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.

2017 Florida Tourism Day in Tallahassee Recognizes State’s No. 1 Industry

(Tallahassee, Fla.) – Tourism leaders are set to gather in Tallahassee for Florida Tourism Day on Tuesday, March, 14, 2017. Each year, the Partnership for Florida’s Tourism hosts the event to educate the legislature, media and Floridians on the significant role tourism plays in the success of our state’s economy. This year, Florida Tourism Day anticipates nearly 600 industry attendees.

Per VISIT FLORIDA, in 2016 Florida set another record in tourism by welcoming the highest number of visitors in the state’s history with 112.8 million visitors. This is the sixth consecutive record year for visitation to Florida, exceeding the previous high of 106.6 million in 2015 by 5.9 percent.

Ten statewide organizations are scheduled to participate in the 2017 Florida Tourism Day event and will host a downtown nighttime celebration that is open to the public at a cost of $15.00 per person for food, beverages, and entertainment. The street party begins at 5:00 PM at the corner of Adams Street and College Avenue will feature Billy Dean, Chloe Channell and Jason Pritchett playing at the outdoor event. Find a list of vendors and more details here.

Participating organizations include: Florida Association of Destination Marketing Organizations, Florida Association of Museums, Florida Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds, Florida Attractions Association, Florida Cattlemen’s Association, Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, Florida Sports Foundation, Florida Vacation Rental Managers Association, U.S. Travel Association and VISIT FLORIDA.

“Florida Tourism Day is an opportunity for industry leaders to highlight the pivotal role that tourism plays in our state’s economic growth. During this year’s event, the industry is celebrating six years of consecutive, record-breaking visitation growth with recent announcement of 112.8 million visitors in 2016. These numbers clearly demonstrate the power of tourism marketing and it’s essential that our lawmakers continue to invest in the state’s number one industry. 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 Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association.

“At VISIT FLORIDA, we are focused on increasing the value we provide to Floridians by enhancing transparency and accountability at our organization. With Florida tourism breaking more records in 2016, it has never been more important to successfully market our state and remain competitive across the globe. We look forward to continuing to communicate that Florida is the world’s No. 1 travel destination,” said Ken Lawson, President and CEO of VISIT FLORIDA.

“For many Floridians, tourism represents much more than an industry; it’s a livelihood. One job is supported for every 76 visitors to our state. As a partner in the 2017 Florida Tourism Day event, the Florida Attractions Association aims to shed light on the positive economic impact of our state’s diverse attractions,” said Bill Lupfer, President and CEO of the Florida Attractions Association.

“Thanks to VISIT FLORIDA’S strong and successful marketing efforts, Florida has seen record growth in the number of visitors coming to the State. This growth has had a direct positive impact on The Florida RV Park and Campground Industry. RV Park and Campground owners from all over Florida are also experiencing a record number of guests visiting their properties and for the first time in many years they are hiring new employees and expanding their parks to meet the demand. There is no question that tourism and a strong VISIT FLORIDA is the key to continued economic growth in Florida,” said Bobby Cornwell, President and CEO of the Florida Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds.

“Every day, cities and counties across our state benefit from the tourism marketing efforts of Florida’s destination marketing organizations and VISIT FLORIDA. That’s why it is so important for Florida to protect the current uses of the Tourist Development Tax and maintain VISIT FLORIDA’s funding,” said Robert Skrob, Executive Director of the Florida Association of Destination Marketing Organizations.

“With growing visitation numbers and tourism-related employment, it’s clear that tourism and tourism marketing are major economic drivers for Florida. The Florida Association of Museums looks forward to another year of increased visitation, visitor spending and job creation in the tourism industry,” said Malinda Horton, Executive Director of the Florida Association of Museums.

“Sports and recreation represent a $57 billion industry in Florida, attracting over 16 million out-of-state visitors each year. We are major contributors to Florida’s tourism industry, and I am excited to join with other industry leaders to recognize and celebrate the positive impact that tourism has on our state year-round,” said John Webb, President of the Florida Sports Foundation.

“The Florida Vacation Rental Managers Association is proud to advocate for Florida’s No. 1 industry through the 2017 Florida Tourism Day event participation. By promoting the importance of tourism and hospitality as well as the tremendous economic impact realized by communities statewide, we can help protect Florida’s economy and the 1.4 million Floridians employed by the tourism industry,” said Denis Hanks, Executive Director of the Florida Vacation Rental Managers Association.

