Orlando Restaurants #ActLoveGive to Help Homeless Students

(Orlando, Fla.) – The City of Orlando and Orange County Government, in a collaboration with Pulse, has proclaimed June 12, 2017, as “Orlando United Day – A Day of Love and Kindness.”

On that day, Orlando After-School All-Stars is partnering with the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association’s Central Florida Chapter to host “Round Up For Kids” to help fund the Summer of Dreams program. This free 10-week program provides homeless youth with meals, academic enrichment and mentoring.

“Engaging in Acts of Love and Kindness on June 12 is a respectful, meaningful and deeply loving way to remember and honor the lives of those who were lost too soon,” said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. “One year later, I still believe the Pulse tragedy will not define us, but will bring us together.”

Some of Orlando’s best restaurants are making it easy for you to contribute on June 12, 2017. When you dine at any of the restaurants listed here, http://orlandoasas.org/round-up-for-kids/ round up your check to the nearest dollar amount and let your server know you want to Round Up For Kids. The change you donate will help change lives.

“Florida’s hospitality industry is proud to lend its unequivocal support to assist homeless youth in Central Florida. FRLA encourages patrons to dine at participating restaurants and to round up their tabs for children in need,” said Carol Dover, President and CEO of FRLA.

Last summer, Summer of Dreams served 1,137 homeless students from 36 different sites in Orange, Seminole and Osceola Counties. Each of those students received academic enrichment, tutoring, mentoring, financial literacy training, a back pack filled with school supplies and two meals a day thanks to support from Summer of Dreams Founding Sponsor, Fifth Third Bank. Those students also worked with staff to provide nearly 8,000 hours of community service.

Barb Scherer, Sr. Vice President/Communications from Fifth Third Bank added, “We are pleased to be sponsoring our seventh year of Summer of Dreams. This program is so critical to provide support for homeless children during the summer gap when there is little access to meals. To partner with the City of Orlando, After School All-Stars, FRLA and area restaurants to honor the Pulse tragedy on Orlando United Day by helping these kids is the ultimate act of love, kindness and generosity. Fifth Third Bank is proud to be a part of the Orlando community.”

Learn how to get involved here.

Palm Beach Hospitality Students Partner With Local Artists, Chefs, Musicians to Raise Scholarship Funds at FRLA Event

(West Palm Beach, Fla.) – The Palm Beach Chapter of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) presented more than $11,000 in scholarships and professional awards to local high school students at its third annual educational fundraiser. The FRLA Education and Arts Together Showcase (E.A.T.S.), pairs talented students with professional counterparts in their respective fields of study. More than 150 attendees gathered to support the next generation of hospitality and culinary students in Palm Beach County.

During the event held on April 25, 2017 at the West Palm Beach Marriott, Palm Beach County high school ProStart students and area chefs created a fabulous dinner for guests. Students also collaborated with local artists and musicians to prepare original artwork and entertaining music led by the Palm Beach Symphony and Palm Springs Community Middle School string class. During the silent auction, local student artwork was sold alongside hotel stays, and gift certificates to area restaurants, spas and businesses.

Proceeds from the event benefitted the FRLA Educational Foundation (FRLAEF), which supports hospitality students, schools and teachers in Palm Beach County and across the state.

FRLA congratulates to the following scholarship recipients:

Brian Fink Memorial Scholarship Winner

Angelande Estilien- Palm Beach Gardens High School

Hospitality and Tourism Scholarship Recipients

Jessica Arenson- Forest Hill Community High School

Carolina Diaz- Forest Hills Community High School

Culinary Scholarship Recipients

Christian Tristian Jesus- South Tech Academy

Kelsey Lasater- Palm Beach Gardens High School

Emily Martinez- Palm Beach Gardens High School

Johanna Lopez- Palm Beach Gardens High School

The FRLAEF provides school-to-career training for 30,000 hospitality students representing more than 250 high schools statewide. Designed to increase the quality and employability of graduates, the program uses an industry-derived curriculum through Florida ProStart and the HTMP. With a focus on the future of Florida’s hospitality industry, these programs allow students to learn and showcase skills that can be used in foodservice and lodging.

