Florida Tourism Continues to Bounce Back

Jim Turner | News Service of Florida | 8/16/2022

Tourism in Florida during the first half of 2022 was up 20 percent from the same period last year and was higher than during the first six months of 2019, the last full year of travel before the coronavirus pandemic.

Visit Florida, the state’s tourism-marketing agency, posted numbers online late Monday that estimated Florida had 33.717 million visitors from April 1 through June 30, bringing the total for the first six months of this year to 69.34 million.

The second-quarter number was up 5.6 percent from the same period in 2021. Tourism in the first quarter was 38.3 percent above the first quarter of 2021.

The 35.628 million visitors during this year’s first quarter was an all-time three-month record.

The dip in tourists during the second quarter was not a surprise.

Covering most of the winter, the first quarter historically has been the state’s busiest tourism period. Also, with gas prices over $4 a gallon and inflation at a four-decade high, tourism officials in June expressed concern that hotel room rates, which had been pushed up by demand during the past year, were starting to hinder travel.

“I think we’re starting to see, just over the last couple of weeks or so especially, inflation actually starting to catch up with us in most markets,” Jacob Pewitt Yancey, Visit Florida director of consumer insight and analytics, said during a Visit Florida board meeting June 9.

“Now, overall room revenue is still up in every market statewide, because the growth in rates has been more than enough to overcome the decreased level of demand,” Pewitt Yancey said.

However, STR, Inc., which provides data to the hotel industry, indicated in an Aug. 5 blog post that numbers nationally have been holding steady into the third quarter.

Last year, as the state was still emerging from the early economic damage of the COVID-19 pandemic, 31.935 million tourists visited Florida in the second quarter and 57.703 million visited during the first half of the year.

The pandemic slammed into Florida in March 2020, largely shutting down the tourism industry. That year, Florida drew just 9.7 million tourists from the start of April to the end of June and 39.764 million in the first half of the year.

In 2019, when Florida hit a record 131.07 million tourists, it drew 32.265 million visitors in the second quarter and 67.76 million in the first half.

Florida has outpaced other states in bringing back international travelers during the pandemic, but it still lags 2019 totals.

The state had 3.071 million overseas travelers during the first half of 2022, with 1.748 million in the second quarter. In 2021, Florida totaled 1.5 million overseas travelers during the first half of the year.

An estimated 1.207 million Canadians visited Florida during the first half of 2022, with 594,000 in the second quarter. Only 96,000 Canadians made their way to Florida in the first half of 2021. For the first half of 2019, 2.294 million Canadians came to Florida.

Florida drew a total of 4.63 million international travelers in 2021, a roughly 45 percent market share of foreign travelers into the U.S. That easily topped the 22 percent for the next-highest state, New York.

Florida in 2019 had just under 13.9 million international tourists.

The Biden administration in June lifted a requirement that international travelers test negative for COVID-19 within a day of boarding flights to the United States. The ban was one of the last remaining government mandates designed to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

AAHOA Launches ElevateHER Women’s Initiative to Highlight and Support Women Hoteliers and Leaders in the Industry

ATLANTA, Ga. – AAHOA, the nation’s largest hotel owners association, with nearly 20,000 members who own 60% of the hotels in the United States, announced today the launch of ElevateHER, an initiative aimed at elevating, educating, and empowering the women hoteliers of AAHOA and across the industry.

“AAHOA has been proud to celebrate the important work women are doing at every level of hospitality, and this initiative further underscores our commitment to the women of AAHOA and elevating their contributions to the industry,” said AAHOA President & CEO Laura Lee Blake. “While there’s still much work to be done, AAHOA recognizes the significant strides women have made to be seen at industry events, heard in the boardroom, and valued in the workplace – ElevateHER celebrates these accomplishments and will further drive our association’s work around elevating and supporting women in the industry.”

In what has been a predominantly male-dominated industry, AAHOA understands how important it is to foster, promote, and empower women entrepreneurs – and the impact that ElevateHER can have to help women shatter the glass ceiling and pursue their own entrepreneurial journey.

