27 Bills Go Into Effect October 1st

27 bills from the 2015 regular legislative session are slated to take effect October 1, 2015. No bills vetoed by Governor Rick Scott had an October effective date.
HB 0087 Relating to Construction Defect Claims: Passidomo
Construction Defect Claims: Revises definition of term “completion of building or improvement”; provides additional requirements for notice of claim; revises requirements for response; revises provisions relating to production of certain records. Effective Date: October 1, 2015

HB 0115 Relating to Sentencing: Gaetz (M)
Sentencing: Redefines “victim” for purposes of restitution provisions to include governmental entities & political subdivisions; requires sentencing judge to order restitution & specified number of community service work hours for violations of provisions relating to bribery & misuse of public office & offenses by public officers & employees. Effective Date: October 1, 2015

HB 0157 Relating to Fraud: Passidomo
Fraud; Defines “business entity”; provides for restitution for certain out-of-pocket costs of victims; requires business entities to provide copies of business records of fraudulent transactions involving identity theft to victims & law enforcement agencies in certain circumstances; provides exception; includes counties & other political subdivisions in provisions prohibiting false marking of goods or packaging with location of origin; prohibits fraudulent issuance of indicia of membership interest in limited liability company; specifies that electronic statements are included in provisions prohibiting certain false representations; prohibits sale of counterfeit security company signs or decals; increases criminal penalties for fraudulently obtaining goods or services from health care provider; expands specified identity theft offenses to include all persons rather than being limited to natural persons; prohibits knowingly providing false information that becomes part of public record to facilitate or further commission of certain offenses. Effective Date: 10/1/2015

HB 0197 Relating to Tracking Devices or Tracking Applications: Metz
Tracking Devices or Tracking Applications: Prohibits installation of tracking device or tracking application without person’s consent; creates presumption that consent is revoked upon initiation of specified proceedings; provides exceptions; provides that violations of prohibition on installation of tracking devices & tracking applications by private investigative, private security, & repossession services are grounds for disciplinary action, to which penalties apply. Effective Date: October 1, 2015

Relating to Diabetes Awareness Training for Law Enforcement Officers: Narain
Diabetes Awareness Training for Law Enforcement Officers: Designates act the “Arthur Green, Jr., Act”; requires FDLE to establish online continued employment training component relating to diabetic emergencies; specifies topics to be included; provides that completion of training may count towards continued employment instruction requirements. Effective Date: October 1, 2015
SB 0222 Relating to Electronic Commerce: Hukill
Electronic Commerce; Creating the “Computer Abuse and Data Recovery Act”; prohibiting a person from intentionally committing specified acts without authorization with respect to a protected computer; specifying remedies for civil actions brought by persons affected by a violation; providing that the act does not prohibit specified activity by certain state, federal, and foreign law enforcement agencies, regulatory agencies, and political subdivisions, etc. Effective Date: 10/1/2015

HB 0275 Relating to Intrastate Crowdfunding: Santiago
Intrastate Crowdfunding: Exempts certain issuers & intermediaries from registration requirements relating to offer or sale of certain securities; provides requirements for such issuers & intermediaries; provides limitations on offers or sales of such securities; prohibits use of specified exemptions from registration requirements in conjunction with another exemption from registration requirements; provides appropriation. Effective Date: October 1, 2015

SB 0342 Relating to No Contact Orders: Simmons
No Contact Orders; Providing for the effect and enforceability of orders of no contact as a part of pretrial release; requiring that the defendant receive a copy of the order of no contact prior to release; specifying acts prohibited by a no contact order, etc. Effective Date: 10/1/2015

SB 0378 Relating to Juvenile Justice: Garcia
Juvenile Justice; Authorizing a law enforcement officer to issue a warning to a juvenile who admits having committed a misdemeanor or to inform the child’s parent or guardian of the child’s infraction; allowing a law enforcement officer who does not exercise one of these options to issue a civil citation or require participation in a similar diversion program; requiring a law enforcement officer to provide written documentation in certain circumstances, etc. Effective Date: 10/1/2015