Gov. Scott: First Quarter of 2017 Sets Florida Visitation Record

MIAMI, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott announced that Florida set another record by welcoming the highest number of quarterly visitors in the state’s history with 31.1 million visitors in the first quarter of 2017. This represents a 2.5 percent increase over the same period in 2016. Even though Florida’s tourism industry is booming, the Florida Legislature cut VISIT FLORIDA’s budget by 67 percent for the upcoming fiscal year, putting Florida’s incredible growth and the many families and businesses that rely on the tourism industry at risk.

Governor Scott said, “I am proud to announce today that Florida set another record by welcoming 31.1 million visitors during the first quarter of 2017, the highest number of quarterly visitors in the state’s history. This historic number would not have been possible without the significant funding we have invested in VISIT FLORIDA over the past few years. It is disappointing that the Florida Legislature made a shortsighted decision to jeopardize the growth of our tourism industry and the 1.4 million jobs that rely on it by cutting funding to VISIT FLORIDA by 67 percent. Now is not the time to take our foot off the gas. In business, you would never stop marketing when you start to see great results. Instead of decimating funding to VISIT FLORIDA, we should be investing in tourism marketing so we can continue to bring record visitors to our state.”

VISIT FLORIDA estimates that a record 27.1 million domestic visitors traveled to Florida in Q1 2017, reflecting a 3.2 percent increase over the same period last year. Estimates also show that 2.7 million overseas visitors and 1.3 million Canadians came to the Sunshine State in January-March 2017. Total emplacements at Florida’s 18 major airports in Q1 2017 increased 1.6 percent over the same period the previous year, with a record 22.7 million enplaned passengers. For Q1 2017, the number of rooms sold grew by 2.2 percent and the hotel occupancy rate rose 0.7 percent compared to Q1 2016.

Ken Lawson, President and CEO of VISIT FLORIDA, said, “VISIT FLORIDA will continue to focus on the task at hand, which is successfully marketing small, medium and large communities so the tourism industry can continue to create jobs. Because the Legislature decided to inadequately fund VISIT FLORIDA, our organization is going to have to make tough decisions in the coming weeks and will not be able to compete with destinations like California and Texas. We will strive every day so Florida does not become another case study like other states who lost billions of dollars in revenue due to cutting tourism marketing dollars.”

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.

Florida’s Hospitality Industry Celebrates Governor Scott’s Announcement of 2017 Q1 Visitor Numbers

(Tallahassee, Fla.) – The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) is thrilled at Governor Rick Scott’s announcement today that 31.1 million people visited the state during the first three months of 2017. Compared with the same period last year, this is 2.5 percent increase. In 2016, Florida welcomed a record number of tourists with 112.8 million visitors to the state.
“Florida’s hospitality industry is delighted with Governor Rick Scott’s announcement today proclaiming 31.1 million visitors in the first quarter of 2017. This announcement comes at a critical time when lawmakers recently passed a budget with a 67% cut to VISIT FLORIDA’s budget. Not only do our hotels and restaurants rely on tourist spending to support their employees, the overall health of Florida’s economy depends on visitors selecting the Sunshine State as their leading destination,” said Carol Dover, President and CEO of the FRLA.
According to the Office of Economic Demographic Research’s Return on Investment study of VISIT FLORIDA, for every $1 the state invests in VISIT FLORIDA, the state sees a $3.20 return.
The FRLA represents and serves more than 10,000 independent and household name members across the state, including hotels, restaurants, theme parks and attractions.

2017 Legislative Session Scorecard & Full Report

The Florida Legislature officially adjourned Sine Die on May 8, 2017 at 8:53 p.m. Legislators extended the session from 60 days to 63 days in order to fulfill their constitutional obligation to pass a budget for the upcoming FY 2017-18. To see how the hospitality industry fared this year, check out FRLA’s Legislative Scorecard. For an in-depth look at the legislative session, check out the full report.

