the gold-standard, industry-leading educational content that is practical and relevant for today’s foodservice professional. Industry leaders deliver real, applicable business lessons, the latest information on trends and best practices in the market, and their own opinions of what creates success.
The show will be held Sunday, September 10, 2017 from 11am-5pm; Monday, September 11, 2017 from 11am – 5pm; and Tuesday, September 12, 2017 from 11am-4pm.
The 2017 Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show is sponsored by the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association (frla.org). For more information on exhibiting or attending, visit the official Show website at www.flrestaurantandlodgingshow.com. The tradeshow and conference is managed and produced by Urban Expositions, owned by Clarion Events, produces and manages a portfolio of 36 events, serving eight industry sectors including Gift, Souvenir, Art, Aviation, Foodservice, Pet, Auto and Gaming. For more information, visit www.urban-expo.com or visit www.clarionevents.com.
This event has been postponed due to Hurricane Irma. More details to follow.
Florida’s Hospitality Industry Celebrates Governor Scott’s Announcement for Increased Funding for VISIT FLORIDA
(Tallahassee, Fla.) – The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) applauds today’s announcement by Florida Governor Rick Scott recommending a $24 million increase in the state’s investment in VISIT FLORIDA. This funding amount is in addition to the Governor’s $76 million recommendation and would allocate a total of $100 million for the state’s destination marketing corporation in the budget for fiscal year 2017-2018.
“We are extremely grateful for the Governor’s continued leadership and foresight to increase the state’s investment in Florida’s tourism industry. This announcement comes at a critical time when lawmakers are proposing dramatic cuts to VISIT FLORIDA’s budget. Florida’s economy depends on visitors selecting the Sunshine State as their leading destination. By providing VISIT FLORIDA with the tools necessary to boost visitation, we’re injecting tourist spending into local businesses and promoting job creation across all sectors of the state’s economy,” said Carol Dover, President and CEO of the FRLA.
According to the Office of Economic Demographic Research’s Return on Investment study of VISIT FLORIDA, for every $1 the state invests in VISIT FLORIDA, the state sees a $3.20 return. In 2016, Florida welcomed a record number of tourists with 112.8 million visitors to the state.
The FRLA represents and serves more than 10,000 independent and household name members across the state, including hotels, restaurants, theme parks and attractions.
Broward County Hospitality Students and Teachers to be Honored at Gala
(Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) – The Broward Chapter of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) is proud to celebrate schools, instructors and students at its 8th Annual Excellence in Education Gala scheduled for Wednesday, April 26, 2017. The event, designed to support local hospitality education in area high schools, is slated to take place at the Marriott Harbor Beach Resort and Spa in Fort Lauderdale. A total of $30,000 in scholarships will be presented.
The evening’s festivities will also feature Celebrity Chef Ralph Pagano and include live musical entertainment by Johnny Sax, and VoicePlay, as seen on NBC’s “The Sing-Off.” A portion of the proceeds from the event will benefit the FRLA Educational Foundation (FRLAEF).
The FRLAEF provides school-to-career training for 30,000 hospitality students representing more than 250 high schools statewide. Designed to increase the quality and employability of graduates, the program uses an industry-derived curriculum through Florida ProStart and the HTMP. With a focus on the future of Florida’s hospitality industry, these programs allow students to learn and showcase skills that can be used in foodservice and lodging.