HB 0383 Relating to Private Property Rights: Edwards
Private Property Rights: Providing that any settlement agreement reached between an owner and a governmental entity applies so long as the agreement resolves all issues; authorizing a property owner to bring an action to recover damages caused by a prohibited exaction; specifying that an action for a prohibited exaction is not to be construed in pari materia with certain other actions, etc. Effective Date: October 1, 2015

HB 0465 Relating to Human Trafficking: Spano
Human Trafficking: Provides enhanced criminal penalties for soliciting another to commit prostitution & similar offenses; requires persons convicted of such offenses to perform community service & pay for & attend education program; requires court to impose minimum mandatory terms of incarceration for persons convicted two or more times of soliciting another to commit prostitution & similar offenses; provides for impoundment of vehicle used in soliciting another to commit prostitution & similar offenses; allows vehicle owner to prevent impoundment or immobilization in certain circumstances; provides that any court in circuit in which the petitioner was arrested may expunge criminal history record of human trafficking victim; requires judge to allow advocate to be present with in expunction hearing in certain circumstances. Effective Date: October 1, 2015

HB 0467 Relating to Public Records/Human Trafficking Victims: Spano
Revises exemption from public records requirements for certain criminal intelligence & investigative information to exempt information that reveals identity of victims of certain human trafficking offenses; provides exemption from public records requirements for investigative information relating to criminal history records of human trafficking victims that have been ordered expunged; provides for future legislative review & repeal of exemption; provides statement of public necessity; provides for contingent effect. Effective Date: on the same date that HB 465 or similar legislation relating to human trafficking takes effect

HB 0469 Relating to Pub. Rec./Residential Facilities Serving Victims of Sexual Exploitation: Spano
Pub. Rec./Residential Facilities Serving Victims of Sexual Exploitation: Provides exemption from public records requirements for information about location of safe houses, safe foster homes, & other residential facilities serving victims of sexual exploitation held by an agency; provides exemption from public records requirements for information about location of residential facilities serving adult victims of human trafficking involving commercial sexual activity held by an agency; provides for future legislative review & repeal of exemptions; provides statement of public necessity; provides contingent effective date. Effective Date: on the same date that HB 465 or similar legislation relating to human trafficking takes effect

SB 0538 Relating to Sexual Cyberharassment: Simmons
Sexual Cyberharassment; Prohibiting a person from willfully and maliciously sexually cyberharassing another person; authorizing a law enforcement officer to arrest, without a warrant, any person that he or she has probable cause to believe has committed sexual cyberharassment; providing an exception to the prohibition on search warrants being issued to search private dwellings, etc. Effective Date: 10/1/2015

HB 0749 Relating to Continuing Care Communities: Van Zant
Continuing Care Communities: Revises requirements for continuing care contracts; revises authority of OIR to waive requirements for accredited facilities; provides that continuing care & continuing care at- home contracts are preferred claims subject to any secured claim in event of liquidation or receivership proceedings against provider; requires agent of provider to provide copy of examination report & corrective action plan under certain conditions; requires residents’ council to provide forum for certain purposes; requires residents’ council to adopt its own bylaws & governance documents; revises provisions relating to quarterly meetings between residents & governing body of provider; revises powers of residents’ council; revises continuing care facility reporting requirements. Effective Date: October 1, 2015

SB 0806 Relating to Regulation of Financial Institutions: Richter
Regulation of Financial Institutions; Requiring mailed semiannual assessments to be received by the Office of Financial Regulation by a specified date; deleting the requirement that the office select a licensed or certified appraiser to conduct certain appraisals; revising the individuals for whom certain information must be provided to the office on an application for authority to organize a banking corporation or trust company, etc. Effective Date: 10/1/2015

HB 0889 Relating to Health Care Representatives: Wood
Health Care Representatives: Providing an exception for a patient who has designated a surrogate to make health care decisions and receive health information without a determination of incapacity being required; revising provisions relating to the designation of health care surrogates; providing for the designation of health care surrogates for minors; specifying that a principal’s wishes are controlling while he or she has decisionmaking capacity, etc. Effective Date: October 1, 2015