Students Representing Florida to Compete in National High School Culinary & Restaurant Business Competition in Charleston

(Tallahassee, Fla.) – Hospitality student teams selected from two high schools will be representing Florida in the country’s premier high school competition focused on restaurant management and culinary arts, the National ProStart Invitational®, from April 28-30 in Charleston, South Carolina. These teams earned top rankings at Florida’s ProStart Competition hosted by the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association Educational Foundation (FRLAEF) that occurred March 3-4, 2017 in Orlando.

The Culinary Team from Leto High School and Management Team from Tarpon Springs High School will travel to Charleston, South Carolina for this year’s competition and will compete against high school students across the country for trophies, scholarships, and bragging rights.

Supported by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF), ProStart® is a career and technical education program focused on teaching culinary arts and restaurant management fundamentals through a combination of classroom and industry instruction.

This year, nearly 400 student competitors will put their skills to the test in front of culinary and restaurant business leaders, family, and friends. The top five teams from the culinary and management competitions will earn coveted scholarships to continue their restaurant or foodservice education.

“These exemplary students represent the future of Florida’s hospitality industry and the FRLAEF is thrilled to cheer them on as representatives of the Sunshine State. With more than 20,000 students enrolled, Florida’s ProStart program cultivates extraordinary, young leaders in culinary techniques and restaurant management. By providing real-world experience, this program opens the door for a fulfilling career in a trade that offers numerous opportunities for enrichment and advancement,” said Laura Rumer, Director of the FRLAEF.

“Nearly 140,000 high school students are enrolled in ProStart, making it one of the largest career and technical education programs of its kind,” says Rob Gifford, executive vice president, NRAEF. “And these young people are learning not just culinary and management fundamentals, but the skills they need to succeed in the workplace, such as teamwork and time management. Thank you to all of our 2017 ProStart partners who possible for us to change lives and give these students this amazing opportunity.”

National ProStart Invitational activities begin April 28 with the Business & Education Expo and the weekend officially kicks off Friday evening at the Opening Ceremony. Culinary and management competitions begin Saturday, April 29 and continue through Sunday. Students will have time to unwind and celebrate their successes on Saturday evening at Champions’ Night In. The festivities conclude with an Awards Dinner honoring the winners on the evening of April 30. Outside of the competition, all competitors will have the opportunity to network with restaurant and hospitality industry leaders and learn more about post-secondary education opportunities.

Master Emerging Trends at the 2017 Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show

(Trumbull, CT) – From Sunday, September 10 through Tuesday, September 12, over 8,000 restaurant and foodservice industry professionals will gather for the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show being held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. During this extraordinary three-day event, attendees will find new ideas, new products, and new solutions. The trade show and conference, produced by Urban Expositions and sponsored by the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, will offer educational programs, special events, new food products, and equipment and services from over 450+ leading industry suppliers.

“The energy and excitement on the show floor is always fantastic, fueled by all of the special events and seminars, new product announcements and culinary competitions. We invite all professionals in the restaurant and foodservice industry throughout Florida and the Southeast to join us for this important industry event,” said Mike Carlucci, Sr. Vice President, Specialty Shows at Urban Expositions. “We are working closely with the FRLA again this year to create a must-attend event for their members and all buyers of restaurant and foodservice equipment, technology, food products and services where they will have the opportunity to discover many innovative and dynamic new products and services for the industry and attend dozens of special events.”

Highlights for the show include the presentation of the prestigious Torch Award, The Rapid Fire Appetizer Competition, Food Trends Experience, the well-respected ACF Culinary Competitions, Beer, Wine & Spirits Pavilion, Japan Pavilion, Key Buyer Alliance, Education Station, and the FRLA/NRA Bob Leonard Golf Classic. The trade show’s floor will feature 450+ leading restaurant and foodservice vendors and purveyors.

All attendees have access to 30+ free education sessions, part of the Ferdinand Metz Foodservice Forum, providing the gold-standard, industry-leading educational content that is practical and relevant for today’s foodservice professional. Industry leaders deliver real, applicable business lessons, the latest information on trends and best practices in the market, and their own opinions of what creates success.

The show will be held Sunday, September 10, 2017 from 11am-5pm; Monday, September 11, 2017 from 11am – 5pm; and Tuesday, September 12, 2017 from 11am-4pm.