The following award winners will be recognized:
ProStart School of the Year
Atlantic Technical High School, Coconut Creek
HTMP School of the Year
Blanche Ely High School, Pompano Beach
ProStart Teacher of the Year
Aruna Lien, Coral Springs High School, Coral Springs
HTMP Teacher of the Year
Mitch Albert, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Parkland
ProStart Scholarship Winners
Lauren Rosengarten, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School
Gloria Louis, J.P. Taravella High School
Samantha Feinberg, Coral Springs High School
Katherine Cohen, Plantation High School
Mhina John Baptiste, Atlantic Technical High School
HTMP Scholarship Winners
Linda Mujica, South Broward High School
Tashae Munnings, South Broward High School
Julie DeFinis, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School
Brandon Popescu, South Broward High School
Michael Weisman, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School
Media is invited to attend this event, details are as follows:
WHAT: FRLA Broward Chapter’s 8th Annual FRLA Broward Excellence in Education Gala
WHO:
Special Guest: Celebrity Chef Ralph Pagano
Dinner Entertainment: VoicePlay
Reception Entertainment: Johnny Sax
WHEN:
Wednesday, April 26, 2017
5:00 – 6:30 PM: Reception and Silent Auction
6:30 – 9:00 PM: Dinner and Awards Presentation
WHERE:
Marriott Harbor Beach Resort and Spa
3030 Holiday Drive
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
TICKETS:
$139 Per Person
$49 for Instructors/Principals/Students
$1,600 VIP Reserved Seating (Table of 10)
Tickets can be purchased here. For sponsorship information, click here or contact FRLA Broward Chapter Director, Anne Sallee, at [email protected]. For media RSVP, please contact Erin Power, FRLA Press Secretary at 850.224.2250 x255 or by email at [email protected].
FINTECH PARTNERS WITH FLORIDA RESTAURANT AND LODGING ASSOCIATION
(Tampa, FL) – Fintech announced it has entered into a partnership with the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA). This partnership will give Florida restaurateurs, hoteliers, and others in the hospitality industry access to an abundance of profit-building information and services to assist in managing their beverage alcohol businesses. The partnership will also keep customers current with legislative changes, payment laws, and industry trends. Currently processing more than half a million invoices weekly, representing over $25 billion in payments annually, Fintech’s OneSource® solution will provide FRLA members electronic payment for their alcohol invoices as well as valuable analytic purchase reporting, creating better profit-making decisions.
“We are extremely excited to partner with Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association. Through this partnership we hope to collaborate on multiple initiatives to help our clients and FRLA members grow their business and better serve their patrons,” said Scott Riley, CEO of Fintech.
FRLA is a non-profit hospitality industry trade association. It represents Florida’s number one industry and provides several exclusive services for its members. The organization is the voice for Florida’s hospitality industry, providing legislative advocacy while representing and serving more than 10,000 independent and household name members, suppliers, and theme parks.
“We are absolutely thrilled to join forces with Fintech to provide valuable and meaningful solutions to Florida’s hospitality industry. This innovative partnership will empower Florida’s hoteliers and restaurateurs to streamline their beverage alcohol business. We are confident this momentous opportunity will promote further growth and success in the hospitality industry,” said Carol Dover, President and CEO of FRLA.
Together Fintech and FRLA put a powerhouse of knowledge at your fingertips. The official alliance will position Fintech as a trusted partner of FRLA’s initiatives to both empower and support the restaurant and hospitality industry. With over 135 alcohol distributors utilizing Fintech’s system in Florida (and more than 3,000 distributors nationwide), the relationship is a natural fit to support the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association. Through this partnership FRLA members receive exclusive discounts on Fintech’s OneSource solution for their alcohol purchases, starting with a free 30-day trial.
FLORIDA’S LEADING BUSINESS COALITION CELEBRATES COURT RULING AGAINST MIAMI BEACH MINIMUM WAGE ORDINANCE
TALLAHASSEE, FL – Three leading business organizations celebrate today’s ruling by the 11th Circuit Court in Miami-Dade County invalidating the wage ordinance recently adopted by the City of Miami Beach. The Florida Retail Federation, Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association and Florida Chamber of Commerce filed the suit against the ordinance proposing to raise the minimum wage in spite of a state preemption, because it was not valid under section 218.077 F.S. which preempts local minimum wages. The suit was filed by Charles Caulkins of the South Florida law firm Fisher Philips LLC.