“Food is a big part of the travel experience, and Florida cattle ranchers are dedicated to making sure the highest-quality beef is produced in a sustainable way. The 2016 Florida Tourism Day event allows us to bring attention to Florida’s cattle industry, which is among the 10 largest in the nation, making it a top industry for our state alongside tourism,” said Jim Handley, Executive Director of the Florida Cattlemen’s Association.

“Florida Tourism Day always gives travel leaders from across the state a chance to celebrate how our industry strengthens the Florida economy and creates more than 1.4 million jobs. But this year bears even more significance, because it is a day to send a strong message of ‘no’ to lawmakers who propose drastically reducing the state’s investment in tourism marketing. By coming to Tallahassee in great numbers, we will show elected officials how many small, family-owned businesses and their employees will feel the greatest impact from a major funding cut to VISIT FLORIDA,” said Roger Dow, President and CEO, U.S. Travel Association

Tourism Leaders to Gather in Tallahassee for 2017 Florida Tourism Day on March 14

(Tallahassee, Fla.) –The Partnership for Florida’s Tourism is proud to present Florida Tourism Day on Tuesday, March 14, 2017 in Tallahassee. Nearly six hundred tourism and hospitality leaders from across the state will convene for a daylong event designed to educate the legislature, media and Floridians about the importance of Florida’s tourism industry. Ten statewide organizations are participating in the effort and will be hosting a downtown celebration that evening.

In 2016, Florida set another record in tourism by welcoming the highest number of visitors in the state’s history with 112.8 million visitors. This is the sixth consecutive record year for visitation to Florida, exceeding the previous high of 106.6 million in 2015 by 5.9 percent.

Beginning at 5:00pm at the corner of Adams Street and College Avenue, the Tourism Day Street Party will feature live musical entertainment by Billy Dean, Chloe Chanell and Jason Pritchett and emceed by Big Woody Hayes and Cash of the Mornings w/Cash & Woody radio show on 103-1 The Wolf. Admission to the street party is $15 per person, which includes two drink tickets and street party access. Find a list of vendors and more details here.

WHAT

Florida Tourism Day

Program and Lunch, Legislative Appointments, and Street Party

WHEN

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

9:00 AM – 1:00 PM: Program and Lunch

1:00 – 5:00 PM: Legislative Appointments

5:00 – 8:00 PM: Street Party

5:30 PM: FRLA Headquarters Grand Re-Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

WHERE

Program and Lunch:

Donald L. Tucker Civic Center Exhibit Hall

505 West Pensacola Street

Tallahassee, FL 32301

Street Party:

Corner of Adams Street and College Avenue, Tallahassee

PARTNERS:

Florida Association of Destination Marketing Organizations

Florida Association of Museums

Florida Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds

Florida Attractions Association

Florida Cattlemen’s Association

Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association

Florida Sports Foundation

Florida Vacation Rental Managers Association

U.S. Travel Association

VISIT FLORIDA

About the Partnership for Florida’s Tourism

The Partnership for Florida’s Tourism began in 2006 as a grassroots coalition designed to raise awareness of the importance of tourism and increase public funding of tourism marketing. Key stakeholders in the tourism industry have joined in this effort. The Partnership consists of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, Florida Attractions Association, Florida Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds, Florida Association of Destination Marketing Organizations and VISIT FLORIDA. For additional information, please go to TourismWorksforFlorida.org.

$1.4 Million in Scholarships Awarded to Florida High School Students Participating in ProStart Culinary Team Competition

$1.4 Million in Scholarships Awarded to Florida High School Students Participating in ProStart Culinary Team Competition

(Orlando, Fla.) – The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association Educational Foundation (FRLAEF) announced the winners of the 17th Annual ProStart Culinary Team Competition which was held Friday, March 3 and Saturday, March 4, 2017 at the Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando.

A total of 47 schools participated in the competition with 15 schools winning top awards throughout the day’s events. More than $1.4 million in scholarships was distributed to the winning schools. All winners and participants are a part of Florida’s ProStart program which is a career technical education program where high school students learn from an industry-derived curriculum that teaches culinary techniques and restaurant management skills. More than 20,000 students from across the state are enrolled in the program. The four main event competitions included: the Cracker Barrel Management Competition, the Johnson & Wales University Culinary Competition, the Keiser University Edible Centerpiece Competition, and the Coca-Cola Company Waiters Relay Competition.

Tarpon Springs High School won first place in the overall competition. East Ridge High School in Clermont took home second place in the overall competition, with South Lake High School in Groveland placing third. For photos of the event, please click here.

“These talented students represent the future of Florida’s hospitality industry and we are extremely proud to help support their education by awarding more than $1 million in scholarships. We are passionate about investing in these inspiring, young leaders of the trade and are thrilled to celebrate their incredible talents and pursuit of successful careers,” said Carol Dover, President and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association.

