Tallahassee, FL – Today, FloridaCommerce and the State Emergency Response Team (SERT) activated the Business Damage Assessment Survey in response to Hurricane Idalia. Survey responses will allow the state to expedite Hurricane Idalia recovery efforts by gathering data and assessing the needs of affected businesses.

Businesses can complete the survey online by visiting www.FloridaDisaster.biz and selecting “Hurricane Idalia” from the dropdown menu.

If you need additional assistance with your business, please call the private sector hotline at 850-815-4925. The hotline was activated on Sunday, August 27, 2023, and the hotline will be operational between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., or you can email ESF18@EM.MyFlorida.com.

About FloridaCommerce

FloridaCommerce combines the state’s economic, workforce, and community development efforts, expediting economic development projects to fuel job creation in competitive communities and promote economic resiliency. For more information, including valuable resources for employers and job seekers, please visit www.FloridaJobs.org.
###

Today, Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 23-175 (Amending Executive Order 23-171, Emergency Management – Tropical Storm Idalia), expanding the number of counties under a state of emergency in preparation for Tropical Storm Idalia from 46 counties to 49 counties. Counties now included in the executive order are:

Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Brevard, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Nassau, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia, and Wakulla counties.

To read the full executive order, click here or read below:

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 23-175

(Amending Executive Order 23-171, Emergency Management – Hurricane Idalia)

WHEREAS, on August 26, 2023, I issued Executive Order 23-171, declaring a state of emergency for several counties in Florida due to the dangers presented by Invest 93L, a broad area of low pressure off the west coast of Central America; and

WHEREAS, on August 28, 2023, I issued Executive Order 23-172, amending Executive Order 23-171 by adding coastal and inland counties in Central and North Florida to the state of emergency; and

WHEREAS, as of 5:00 AM EDT on August 29, 2023, Tropical Storm Idalia strengthened into a hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 75 miles per hour, and is moving northward over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico; and

WHEREAS, as of 5:00 AM EDT on August 29, 2023, Hurricane Idalia was approximately 175 miles southwest of the Dry Tortugas, Florida; and

WHEREAS, Hurricane Idalia is forecasted to become a major hurricane before making landfall along areas of the Florida Gulf Coast and the Florida Big Bend on August 30, 2023, and is expected to remain a hurricane as it moves across North Florida and into Georgia; and

WHEREAS, the Florida Division of Emergency Management, working together with the National Hurricane Center to evaluate weather predictions, has determined that there is a continuing risk of dangerous storm surge, heavy rainfall, flash flooding, strong winds, hazardous seas, and isolated tomadic activity for the Florida Peninsula and portions of the Florida Big Bend; and

WHEREAS,  the threat posed by Hurricane Idalia requires that timely precautions must be taken to protect the communities, critical infrastructure, and general welfare of the people of Florida; and

WHEREAS, as the Governor of Florida, I am responsible to meet the dangers presented to the State of Florida and its people by this emergency.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RON DESANTIS, as Governor of Florida, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Article IV, Section l(a) of the Florida Constitution and by the Florida Emergency Management Act, as amended, and all other applicable laws, promulgate the following Executive Order, to take immediate effect:

Section 1. Section 1 of Executive Order 23-171 is amended to read as follows:

Because of the foregoing conditions, which are projected to constitute a major disaster, I declare that a state of emergency exists in Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Brevard, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Hardee, Hemando, Hillsborough, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Nassau, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia, and Wakulla Counties.

Section 2. Except as amended herein, Executive Order 23-171 is ratified and reaffirmed.

Sections. This Executive Order is effective immediately and shall expire upon the expiration of Executive Order 23-171

###

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis signed Executive Order 23-171, declaring a state of emergency for 33 counties in preparation for Invest 93L, which is expected to strengthen into a tropical storm in the coming days. The Governor and the Florida Division of Emergency Management are taking timely precautions to ensure Florida’s communities, infrastructure and resources are prepared, including those communities that are still recovering following Hurricane Ian. To read the Executive Order, click here.

“I signed an Executive Order issuing a state of emergency out of an abundance of caution to ensure that the Florida Division of Emergency Management can begin staging resources and Floridians have plenty of time to prepare their families for a storm next week,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “I encourage Floridians to have a plan in place and ensure that their hurricane supply kit is stocked.”

To find resources to help you and your family prepare for this storm, you can visit floridadisaster.org/planprepare.

The forecast currently places a tropical storm or hurricane making landfall along Florida’s Gulf Coast early – mid next week, with the potential for heavy rainfall, strong winds, and for isolated tornadic activity. Governor DeSantis issued the State of Emergency for the following 33 counties:

• Alachua
• Bay
• Calhoun
• Charlotte
• Citrus
• Columbia
• DeSoto
• Dixie
• Franklin
• Gadsden
• Gilchrist
• Gulf
• Hamilton
• Hardee
• Hernando
• Hillsborough
• Jefferson
• Lafayette
• Lee
• Leon
• Levy
• Liberty
• Madison
• Manatee
• Marion
• Pasco
• Pinellas
• Polk
• Sarasota
• Sumter
• Suwannee
• Taylor
• Wakulla

Follow @FLSERT and @GovRonDeSantis on Twitter for live updates. Visit http://www.floridadisaster.org to find information on emergency preparedness.