“Women play an active role in all areas of hospitality – from welcoming guests at the front desk to providing the best in housekeeping services to owning and operating hotel properties, women hoteliers continue to step up to leave their mark in the industry,” said AAHOA Female Director Eastern Division Lina Patel, CHO. “I’m proud to work alongside the entire AAHOA Team to launch the ElevateHER program and give women hoteliers the chance to learn from and inspire each other, and set everyone up for years of progress and success.”

AAHOA’s ElevateHER program will offer networking and educational opportunities for women hoteliers and hospitality industry professionals, and elevate AAHOA to be the foremost resource and advocate for women in the industry. This initiative will ultimately support all women in their endeavors and ensure more stability and opportunities for generations to come.

“Women are the backbone of this industry, and AAHOA recognizes the importance of helping advance women’s initiatives in our industry and beyond,” said AAHOA Chairman Neal Patel, CHO, CHIA. “I’m proud to see more and more women hoteliers in top leadership positions within the association, and the industry at large. AAHOA’s ElevateHER initiative further highlights our organization’s commitment to encouraging women hoteliers to take an active role in hospitality with a program created to elevate them in every way.”

As part of our initial launch of this initiative, AAHOA is hosting a Women Hoteliers ElevateHER Conference, October 26-27, 2022, in Cincinnati, OH, which will focus on bringing together AAHOA’s engaged community of women hoteliers for education, inspiration, and empowerment.

“AAHOA has long been an advocate of amplifying women’s voices within the industry, and the brand-new ElevateHER program invites more and more women to shape the future of hospitality and advance their careers,” said AAHOA Female Director Western Division Tejal N. Patel, CHIA, CHO. “Additionally, the 2022 Women Hoteliers ElevateHER Conference will aim to expand women hoteliers’ scope and view of what is possible professionally and personally in hospitality. I could not be more excited for all that will be accomplished thanks to ElevateHER and AAHOA’s renewed focus on elevating women leaders in the industry.”

About AAHOA

AAHOA is the largest hotel owners association in the nation, with Member-owned properties representing a significant part of the U.S. economy. AAHOA’s 20,000 members own 60% of the hotels in the United States and are responsible for 1.7% of the nation’s GDP. More than one million employees work at AAHOA member-owned hotels, earning $47 billion annually, and member-owned hotels support 4.2 million U.S. jobs across all sectors of the hospitality industry. AAHOA’s mission is to advance and protect the business interests of hotel owners through advocacy, industry leadership, professional development, member benefits, and community engagement.

National Restaurant Association to SBA: Release $180M in RRF Funds

Letter seeks distribution of funds to pending applicants in fair and timely manner

Today the National Restaurant Association sent a letter to Small Business Administration (SBA) requesting that it release $180 million in unobligated Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) money to applicants who did not receive initial funding. The availability of the funds first came to light in a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, released on July 14, which noted:

As of June 2022, $180 million of RRF funding was unobligated, according to USASpending.gov. According to SBA officials, the unobligated funding includes $24 million set aside for litigation, and the remainder results from realized or anticipated recoveries. SBA data also indicate that about $56 million came from returned awards (officials said that awards were returned by the recipients or their financial institutions). SBA officials said some of the recovered funds also came from awards the Department of the Treasury administratively offset and returned to SBA.

The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 did not create a litigation set aside for the SBA to administer. While ARPA does direct returned or reclaimed RRF awards to the Department of Treasury, the Association believes it would be consistent with the spirit of the law to utilize all unobligated funds to address the RRF shortfall.

“Now more than ever, every dollar appropriated by Congress for restaurant relief needs to be unlocked and put in the hands of operators struggling to keep their doors open,” said Sean Kennedy, executive vice president for Public Affairs at the National Restaurant Association. “The potential for replenishing the RRF remains uncertain at best, thus the efficient disbursement of the existing funds is of critical importance to our industry. Restaurants remain battered with worker shortages, runaway food costs, and an uncertain level of customer confidence in the coming months. The need for relief has not abated. We urge the SBA to take every step to disburse all remaining funds in a fair and timely manner.”