Overall Competition Winners

First Place	Tarpon Springs High School	Instructor: Cathleen Ryan
Second Place	East Ridge High School	Instructors: Ken Pitts
Third Place	South Lake High School	Instructor: Candy Huxhold and John Thunberg
Fourth Place	J.P. Taravella High School	Instructor: Scott Goodman
Fifth Place	Leto High School	Instructor: Debra Hladky

Johnson & Wales University Culinary Competition Winners
Participating teams demonstrated their creative abilities during the competition through the preparation of a meal consisting of: starter (such as soup, salad or appetizer), protein (such as meat, fish or fowl), starch, vegetable, and dessert.

First Place	Leto High School	Instructor: Debra Hladky
Second Place	J.P. Taravella High School	Instructor: Scott Goodman
Third Place	Mainland High School	Instructors: Jason Kester and Troy Logan
Fourth Place	Eastside High School	Instructor: Billie DeNunzio
Fifth Place	Seabreeze High School	Instructors: Samantha Crouch

Cracker Barrel Management Competition Winners
Participating teams demonstrated their knowledge of the restaurant and foodservice industry by developing a business proposal for a new restaurant concept. The business proposal consisted of a defined restaurant concept, supporting menu, and supporting marketing plan. Teams prepared a comprehensive written proposal, verbal presentation and visual display.

First Place	Tarpon Springs High School	Instructor: Cathleen Ryan
Second Place	Holmes County High School	Instructor: April Coe
Third Place	South Lake High School	Instructors: Candy Huxhold and John Thunberg
Fourth Place	Terry Parker High School	Instructors: Ginger Stehlin and Dean Hanapel
Fifth Place	Northeast High School	Instructors: John Beck and Curtis Serata

Keiser University Edible Centerpiece Competition Winners
Participating teams demonstrated their creative ability during the competition through the preparation of an edible centerpiece consisting of fruits and vegetables. Contestants explained nutritional information, product availability, and preparation techniques.

First Place	Estero High School	Instructor: Jeremy Jasper
Second Place*	Dixie Hollins High School	Instructor: Christy Rabich
*Three-way tie	East Ridge High School	Instructor: Ken Pitts
	Hialeah Gardens High School	Instructor: James Bryant
Third Place	Tarpon Springs High School	Instructors: Cathleen Ryan
Fourth Place	Northeast High School	Instructor: John Beck and Curtis Serata
Fifth Place	Lake Minneola High School	Instructor: Nick Sandora and Lance Bowles

Coca-Cola Company Waiters Relay Competition Winners
Participating teams demonstrated their ability to duplicate a table setting while racing against the clock.

First Place	East Ridge High School	Instructor: Ken Pitts
Second Place	South Lake High School	Instructor: Candy Huxhold and John Thunberg
Third Place	Stoneman Douglas High School	Instructors: Ashley Kurth
Fourth Place	J.P. Taravella High School	Instructor: Scott Goodman
Fifth Place	Mainland High School	Instructor: Jason Kester and Troy Logan

Arrive Alive, Don’t Drink and Drive: Floridians and visitors are urged to drive sober for a safe Spring Break

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), a division of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV), is spreading the message Arrive Alive, Don’t Drink and Drive this March as residents and visitors celebrate spring break in Florida. The DHSMV and FHP are partnering with the Florida Department of Transportation, Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Florida Police Chiefs Association, Florida Sheriffs Association, AAA – The Auto Club Group and the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association to spread the message on how to enjoy spring break in Florida safely.

“Spring break in Florida is a fun and exciting time for many students and families, but driving impaired can change that in an instant,” said DHSMV Executive Director Terry L. Rhodes. “We want everyone to enjoy their vacation and always designate a sober driver or find a safe ride home. Arrive Alive and never drink and drive.”

Florida’s beautiful beaches and tourist attractions lure thousands of spring breakers every year. As more drivers take to Florida roadways, the decision to drive under the influence of drugs and alcohol continues to be a serious problem. Preliminary data shows that in March 2016, there were more than 35,000 crashes statewide, including more than 15 crashes each day involving drivers who registered alcohol levels above the legal limit, resulting in 48 fatalities.

“The Florida Highway Patrol wants to ensure that every driver makes good decisions before getting behind the wheel and does not drink or use drugs and drive,” said Colonel Gene Spaulding, Director of the Florida Highway Patrol. “Enjoy your time in Florida, but be sure to use good judgment, so that the celebration doesn’t turn into a tragedy.”