“This is great news for Florida retailers and the entire business community, as this ruling does not place an additional mandate on local businesses by requiring Miami Beach business owners to provide wages above what the state has previously established in law,” said R. Scott Shalley, FRF President & CEO. “We thank our coalition partners for their commitment to protecting businesses, and we look forward to doing our part to protect our members and ensure that Florida remains a great location to start and grow a business.”
“We applaud this ruling which preserves the strength of Florida’s tourism-based economy and substantiates our belief that local governments shouldn’t dictate the relationship between an employer and employee. This is a significant win for Florida’s hospitality industry and the 1.4 million employees the tourism industry supports. We hope this ruling will serve as a guiding beacon for the entire nation to follow in limiting regulatory overreach by local governments,” said Carol Dover, President and CEO, Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association.
“The Florida Chamber of Commerce is focused on creating good jobs and opportunities, and today’s ruling will help ensure that a patchwork of government wage regulations and mandates doesn’t harm job seekers and small businesses from greater opportunities toward prosperity,” said Mark Wilson, President and CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce.
The City of Miami Beach recently passed a city ordinance to raise the minimum wage to $10.31/hour starting January 1, 2018, and increase it $1.00/year until it reaches $13.31 in 2021. FRF and its coalition partners argued that the ordinance disregarded a state statute which established the State of Florida will determine one consistent minimum wage for the entire state. This state statute allows for local government entities to adopt ordinances to exceed this wage for those working or contracting with the local government.
Wellington Weekend to Feature Nashville Songwriters Concert and Emeril’s Florida Season 5 Episode Preview
(Tallahassee, FL.) – As part of the Great Florida Events program, the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA), in partnership with VISIT FLORIDA, is thrilled to present a “Wellington Weekend” on March 18-19, 2017. This event is held in conjunction with the 38th annual Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). Located in Wellington, Florida, the PBIEC is one of the most recognizable equestrian sporting venues in the United States today. The largest and longest-running equestrian circuit in the world, WEF awards over $9 million in prize money and hosts more than 70 different divisions for competitors of every level in the hunter, jumper and equitation disciplines.
This exquisite equestrian weekend will include acoustic concert performances by Nashville Songwriters Hall of Famer Aaron Barker and hit Nashville songwriter Danny Myrick at the International Polo Club (IPC) Pavilion. These nationally-renowned songwriters will perform on Sunday, March 19th during the Grand Prix from 1:30 to 3:00 PM at the International Polo Club on the stadium side. Advanced tickets to the Sunday Brunch and Polo Match at the Pavilion may be purchased here.
The weekend’s festivities will also feature an exclusive preview of an Emeril’s Florida Season 5 Episode featuring Chef Emeril Lagasse and Mark Bellissimo at White Horse Fashion Cuisine. The first preview will occur on Saturday evening at 7:00 PM at the WEF before the $130,000 Horseware® Ireland Grand Prix CSI 3*. The second opportunity to watch this special preview will be on Sunday, March 19th between 1:30PM to 3:30PM at the IPC Pavilion.
FRLA and VISIT FLORIDA proudly serve as sponsors of the Gladiator Polo® League presented by the U.S. Polo Association. Gladiator Polo® is the newest extreme sport and was created by IPC. The fast-action 7-game series takes place in an arena at The Coliseum at Equestrian Village.
Click here for a schedule of upcoming Great Florida Events.
Electric Cars Spark Partnership With Florida’s Hospitality Industry
(Tallahassee, Fla.) – As part of the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association’s (FRLA) ongoing commitment to sustainability, the organization announced today that it has partnered with Drive Electric Orlando (DEO) and Enterprise Rent A Car to help support and bring attention to America’s largest fleet of rental electric vehicles: Drive Electric Orlando.
“Drive Electric Orlando is a great example of how Florida’s hospitality industry is taking a leadership role in cutting edge areas such as sustainability and green travel,” said Carol Dover, President and CEO of the FRLA. “By giving the millions of visitors that come to Orlando each year the opportunity to try out an electric car in a fun, casual setting, the hospitality industry is helping to speed up the adoption of EV technology nationwide. We’re excited to help bring attention to this unique initiative and make visitors and business travelers aware of another one-of-a-kind experience they can have while visiting Orlando. We hope to see EV rentals eventually be available statewide.”