The restaurant industry is still struggling to rebuild from the initial impacts of the pandemic. The industry still has not recovered 728,000 jobs lost in the initial government shutdowns. Added to the stress of wholesale food costs that have risen more than 13% in the last 12 months, and rising COVID outbreaks in many communities, operators are growing more pessimistic about the economic outlook. According to the Association’s June 2022 Operator Tracking Survey, 43% say they think economic conditions will worsen in six months. This is the highest level of economic pessimism since 2008.

Read the full letter to SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman here.

VISIT FLORIDA Announces FY 2022-23 Tourism Industry Leadership

VISIT FLORIDA Announces FY 2022-23 Tourism Industry Leadership

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – VISIT FLORIDA, the state’s official tourism marketing corporation, is proud to present its Board of Directors for the new 2022-23 fiscal year. Comprised of tourism industry experts, VISIT FLORIDA’s Board of Directors, along with the members of its committees, provide guidance, input, and insight into the evolution of VISIT FLORIDA programs, processes, and messaging.

Greg Cook, General Manager, The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, will serve as the new Chair of the 2022-23 VISIT FLORIDA Board of Directors. Cook succeeds Danny Gaekwad, Owner of MGM Hotels, LLC, who served as Chair for the 2021-22 fiscal year.

“As Florida continues to dominate the nationwide recovery from COVID-19, we are honored to have these new members on our Board to help us keep the momentum going and propel us into even greater successes in the future,” said Dana Young, President and CEO of VISIT FLORIDA.

VISIT FLORIDA Board of Directors – FY 2022-23

Greg Cook, General Manager, The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, Chair
Jennifer Rominiecki, President & CEO, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Vice Chair & Chair of Industry Services, Small Business and Rural Development Council
John Lai, President and CEO, Sanibel and Captiva Chamber of Commerce, Second Vice Chair
Danny Gaekwad, Owner, MGM Hotels, LLC, Immediate Past Chair
Eric Marshall, Senior Vice President of Destination Sales, Universal Orlando Resort, Secretary
Scott Shalley, President & CEO, Florida Retail Federation, Treasurer
Patrick Murphy, Senior Vice President of Operations, The St. Joe Company, Chair of Audit Committee
Andres Barry, President, JetBlue Travel Products, Chair of Marketing Council
Carol Dover, President/CEO, Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, Chair of Public Affairs
Jennifer Berthiaume, Vice President, Lion Country Safari
Len Brown, Chief Legal Officer and Executive VP Licensing & Merchandising, PGA TOUR
José Cil, CEO, Restaurant Brands International Inc.
Bobby Cornwell, President and CEO, Camp Florida / Florida RV Park & Campground Association
Kelly Craighead, President and CEO, Cruise Lines International Association
Ernesto Díaz, Chief Experience Officer, The Auto Club Group
Malinda Horton, Executive Director, Florida Association of Museums, Inc
Kara Lundgren, General Manager, Cambria Hotel Fort Lauderdale Beach
Lino Maldonado, President and Managing Partner, BeHome 247 Technologies
Jesse Martinez, General Manager, The Alfond Inn
Casandra Matej, President & CEO, Visit Orlando
Kerry Morrissey, VP of PR & Community Relations, Ocean Properties Hotels and Resorts and the Opal Collection
Scott Rose, Senior VP, Chief Operating Officer, ZooTampa at Lowry Park
Dan Rowe, President & CEO, Panama City Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau
Angel Sarria, Director, Marketing and Sales, Disney Destinations
Dave Schmidt, VP / GM of the South FL Group, Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Robert Skrob, Executive Director, Destinations Florida, Inc.
John Solomon, Director, Franklin County Tourist Development Council and Executive Director, Apalachicola Bay Chamber of Commerce
Sheldon Suga, VP and Managing Director, Hawks Cay Resort
Robert Wells, President, Cabbage Key and Tarpon Lodge
Chip Wile, Senior Vice President / Chief Track Properties Officer, NASCAR

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AS 97% OF SURVEYED HOTELS REPORT STAFFING SHORTAGES, AHLA FOUNDATION EXPANDS RECRUITMENT CAMPAIGN

WASHINGTON (JUNE 30, 2022) – Nearly all hotels are experiencing staffing shortages, and half report being severely understaffed, according to a new member survey conducted by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA). Ninety-seven percent (97%) of survey respondents indicated they are experiencing a staffing shortage, 49% severely so. The most critical staffing need is housekeeping, with 58% ranking it as their biggest challenge.