In Florida in 2016, high school and college aged drivers made up 20 percent of all drivers in crashes in March. During that time period, drivers ages 15 to 24 accounted for 12,157 crashes, resulting in 677 injuries and 84 fatalities.

Driving impaired not only puts everyone on the roadway in danger, it can have serious legal and monetary consequences. Penalties for DUIs can include expensive fines, license revocation and jail time. Since 2013, more DUI citations have been issued in March than in any other month of the year. This spring break, law enforcement agencies across the state will continue to enforce the state’s drinking age laws to help keep impaired drivers off the roads.

“We remind motorists to drive safely, drive sober and always buckle up,” said Rachel Cone, FDOT Interim Secretary. “With Florida’s beautiful scenic highways and beach destinations, it is the best place to spend your spring break. We want everyone to arrive safely.”

The Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s (DBPR) Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco enforces the state’s beverage law and is responsible for licensing all Florida establishments that sell or service alcohol. This spring break, DBPR is partnering with state and local law enforcement agencies to help further enforce the legal drinking age and ensure that establishments are serving alcohol only to those age 21 or older.

“The DBPR’s Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco is committed to ensuring that alcohol stays out of the hands of individuals under the legal drinking age and that Florida establishments remain in compliance during spring break,” said DBPR Interim Secretary Matilde Miller. “Spring break is a time of fun and recreation for Florida residents and those visiting the Sunshine State, and we want to make sure everyone has a good time and gets back home safely.”

“Spring break brings a sharp increase in drunk driving incidents, and the Florida Police Chiefs Association is proud to partner with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to promote safe and responsible driving during spring break,” said Coconut Creek Police Chief Butch Arenal, President of the Association. “Drinking and driving often leads to serious injuries or fatalities, and it is imperative to educate Floridians and guests about the dangers of impaired driving. Florida’s police chiefs fully support and endorse this initiative.”

“Impaired driving is responsible for many of the traffic crashes that our deputies respond to daily in Florida,” said Sheriff Jerry Demings, President of the Florida Sheriffs Association. “Given that our primary mission is to protect the citizens that we serve, our Florida Sheriffs fully support the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles ‘Arrive Alive, Don’t Drink and Drive’ initiative this spring.”

“Any plans to celebrate with alcohol should also include a plan to get home safely,” said Amy Stracke, Managing Director of Traffic Safety Advocacy, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Choosing a designated driver is one of the best ways to avoid the dangers of impaired driving.”

Regulatory Compliance Services (RCS), a subsidiary of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA), provides risk management and regulatory compliance training to the state’s hospitality industry. RCS training programs include Responsible Vendor Training and Alcohol Compliance to educate servers and sellers on the legal manner of serving alcohol and preventing underage drinking.

“Florida is fortunate to be revered as one of the nation’s leading destinations for spring break travelers,” said Carol Dover, President and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association. “Admired for our world-class hospitality industry, it is our duty to lead by example. We strongly encourage our businesses across the state to serve responsibly and provide a safe environment for all guests. As Florida’s premier provider of responsible alcohol vendor training, we are dedicated to risk management and strongly recommend that businesses and patrons take precaution during the spring break season.”

Visit DHSMV’s website for more information and resources for the Arrive Alive, Don’t Drink and Drive Spring Break campaign. The public is encouraged to report dangerous and drunk drivers by dialing *FHP (*347).

To Prepare for Tourist Season, Panama City Beach Businesses and Employees Receive FREE Responsible Vendor Training

(Panama City Beach, Fla.) – Regulatory Compliance Services (RCS), a subsidiary of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) is proud to present its 2017 Tourist Season Hospitality Workshop to promote a safe and successful tourist season. This free responsible vendor training session will bring together businesses, their employees and Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco agents to promote alcohol sales/service best practices, raise staff awareness and provide valuable resources to assist businesses during the busy season. The event will be held Monday, February 27, 2017 from 3:00-4:30 PM at the Boardwalk Beach Resort in Panama City Beach.

“In preparation for tourist season, we want to give local businesses the necessary tools and tips that cultivate a safe and enjoyable environment. We are proud to present this opportunity, free of charge, to help businesses be responsible vendors. As Florida’s premier provider of responsible alcohol vendor training, we are passionate about risk management and are excited to help serve the Panama City Beach community,” said FRLA Vice President of Education and Training, Geoff Luebkemann.

Responsible vendor training is a program offered to any entity with an alcoholic beverage license. 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.

During this event, the training will be presented by RCS in coordination with Florida’s Division of Alcohol Beverages and Tobacco.

The media is invited to attend and if planning to be present will need to contact FRLA Press Secretary at 850.224.2250 x255 or via email at epower@frla.org.