SB 1010 Relating to False Personation: Braynon
False Personation; Revising the list of officials who are prohibited from being falsely personated; prohibiting the sale or transfer of specified badges bearing in any manner or combination the words “fire department” and the ownership or operation of vehicles marked or identified by the words “fire department”, etc. Effective Date: 10/1/2015

HB 1127 Relating to Insurance Fraud: Sullivan
Insurance Fraud: Repeals provisions relating to operation or reporting of unlicensed health care clinics; revises provisions related to certain health care clinic charges or reimbursement claims; revises & provides criminal penalties for unlawful charges, operating or failing to report unlicensed clinic, filing false or misleading information related to clinic license application, & other violations; repeals provisions relating to establishment of motor vehicle insurance fraud DSO. Effective Date: October 1, 2015

HB 7005 Relating to OGSR/Commission for Independent Education: Government Operations Subcommittee
OGSR/Commission for Independent Education: Removes scheduled repeal of exemptions from public records & public meeting requirements for records of investigations conducted by Commission for Independent Education, discussions of such investigatory records at probable cause panel meetings, & recordings, minutes, & findings from closed portions of such meetings. Effective Date: October 1, 2015

Relating to OGSR/Licensure Examination Questions/Board of Funeral, Cemetery, and Consumer Services: Banking and Insurance
OGSR/Licensure Examination Questions/Board of Funeral, Cemetery, and Consumer Services; Amending provisions relating to an exemption from public meeting requirements for portions of meetings of the Board of Funeral, Cemetery, and Consumer Services within the Department of Financial Services at which licensure examination questions or answers are discussed; saving the exemption from repeal under the Open Government Sunset Review Act, etc. Effective Date: 10/1/2015
Relating to OGSR/Examination Techniques or Procedures/Office of Financial Regulation: Banking and Insurance
OGSR/Examination Techniques or Procedures/Office of Financial Regulation; Amending provisions relating to an exemption from public records requirements for information that would reveal examination techniques or procedures used by the Office of Financial Regulation under the Florida Securities and Investor Protection Act; saving the exemption from repeal under the Open Government Sunset Review Act, etc. Effective Date: 10/1/2015

HB 7011 Relating to OGSR/Public Transit Providers: Government Operations Subcommittee
OGSR/Public Transit Providers: Removes scheduled repeal of public records exemption for certain personal identifying information held by public transit providers. Effective Date: October 1, 2015

Relating to OGSR/Credit History Information and Credit Scores/Office of Financial Regulation: Banking and Insurance
OGSR/Credit History Information and Credit Scores/Office of Financial Regulation; Amending provisions which provide a public records exemption for credit history information and credit scores held by the Office of Financial Regulation for purposes of licensing loan originators, mortgage brokers, and mortgage lenders; saving the exemption from repeal under the Open Government Sunset Review Act, etc. Effective Date: 10/1/2015

SB 7016 Relating to OGSR/Minor Identifying Information: Judiciary
OGSR/Minor Identifying Information; Amending provisions relating to an exemption from public record requirements for certain information that could identify a minor petitioning a court to waive parental notice requirements before terminating a pregnancy; saving the exemption from repeal under the Open Government Sunset Review Act, etc. Effective Date: 10/1/2015

SB 7034 Relating to OGSR/Stalking Victims Identifying Information: Ethics and Elections

OGSR/Stalking Victims Identifying Information; Transferring, renumbering, and amending provisions relating to an exemption from public records requirements for certain information of persons who are victims of stalking or aggravated stalking; removing the scheduled repeal of the exemption, etc.
Effective Date: 10/1/2015

HB 7055 Relating to Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles: Highway & Waterway Safety Subcommittee
Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles: Revises provisions for funeral expenses for certain officers killed in line of duty, flag displayed when load extends beyond vehicle, permitting of overlength trailers, display of vehicle for sale, hire, or rent, pilot program for rebuilt inspection services, options on application forms, residential manufactured buildings on mobile home lots, specialty & special license plates, disclosure of insurance policy numbers, & emergency allergy treatment. Effective Date: October 1, 2015

Celebrated Key West Chef to Help Raise Funds for Hospitality Students at Wine on the Water Event

(Key West, FL) – The Monroe Chapter of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) is proud present the 6th annual Wine on the Water. The event, designed to create scholarships for hospitality students, is scheduled to take place on Sunday, October 11, 2015 in Key West.