To meet the demand, hotels are offering a host of incentives for potential hires: nearly 90% have increased wages, 71% are offering greater flexibility with hours, and 43% have expanded benefits. These efforts have met with some success—in the last 3 months, respondents say they have hired an additional 23 new employees per property, but they are also trying to fill an additional 12 positions. Ninety-seven percent (97%) of respondents say they have been unable to fill open positions.

To help hotels fill more than 130,000 open positions nationwide and raise awareness of the hospitality industry’s 200+ career pathways, the AHLA Foundation has expanded its “A Place to Stay” multi-channel advertising campaign. After a successful pilot in 5 markets, the campaign is now active in 14 cities, including Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, New York, Orlando, Phoenix, San Diego, and Tampa.

In addition to doubling its financial investment in the campaign, the Foundation has also expanded its bilingual English/Spanish efforts and developed several enhanced digital strategies to further target prospective employees. For more info on the campaign, visit thehotelindustry.com.

“If you’ve ever thought about working at a hotel, now’s the time because the pay is better than it’s ever been, the benefits are better than they’ve ever been, and the opportunity is better than it’s ever been. The expansion of AHLA Foundation’s ‘A Place to Stay’ recruitment campaign will help us bring this message to the masses at a crucial time, helping expand the hotel industry’s pool of prospective workers and grow our talent pipeline,” said AHLA President & CEO Chip Rogers.

“With hotels on a hiring spree amid surging summer travel demand, our industry is providing current and prospective hotel employees historic opportunities for good-paying, lifelong careers. ‘A Place to Stay’ helps us tell that story by highlighting the many pathways and countless career opportunities the hotel industry provides,” said Rosanna Maietta, AHLA executive vice president of communications and public relations and president & CEO of AHLA Foundation.

Methodology: AHLA’s latest Front Desk Feedback survey of more than 500 hoteliers was conducted from May 16-24, 2022.

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About AHLA

The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) is the sole national association representing all segments of the U.S. lodging industry. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., AHLA focuses on strategic advocacy, communications support and workforce development programs to move the industry forward. Learn more at www.ahla.com.

Secretary Dane Eagle Announces Florida Employers Add Jobs for 25th Consecutive Month

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Secretary Dane Eagle announced that Florida’s May 2022 employment data demonstrates the strength of Florida’s economy. Florida employers added jobs for the 25th consecutive month in May. Florida’s unemployment rate has remained below the national rate for 18 consecutive months and has declined or held steady for 22 consecutive months. The over-the-year labor force growth rate in May was 3.0 percent (+313,000) exceeding the national growth rate of 2.2 percent and Florida’s labor force grew by 0.5 percent (+49,000) over the month, also outpacing the national over-the-month growth rate of 0.2 percent. Florida’s over-the-year private sector job growth rate has exceeded the nation’s for 14 consecutive months indicating strong, sustainable growth for Floridians.

“Our state’s continued success is a testament to Governor DeSantis’ efforts to create a brighter future for Floridians,” said DEO Secretary Dane Eagle. “DEO is committed to supporting the Governor’s initiatives and bringing the state’s economic vision to life.”

Florida’s over-the-year private sector growth rate was 5.9 percent in May and Florida’s unemployment rate decreased by 1.9 percentage points over the year to 3.0 percent, and continues to remain below the national rate, which is currently 3.6 percent.

The state’s total private sector employment increased by 459,500 (+5.9 percent) over the year in May 2022, 0.8 percentage point faster than the national growth rate of 5.1 percent. Florida’s over-the-year private sector job growth has also exceeded the nation’s for 14 consecutive months since April 2021.