Drive Electric Orlando is a groundbreaking partnership between Orlando rental car agencies, hotels, and tourist attractions designed to offer vacationers and business travelers an exciting and convenient opportunity to use an eco-friendly car during their next trip.
As part of the partnership FRLA will promote the utilization of DEO’s electric rental cars amongst their 10,000 member restaurants and hotels across the state, and provide their members with “ride and drive” opportunities to try out electric cars at official events. The partnership between Drive Electric Orlando and the FRLA will also help bring attention across the state to the work being done by the hospitality industry to protect the environment and give customers more sustainable choices when they travel.
A number of FRLA members are key supporters of the Drive Electric Orlando program, offering EV renters special perks; everything from preferred parking spaces to free EV charging. A full description of all the “plug in perks” that renters get with Drive Electric Orlando may be found here.
FRLA Welcomes New Chairman and Executive Committee
(Tallahassee, Fla.) – The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) is thrilled to announce their new 2017 Chairman of the Board and 2017 Executive Committee for the current calendar year. Beginning on January 1, Don Fox, Chief Executive Officer for Firehouse of America, LLC, will serve as FRLA’s 2017 Chairman of the Board. Fox will preside over the FRLA, one of the state’s largest trade associations, representing more than 10,000 members in the hospitality industry.
Fox is Chief Executive Officer of Firehouse of America, LLC, in which he leads the strategic growth of Firehouse Subs, one of America’s leading fast casual restaurant brands. Under his leadership, the brand has grown to more than 1,040 restaurants in 44 states, Puerto Rico and Canada, and is recognized as one of the best franchises in the country. Fox sits on various boards of influence in the restaurant community, and is a respected speaker, commentator, and published author. He was recognized by Nation’s Restaurant News as 2011’s Operator of the Year. In 2013, he received the prestigious Silver Plate Award from the International Food Manufacturers Association (IFMA), was recognized by FastCasual.com as the No.1 Executive in the fast-casual restaurant community, and received the National Restaurant Association’s Advocacy Leadership Award.
“Don Fox is a proven leader, with decades of restaurant experience and tremendous passion for the hospitality industry. FRLA is truly fortunate to welcome such a distinguished trailblazer to lead our association through 2017. With Chairman Fox at the helm, and our extremely proficient 2017 Executive Committee, I am confident Florida’s hospitality industry will overcome diverse challenges and enjoy numerous achievements in the year ahead,” said Carol Dover, President and CEO, Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association.
“I am so humbled for the opportunity serve as the Chairman of Florida’s premier non-profit hospitality trade association and excited to collaborate with several accomplished industry peers. My priority focus for the year is to motivate members of our association, and operators in the restaurant community, to concentrate on their team members and employees who really make the industry run. My overall goal will be to protect the industry from burdensome government regulations and to preserve Florida’s competitive edge as the leading destination for more than 106 million visitors,” said Don Fox, CEO of Firehouse of America, LLC and 2017 FRLA Chairman of the Board.
FRLA congratulates the following 2017 Executive Board Members:
| 2017 FRLA Executive Committee | ||
| Don Fox | Chairman | Firehouse of America, LLC, Jacksonville |
| Kevin Speidel | Vice Chair | Hilton Worldwide, Fort Lauderdale |
| Chau Nguyen | Secretary-Treasurer | Kobe Japanese Steakhouse, Orlando |
| Olivia Hoblit | Director 2016-17 | Seaside Amelia Inn, Amelia Island |
| Alan Palmieri | Director 2017-18 | Marlow’s Tavern, Orlando |
| Sheldon Suga | Director 2017-18 | Hawk’s Cay Resort, Duck Key |
| Lino Maldonado | Immediate Past Chair | Wyndham Vacation Rentals, Fort Walton Beach
|
Learn more about the 2017 FRLA Executive Committee here.