While sailing aboard the Fury Catamaran, Celebrated Chef Scott Maurer from Hot Tin Roof is slated to prepare five courses, which will be paired with fine wines from the portfolio of Southern Wine and Spirits. The menu will feature many of Maurer’s favorite dishes ranging from a Florida lobster summer roll with chili lime dipping sauce to curry dusted chilled grilled KWP shrimp with Israeli couscous salad and a tomato vinaigrette. In addition to the delicacies, there will be live entertainment and onboard raffle prizes including: trip packages, spa treatments, dinners and luxury items.

All proceeds from the event will benefit hospitality students at the Florida Keys Community College and the FRLA Monroe Chapter Educational Fund, which supports high school hospitality students in Monroe County. Event details are as follows:

WHAT:
FRLA Monroe Chapter’s Wine on the Water

WHEN:
Sunday, October 11, 2015
4:00 – 5:00 PM: VIP Pre-Party
5:00 PM: Registration Opens
5:30 PM- Sunset: Set Sail and Return After Sunset

WHERE:
VIP Party
The Marker Hotel
200 William St.
Key West, FL 33040

Main Event
Conch Republic Seafood Company (Registration in front)
631 Greene St.
Key West, FL 33040
*Media is invited to attend

COST:
$85 Per Person
$25 VIP Pre-Party
*Space is limited

Public interested in attending these events should contact Lynne Hernandez, FRLA’s South Florida Regional Director at 305-710-3962 or Charlie Bauer at 305-304-0814. Please click here to purchase tickets and to learn more about these events.

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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.

Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation Secretary to Share Licensing and Inspection Insights at Local FRLA Meetings

Media Contact:

Elizabeth Ray
FRLA Communications Director
850.224.2250 x255
[email protected]

(Tallahassee, FL) – The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) is proud to present an opportunity for business leaders to receive licensing, regulation and inspections insights from Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) Secretary Ken Lawson. Secretary Lawson is scheduled to be at two separate FRLA events on Wednesday, September 16, at The Fish House Deck in Pensacola and Edgewater Beach and Golf Resort Conference Center in Panama City Beach.

“Secretary Lawson has worked hard to help streamline the regulatory process across the state and is full of invaluable information for business owners,” said Carol Dover, President and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association. “It is crucial that restaurateurs and hoteliers understand the regulatory process and Secretary Lawson can shed light on the best practices that promote the health and safety of the public.”

A native Floridian, Lawson has spent more than 12 years serving and protecting the public in numerous regulatory positions. Lawson began his legal career in the United States Marine Corps, Judge Advocate General’s Division and spent seven years serving as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida. After serving as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, Lawson was appointed Assistant Secretary of Enforcement for the U.S. Department of the Treasury. He most recently served as Vice President of Compliance at nFinanSe Inc., a financial services company in Tampa, where he was responsible for the company’s Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering program and its compliance with state money transmitter licensing regulations for 42 states.

DBPR’s Division of Hotels and Restaurants (H&R) is responsible for licensing, inspecting and regulating public lodging and food service establishments in Florida. The mission of the division is to protect the health and safety of the public by providing the industry with quality inspections and fair regulation. The division is also responsible for licensing and regulating elevators, escalators and other vertical conveyance devices.

Media is invited to both events, which are free to all attendees. The schedule is as follows:

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16:

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
FRLA Greater Pensacola Chapter Meeting
The Fish House Deck, Pensacola

3:00 – 5:00 PM
FRLA Bay Chapter Meeting
Edgewater Beach and Golf Resort Conference Center, Panama City Beach

Public interested in attending the event in Pensacola should contact John Bloodworth, and those interested in attending the event in Panama City Beach should contact Ray Green. Please click here for information on the Greater Pensacola Chapter Meeting or click here for the Bay Chapter Meeting.