###

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) has increased the per diem reimbursement rates for the fiscal year 2024. Effective October 1, 2023 to September 23, 2024, the continental United States (CONUS) maximum lodging allowance rates in some existing per diem localities will be raised to $107 from $98.

The new rates will see 302 locations receiving a maximum lodging allowance higher than the standard rate, GSA said in a statement.

Meals and incidental expenses per diem tiers for FY 2024 remain unchanged at $59-$79, with the standard M&IE rate remaining fixed at $59.

The per diem allowance is paid to federal employees for their lodging, meals and incidental expenses incurred for official government travel.

The maximum lodging allowance is based on historical ADR data, less than 5%. The pandemic, however, resulted in unprecedented declines in ADR and an uncertain recovery of the hotel industry.

The ADR data available to establish FY 2024 rates was from before the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency expired on May 11, GSA said and used data from the trailing April through March. Like the procedure used for FY 2023, GSA made upward adjustments to ensure maximum lodging allowances for federal travelers were sufficient in the next fiscal year.

Reacting to GSA’s announcement, the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) said the $9 increase in the lodging rate was a “positive step” for hoteliers in the country, as government travel supports billions in travel spending. Many private-sector organizations also base travel reimbursements on federal per diem rates, Chip Rogers, AHLA president and CEO, said in a statement.

“The per diem rates GSA announced today come after months of hard work AHLA put in to lobby the administration on behalf of hoteliers nationwide. We thank GSA for working to ensure hotels are fairly compensated for the excellent services they provide government travelers year in and year out. We will continue to work with GSA and advocate for lodging and meal rate increases that reflect market conditions,” Rogers said.

Each year, AHLA works with the GSA to ensure that per diem rates “are fair to both hoteliers and the government.”

###

TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association (FRLA) has announced the recent hire of Meghan Myhill as Communications and Marketing Coordinator. Myhill joins the team led by Communications Director Ashley Chambers in the Tallahassee office. In her role, Myhill will work within FRLA and with its members, external partners, and stakeholders to amplify messaging and digital efforts to protect, educate, and promote Florida’s hospitality industry.

“We are thrilled to welcome Meghan to the FRLA family,” said Carol Dover, President and CEO of the FRLA. “In her short time here, she has already demonstrated incredible value to the FRLA team and our members. Her strong skills with digital communications and marketing are a true asset as we work to promote Florida’s restaurants, hotels, attractions, and suppliers.”

Myhill graduated Magna Cum Laude from Florida State University and previously served for six years in Congressman Neal Dunn’s office in both Washington, D.C. and Tallahassee.

For more information on the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, please visit FRLA.org.

About FRLA: The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) is Florida’s premier non-profit hospitality industry trade association. Founded in 1946 as the Florida Restaurant Association, FRLA merged with the Florida Hotel and Motel Association in 2006. FRLA’s more than 10,000 members include independent hoteliers and restaurateurs, household name franchises, theme parks and suppliers. The association’s mission is to protect, educate and promote Florida’s nearly $112 billion hospitality industry which represents 1.5 million employees. Dedicated to safeguarding the needs of the membership, FRLA provides legislative advocacy to ensure the voices of its members are heard and their interests are protected. The association offers regulatory compliance and food safety training through Safe Staff^® and FRLA’s subsidiary, RCS Training. The FRLA Educational Foundation provides industry-developed, career-building high school programs throughout the state.

###

DBPR Issues Industry Bulletin on Human Trafficking

Due to a recent legislative update to section 509.096(3), Florida Statutes, the Division of Hotels & Restaurants will no longer afford a public lodging establishment with 90 days to correct a human trafficking awareness violation, as was previously allowed. This change will take effect July 1, 2023. This change affects all DBPR-licensed public lodging establishments. 

Click the button below to read the full industry bulletin, and find a summary and additional information below. 

FULL DBPR INDUSTRY BULLETIN 

A summary of the legislative changes are as follows:

Starting July 1, 2023
– A public lodging establishment found to be in violation of a human trafficking awareness requirement for the first time will only be afforded 45 days to correct the violation. Previously, 90 days was afforded and administrative fines would not be assessed if the violation was corrected within the 90 days.
– A public lodging establishment found to be in violation of a human trafficking awareness requirement for the second or subsequent time will be assessed the applicable administrative fines as the establishment will no longer be afforded an opportunity to correct the violation. Previously, 90 days was afforded and administrative fines would not be assessed if the violation was corrected within the 90 days.

The Division of Hotels & Restaurants has published an industry bulletin to notify the industry of these changes. The Division also maintains a webpage with up-to-date information on the human trafficking awareness requirements that are applicable to public lodging establishments in Florida. Please visit MyFloridaLicense.com/DBPR/hotels-restaurants/ for more information.

###