Data in the month of May continues to indicate that there are many job opportunities available for Floridians throughout the state, with more than 499,000 jobs posted online. Floridians in search of work and new job opportunities are encouraged to turn to the CareerSource Florida network for help. Floridians can find guidance on how to register with Employ Florida and search listings of available local job openings. Career seekers also can improve their employability by perfecting resume writing and interviewing skills, establishing career goals, and pursuing customized career training. These services are provided at no cost to job seekers.

Florida Economic Indicators for May 2022 include:

· Unemployment rate has remained steady at 3.0 percent, and 0.6 percentage point lower than the national rate.

· Florida’s statewide unemployment rate has been lower than the national rate for 18 consecutive months since December 2020.

· Florida’s statewide unemployment rate has declined or held steady for 22 consecutive months.

· Between May 2021 and May 2022, Florida’s labor force grew by 313,000, or 3.0 percent, faster than the national labor force growth rate of 2.2 percent over the year.

· Between May 2021 and May 2022, total private sector employment grew by 459,500 jobs (5.9%), faster than the national private sector job growth rate of 5.1 percent over the year.

· As of May 2022, Florida employers have added jobs for 25 consecutive months since May 2020. Florida’s private sector over-the-year job growth rate has exceeded the nation’s for 14 consecutive months since April 2021.

· Private sector industries gaining the most jobs over the month were:

· Professional and Business Services with 8,600 new jobs.

· Manufacturing with 4,300 new jobs.

· Leisure and Hospitality with 2,300 new jobs.

· Trade, Transportation, and Utilities with 1,800 new jobs

To view the May 2022 jobs reports by region, please see below:

To view the May 2022 employment data, visit: www.floridajobs.org/labor-market-information/labor-market-information-press-releases/monthly-press-releases.

Visit Florida Insight for more information on labor market and economic data. Additionally, the Department has provided a video to assist users in explaining the data provided through Florida Insight.

Two Florida High Schools Win $10,000 from Rachael Ray ProStart Grow Grant to Nurture Their Culinary and Restaurant Management Education Programs

TALLAHASSEE – The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) has announced that two Florida schools – Umatilla High School in Umatilla and St. Lucie West (SLW) Centennial High School in Port St. Lucie – are two of only 38 high schools from across the country selected to each receive a $5,000 grant to support their ProStart culinary and restaurant management programs through the Rachael Ray Foundation ProStart Grow Grant program.

“Florida is proud to have built the largest ProStart program in the nation,” said Carol Dover, President & CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA). “With more than 30,000 students, we continue to invest them as they develop their talent and future in Florida’s vibrant restaurant and foodservice sector. These students are the future of our hospitality industry, and we applaud the Rachael Ray Foundation for contributing to their growth and success through this funding.”

Earlier this year, the Rachael Ray Foundation contributed $225,000 to the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation in support of ProStart Grow Grants. Schools with existing ProStart programs, or those looking to become part of the ProStart program, were invited to apply, with winning schools demonstrating how the ProStart program positively impacts, or could impact, their students and the community.

“We greatly appreciate the support of the Rachael Ray Grow Grant to provide much-needed funds for two of our Florida ProStart schools,” said Laura Rumer, Director of the FRLA Educational Foundation. “The grants will help the instructors to improve their facilities, which allows the students to be more comfortable on the equipment they will see in an industry kitchen as they prepare for future careers.”

To-date, the Rachael Ray Foundation ProStart Grow Grant Program has provided $590,000 to schools demonstrating a strong need to engage and educate high school students interested in exploring restaurant and foodservice careers. Learn more about all of the 2022 Rachael Ray ProStart Grow Grant winners here.

“ProStart programs, and the educators who support them, provide high school students across the country with skills they need to be successful throughout life,” said Rachael Ray, award-winning television personality and philanthropist. “We [The Rachael Ray Foundation] are proud to support the dreams, passion and hard work that these Grow Grant recipients display in their classrooms and schools as they cultivate the next generation of restaurant and foodservice professionals.”