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FRLA President/CEO to Headline Events in Sarasota & St. Pete Beach on September 1

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 business leaders an opportunity to hear hospitality industry insights directly from FRLA President and CEO, Carol Dover. Dover is slated to be at two separate events on Tuesday, September 1, at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota and Loews Don CeSar Hotel in St. Pete Beach.
As the FRLA President and CEO, Dover works to protect, educate, and promote the diverse interests of Florida’s hospitality industry before the Florida Legislature and lobbies against unfair government regulation. The industry represents a $82 billion industry, 23% of Florida’s economy, $4.6 billion in sales tax revenue, and more than one million employees, making it Florida’s largest employer.
Dover has led the more than 10,000 member association since July of 1995. She is a professional association manager, a lobbyist, a former government insider, and a Florida State University Dedman School of Hospitality graduate with a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management. Dover is also a member of the Board of Directors for the National Restaurant Association, National Restaurant Association Education Foundation, Council of State Restaurant Associations, International Society of Hotel Association Executives, VISIT FLORIDA, Florida Tourism Commission, Florida TaxWatch, and the Florida Horse Park. Dover is the recipient of the prestigious Dedman School of Hospitality Alumna of the Year Award, and the first-ever Dick Pope Legacy Award, recognizing leaders who have strengthened the sustainability of Florida’s hospitality and tourism industries.
Media is invited to both events. The schedule is as follows:

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1:
11:30 AM – 1:30 PM
The 5th Annual Suncoast Chapter Luncheon
The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota
Cost: $25 Per Person

3:30 – 5:30 PM
FRLA Pinellas & Hillsborough Chapter Meeting
Loews Don CeSar Hotel
Cost: $23 Per Member, $28 Per Future Member

Public interested in attending these events should contact Dannette Lynch at [email protected], FRLA Director of Membership. Please click here for information on the Suncoast Chapter Luncheon or click here for the Pinellas & Hillsborough Chapter Meeting.

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Emergency Recovery Guidelines for Business

The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation urges all state food service operators to take special measures during power or water outages and other emergency conditions. All public food service establishments must take action after these events to offset the effects of loss of electricity, flooding, compromised potable water supplies or damage sufficient to contaminate stored food.

Please review the following guidelines in preparation for any possible Emergency:

Boil Water Notice Guidelines – PDF
Emergency Recovery Guidelines – PDF

Additionally, please review the Business Disaster Toolkit from the Florida Virtual Business Emergency Operations Center:

BEFORE A DISASTER STRIKES

Tips, links and articles to help businesses of all sizes prepare for disasters before they happen.view »

DURING A DISASTER

Help keep your workplace and employees safe during hurricanes, tornados, and other disasters. view »

AFTER A DISASTER – IMMEDIATE ACTION

What businesses should do after a disaster to recover – safety tips, repairs, generator selection and safe use of generators. view »

AFTER A DISASTER – REBUILDING

What businesses should do after a disaster to recover and rebuild – loans, tax help, construction guides view »

State Emergency Operations Center Activates to Level Two in Preparation for Possible Impacts from Tropical Storm Erika

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – On Wednesday, the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) in Tallahassee activated to partial activation, as current forecast models now indicate Florida is within Tropical Storm Erika’s five-day cone of error.

The State Emergency Response Team (SERT) continues to monitor the developing storm, as it prepares for any weather-related impacts Erika may bring to the state.

“Too many variables still exist for us to be able to accurately predict where this storm might impact us or how strong it may be if it does,” said FDEM Director Bryan W. Koon. “We are preparing the protective and responsive measures we will need if the storm continues to develop out of an abundance of caution.”

Florida residents and visitors should continue to monitor local news for further instructions, ensure disaster supply kits are fully stocked and plans are in place to remain safe in the event that that Tropical Storm Erika does impact the state. The 2015

Atlantic Hurricane season runs from June 1 – November 30. For additional information about severe weather in Florida, and to Get A Plan, visit FloridaDisaster.org and FLGetAPlan.com. Follow the SERT on social media on Twitter at @FLSERT and Facebook at www.Facebook.com/FloridaSERT.

Assistance for Businesses Affected by West Central Florida Flooding

The Florida Virtual Business Emergency Operations Center (FLVBEOC) is continuing to receive requests for assistance from businesses affected by flooding in West Central Florida. The affected counties include: Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas Counties.