WHAT:
2017 Tourist Season Hospitality Workshop
Includes FRLA’s RCS FREE Responsible Vendor Training

WHEN:
Monday, February 27, 2017
3:00-4:30 PM

WHERE:
Boardwalk Beach Resort
9450 South Thomas Drive
Panama City Beach, FL 32408

Businesses looking to participate in the event should contact RCS Florida Panhandle Regional Training Manager, Caitie Mook at 850-933-3764 or cmook@frla.org. For more information about RCS please visit www.regcomplianceusa.com.

GOV. SCOTT: FLORIDA SETS ANOTHER TOURISM RECORD

MELBOURNE, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott announced that Florida set another record in tourism by welcoming the highest amount of visitors in the state’s history with 112.8 million visitors in 2016. This is the sixth consecutive record year for visitation to Florida, exceeding the previous high of 106.6 million in 2015 by 5.9 percent. Tourism jobs also hit a record high in 2016 of 1.4 million jobs, exceeding the previous record in 2015.

Governor Scott said, “Today, I am proud to announce that Florida has once again welcomed a record number of tourists with 112.8 million visitors to the state in 2016. Visitors spent $109 billion and supported a record 1.4 million Florida jobs in 2016 – a testament to the vital importance of tourism to our growing economy.

“I have seen firsthand how tourism impacts our state. Since I have been in office, we have made important investments in VISIT FLORIDA and broken record after record of visitors, added more than a million new residents and seen Florida’s private sector create more than 1.25 million new jobs. Unfortunately, even with these incredible successes, politicians in the Florida House are trying to eliminate VISIT FLORIDA. I don’t understand how anyone can look at Florida’s booming tourism industry, and the more than 1.4 million jobs it supports, and vote to kill it. The legislation the Florida House is pushing puts more than 1.4 million jobs at risk and we cannot let that happen. We have to fight to continue investing in our tourism industry so we can keep breaking records and adding even more jobs.

“Over the past week, I have traveled the state meeting with small business owners, economic development leaders, tourism leaders, community members and hardworking Floridians who all had a clear message – Florida’s economy needs tourism. Last year, Florida was challenged like never before as we faced the Zika virus, two hurricanes and the terror attack at Pulse Nightclub. In the face of adversity, we continued in our mission to promote our great state and thanks to the hard work of VISIT FLORIDA, we continue to see record visitors to Florida.”

In 2015, every 85 tourists supported one job. Today, VISIT FLORIDA data shows that every 76 tourists support one job – proof that tourism continues to be a major and growing influence on job creation in Florida and that we must continue to invest in this vital part of our growing economy.

VISIT FLORIDA estimates that a record 98.0 million domestic visitors traveled to Florida in 2016, reflecting a 7.3 percent increase over 2015. Estimates also show that 11.1 million overseas visitors and 3.7 million Canadians came to the Sunshine State last year. Total enplanements at 18 Florida airports during 2016 increased 4.3 percent over the previous year, with a record 83.7 million enplaned passengers. For 2016, the average daily room rate (ADR) rose 2.0 percent and the number of rooms sold grew by 1.1 percent compared to 2015.

Ken Lawson, President and CEO of VISIT FLORIDA, said, “Six years of record-setting visitation would not be possible without a strong global marketing strategy focused on maximizing the economic impact of Florida tourism. To have achieved another tourism record in 2016 given all the challenges this state faced last year is an incredible testament to the cooperative relationship VISIT FLORIDA has with our more than 12,000 industry business partners around the state. Today’s announcement proves that sustained collective tourism marketing works and we have Governor Scott and our supporters in the Florida Legislature to thank for their unparalleled leadership over the past six years that has helped position our industry for this unprecedented success.”

For fourth quarter 2016, estimates show a record 27.6 million people visited the Sunshine State. This represents the largest fourth quarter visitation number Florida has ever seen and reflects an increase of 6.1 percent over the same period in 2015. VISIT FLORIDA also reports that an estimated 24.0 million domestic visitors, 3.0 million overseas visitors and 587,000 Canadians traveled to Florida in the fourth quarter of 2016.

William D.Talbert III, CDME, Chair of the VISIT FLORIDA Board of Directors, said, “Given the hyper-competitive global tourism marketplace, the series of challenging events the state faced and the uncertain economies of some of Florida’s key international markets, I am extremely encouraged to see that the programs VISIT FLORIDA and our statewide marketing partners conducted have resulted in another record year for visitation which ultimately supports and generates jobs throughout the state. This success in the face of tough times means it’s more important than ever to invest in smart tourism marketing.”

To view additional Florida visitor data, go 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.