A program of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, ProStart is a two-year technical education program found at more than 1,750 high schools and career and technical educational centers nationwide, teaching culinary techniques and restaurant management skills that build a lifetime foundation and support future careers in the restaurant industry. With 145,000 students enrolled across all states, the District of Columbia and Guam, the program teaches students through a combination of classroom and industry instruction. Find out more about ProStart at ChooseRestaurants.org/ProStart.

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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.

About the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF): As the philanthropic foundation of the National Restaurant Association, the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation’s (NRAEF) mission of service to the public is dedicated to enhancing the industry’s training and education, career development and community engagement efforts. The NRAEF and its programs work to Attract, Empower and Advance today’s and tomorrow’s restaurant and foodservice workforce. NRAEF programs include: ProStart® – a high-school career and technical education program; Restaurant Ready – partnering with community based organizations to provide “opportunity youth” with skills training and job opportunities; Military – helping military servicemen and women transition their skills to restaurant and foodservice careers; Scholarships – financial assistance for students pursuing restaurant, foodservice and hospitality degrees; and the Restaurant & Hospitality Leadership Center (RHLC) – accredited apprenticeship programs designed to build the careers of service professionals. For more information on the NRAEF, visit ChooseRestaurants.org.

About The Rachael Ray Foundation: The Rachael Ray Foundation™ (RRF) is a private foundation that is fully funded by the proceeds from the sale of Rachael Ray™ Nutrish®. RRF was launched by Rachael in 2016 to better support the causes she cares for most such as helping animals in need. Additionally, RRF works with organizations that support the mission of Yum-o!, Rachael’s 501c3, in order to bolster and amplify their efforts through additional funding. Yum-o! empowers kids and their families to develop healthy relationships with food and cooking. It also teaches families to cook, feeds hungry kids, and funds cooking education, among other initiatives.

Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association Members Receive Michelin Guide Recognition

TALLAHASSEE – At the Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes last night, twenty-seven Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) Members were recognized by the esteemed Michelin Guide, winning stars and other high achievement recognitions like Bib Gourmand and Recommended Plate.

“Florida is so proud to receive Michelin recognition among such exclusive company as only the fifth location in the United States with Michelin-awarded restaurants,” said Carol Dover, President and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association. “Our guests come from across the state, country, and globe to experience Florida’s world-class dining options. Not only is the Michelin recognition well deserved, but it will bring even more people to our state, to our hotels, and to our restaurants, strengthening our communities and the overall health of our hospitality industry. Congratulations to our many FRLA member winners and to all who were recognized!”

The following FRLA members received recognition from the Michelin Guide:

ONE-STAR FRLA WINNERS

Stubborn Seed, Miami

The Surf Club Restaurant, Miami

Knife & Spoon, Orlando

Capa, Orlando

BIB GOURMAND FRLA WINNERS

Ghee Indian Kitchen, Miami

Michael’s Genuine, Miami

Ravenous Pig, Orlando

Red Rooster Overtown, Miami

MICHELIN-RECOMMENDED FRLA WINNERS

Latin Café, Miami

Versailles, Miami

Hakkasan Miami

Luca Osteria, Miami

Café La Trova, Miami

Cítricos, Orlando

California Grill, Orlando

Ravello, Orlando

Se7en Bites, Orlando

The Pinery, Orlando

Primo, Orlando

Maxine’s on Shine, Orlando

Four Flamingos, Orlando

Sear + Sea, Orlando

Bern’s Steakhouse, Tampa

Olivia, Tampa

Mise en Place, Tampa

Ulele, Tampa

Columbia, Tampa

For the full list of Florida-recognized Michelin restaurants, please visit the FRLA Blog piece here.

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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.

DHS and DOL Announce Availability of Additional H-2B Visas for Second Half of Fiscal Year

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

WASHINGTON—The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Labor (DOL) announced this week the availability of an additional 35,000 H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas during the second half of fiscal year (FY) 2022. These visas are for U.S. employers seeking to employ additional workers on or after April 1, 2022, through Sept. 30, 2022.

“These additional H-2B visas will help employers meet the demand for seasonal workers at this most critical time, when there is a serious labor shortage,” said Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “The visas are accompanied by significant worker protections and provide a safe and lawful pathway for individuals to come to the United States and earn wages in jobs that are not filled by American workers.”