The most prevalent needs include: financial/loans, debris removal, water damage, employee transportation, access to businesses, and customer base.

If you feel you need business assistance, or if you feel you could offer assistance to the affected businesses please visit http://flvbeoc.org/ or contact FRLA’s Elizabeth Ray at [email protected] for more information.

Thanks in advance for your support and assistance.

Gov. Scott: Florida Hits All-Time Record High for Tourism

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott announced Florida set another record in tourism by welcoming the highest amount of visitors of any six months in the state’s history with 54.1 million visitors, according to VISIT FLORIDA. This record amount of visitors represents a 5.8 increase over the year. In the second quarter of 2015 (April -June), 25.8 million visitors came to the state, an increase of 5.5 percent over the year. The average number of direct travel-related jobs in quarter two of 2015 was also a record high, with 1,213,500 Floridians employed in the tourism industry – up 4.9 percent over the year.

Governor Scott said, “I am proud to announce the Sunshine State continued our record breaking success and welcomed the most visitors in Florida’s history over the first half of the year. Our growing tourism industry employs over 1.2 million Floridians and is helping us meet our goal of becoming the best place in the world for jobs. We are excited to mark the first half of 2015 with our biggest second quarter ever, and we look forward to exceeding our goal of 100 million visitors to Florida this year.”

VISIT FLORIDA estimates that 2.7 million overseas visitors and 1.2 million Canadians came to Florida in quarter two of 2015. Estimates also show that 21.9 million domestic visitors traveled to Florida in the second quarter of 2015, reflecting a 6.8 percent increase over the year. Preliminary figures for the first half of 2015 show 45.7 million domestic visitors, 5.5 million overseas visitors and 2.9 million Canadians have come to the Sunshine State, representing increases of 6.7 percent, 1.7 percent and 1.1 percent respectively.

“The continued growth of tourism for the second quarter, including a record number of tourism related jobs, puts Florida on pace for a fifth consecutive record breaking year,” said John Tomlin, Chair of the VISIT FLORIDA Board of Directors. “These records also emphasize the power of tourism as an economic leader and job creator for the state. Results like these are the direct result of the vision and support of the Governor and Legislature, as well as world-class strategies and execution by the VISIT FLORIDA staff.”

Tourism and recreation taxable sales for Florida increased year-over-year for January through May 2015 (last reported month), representing a 9.0 percent increase over the same period in 2014. For quarter two of 2015, the average daily room rate (ADR) rose 4.7 percent, the occupancy rate for Florida hotels increased 2.9 percent and the demand in rooms sold grew 4.4 percent compared to quarter two of 2014.

“With all indicators continuing to climb, Florida tourism has strong momentum,” said Will Seccombe, President and CEO of VISIT FLORIDA. “This continued growth does not happen by accident. We know tourism marketing works and we have Governor Scott and the Florida Legislature to thank for their unparalleled support that has put us well on our way to making Florida the No. 1 travel destination in the world.”

Bill Talbert, Vice Chair of the VISIT FLORIDA Board of Directors and President & CEO of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau 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.”

Andrew Hertz, Immediate Past Chair of the VISIT FLORIDA Board of Directors and President & General Manager of Miami Seaquarium said, “Achieving record visitation for the second 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 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 that last a lifetime.”

Carol Dover, Chair of the VISIT FLORIDA Public Affairs Committee and President & CEO of the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association said, “Florida is continuing to break the mold by setting record breaking trends that prove our state leads the way in hospitality and tourism. These numbers prove that Governor Scott’s leadership, along with support from Florida’s Legislature, ensures a business friendly environment that allows hoteliers, restaurateurs, suppliers and attractions to thrive. We were proud to help provide incredible guest experiences in the first half of the year and can’t wait to welcome even more visitors to the Sunshine State throughout the rest of the year.”

Bill Lupfer, Member of the VISIT FLORIDA Board of Directors and President & CEO of the Florida Attractions Association said, “Florida’s outstanding attractions and iconic destinations have a lot to be proud of, and this record second quarter means we are on track for 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.”

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.

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.