The supplemental H-2B visa allocation consists of 23,500 visas available to returning workers who received an H-2B visa or were otherwise granted H-2B status during one of the last three fiscal years. The remaining 11,500 visas are reserved for nationals of El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Haiti, regardless of whether they are returning workers. The semiannual cap of 33,000 visas for the second half of FY 2022 was reached on February 25, 2022.

The H-2B program permits employers to temporarily hire noncitizens to perform nonagricultural labor or services in the United States. The employment must be for a limited period of time, such as a one-time occurrence, or seasonal or intermittent need. Employers seeking to hire H-2B workers must take a series of steps to test the U.S. labor market. They must provide certification from DOL that proves there are not enough U.S. workers who are able, willing, qualified, and available to do the temporary work for which they seek a prospective foreign worker, and that employing the H-2B workers will not adversely affect the wages and working conditions of similarly employed U.S. workers.

DHS will subject employers that have committed certain labor law violations in the H-2B program to additional scrutiny in the supplemental cap petition process. This additional scrutiny is aimed at ensuring compliance with H-2B program requirements and obligations.

The joint temporary final rule can be found on the Federal Register website. Employers can begin petitioning on Wednesday, May 18.

Florida Tourism Continues to Grow in Q1 2022

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that Florida welcomed 36 million total visitors between January and March 2022 according to VISIT FLORIDA estimates. This is a 14 percent increase from Q4 2021, and the third consecutive quarter that overall visitation has surpassed pre-pandemic levels. Approximately 34.1 million domestic visitors traveled to Florida in Q1 2022, representing twelve solid months of domestic visitation growth from 2019, with no signs of slowing.

“Florida’s latest visitation estimates are incredible news for our economy and all Floridians,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “Economists originally projected that Florida tourism wouldn’t fully recover until 2024, but quarter after quarter, despite the Biden administration’s utter failure to manage inflation and the nation’s supply chain woes, Florida’s visitation numbers continue to break records and defy conventional wisdom. Florida’s tourism industry begins 2022 with incredible strength, proving that freedom first policies will always win, especially when combatting the inept economic policies coming out of D.C.”

“Our Q1 visitation estimates show that 2022 is shaping up to be another amazing year for Florida tourism,” said Dana Young, VISIT FLORIDA President and CEO. “In addition to breaking more pre-pandemic records domestically, we are seeing an exponential rebound in Orlando as well as our international numbers, which we expect to continue in the months ahead. VISIT FLORIDA is incredibly proud of its marketing efforts that have gotten us here today, and we thank Governor DeSantis for his unwavering support of our organization and tourism industry.”

Additional highlights from VISIT FLORIDA’s latest visitation estimates include:

Florida welcomed 1.3 million overseas travelers in Q1 2022, an increase of nearly 169 percent from Q1 2021.
Overseas visitation to Florida in Q1 2022 was 14 percentage points closer to full recovery than the rest of the United States.
Canadian visitation to Florida during Q1 2022 accounted for 578,000 visitors, an increase of more than 955 percent from Q1 2021.
Over 39 percent of visitors traveled to Florida by plane in Q1 2022, marking the highest share for air travel since the onset of the pandemic in 2020.
Total enplanements in Florida were up over 70 percent in the first quarter of 2022.
Quarterly hotel demand in Florida exceeded pre-pandemic levels for the first time in Q1 2022. Compared to the same period in 2021, the number of hotel rooms sold grew by 31.4 percent during the first three months of the year. Florida’s average daily rate (ADR) was up over 38 percent, and its occupancy rate increased by nearly 24 percent.

Florida tourism’s sustained record-breaking growth further demonstrates our state’s enduring popularity and leadership in the recovery of the U.S. travel sector. For nearly two years, VISIT FLORIDA’s marketing has drawn travelers from far and wide, rebuilding our No.1 industry to new heights, and gaining a tremendous advantage over our competition. With Governor DeSantis’ leadership, Florida has transcended the challenges of the pandemic to serve as a role model for tourism and hospitality, and a top global travel destination both in 2022 and beyond.

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