The 2017 Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show is sponsored by the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association (frla.org). For more information on exhibiting or attending, visit the official Show website at www.flrestaurantandlodgingshow.com. The tradeshow and conference is managed and produced by Urban Expositions, owned by Clarion Events, produces and manages a portfolio of 36 events, serving eight industry sectors including Gift, Souvenir, Art, Aviation, Foodservice, Pet, Auto and Gaming. For more information, visit www.urban-expo.com or visit www.clarionevents.com.

This event has been postponed due to Hurricane Irma. More details to follow.

Florida’s Hospitality Industry Celebrates Governor Scott’s Announcement for Increased Funding for VISIT FLORIDA

(Tallahassee, Fla.) – The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) applauds today’s announcement by Florida Governor Rick Scott recommending a $24 million increase in the state’s investment in VISIT FLORIDA. This funding amount is in addition to the Governor’s $76 million recommendation and would allocate a total of $100 million for the state’s destination marketing corporation in the budget for fiscal year 2017-2018.

“We are extremely grateful for the Governor’s continued leadership and foresight to increase the state’s investment in Florida’s tourism industry. This announcement comes at a critical time when lawmakers are proposing dramatic cuts to VISIT FLORIDA’s budget. Florida’s economy depends on visitors selecting the Sunshine State as their leading destination. By providing VISIT FLORIDA with the tools necessary to boost visitation, we’re injecting tourist spending into local businesses and promoting job creation across all sectors of the state’s economy,” said Carol Dover, President and CEO of the FRLA.

According to the Office of Economic Demographic Research’s Return on Investment study of VISIT FLORIDA, for every $1 the state invests in VISIT FLORIDA, the state sees a $3.20 return. In 2016, Florida welcomed a record number of tourists with 112.8 million visitors to the state.

The FRLA represents and serves more than 10,000 independent and household name members across the state, including hotels, restaurants, theme parks and attractions.

Broward County Hospitality Students and Teachers to be Honored at Gala

(Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) – The Broward Chapter of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) is proud to celebrate schools, instructors and students at its 8th Annual Excellence in Education Gala scheduled for Wednesday, April 26, 2017. The event, designed to support local hospitality education in area high schools, is slated to take place at the Marriott Harbor Beach Resort and Spa in Fort Lauderdale. A total of $30,000 in scholarships will be presented.

The evening’s festivities will also feature Celebrity Chef Ralph Pagano and include live musical entertainment by Johnny Sax, and VoicePlay, as seen on NBC’s “The Sing-Off.” A portion of the proceeds from the event will benefit the FRLA Educational Foundation (FRLAEF).

The following award winners will be recognized:

ProStart School of the Year

Atlantic Technical High School, Coconut Creek

HTMP School of the Year

Blanche Ely High School, Pompano Beach

ProStart Teacher of the Year

Aruna Lien, Coral Springs High School, Coral Springs

HTMP Teacher of the Year

Mitch Albert, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Parkland

ProStart Scholarship Winners

Lauren Rosengarten, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School

Gloria Louis, J.P. Taravella High School

Samantha Feinberg, Coral Springs High School

Katherine Cohen, Plantation High School

Mhina John Baptiste, Atlantic Technical High School

HTMP Scholarship Winners

Linda Mujica, South Broward High School

Tashae Munnings, South Broward High School

Julie DeFinis, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School

Brandon Popescu, South Broward High School

Michael Weisman, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School

Media is invited to attend this event, details are as follows:

WHAT: FRLA Broward Chapter’s 8th Annual FRLA Broward Excellence in Education Gala

WHO:

Special Guest: Celebrity Chef Ralph Pagano

Dinner Entertainment: VoicePlay

Reception Entertainment: Johnny Sax

WHEN:

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

5:00 – 6:30 PM: Reception and Silent Auction

6:30 – 9:00 PM: Dinner and Awards Presentation

WHERE:

Marriott Harbor Beach Resort and Spa

3030 Holiday Drive

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316

TICKETS:

$139 Per Person

$49 for Instructors/Principals/Students

$1,600 VIP Reserved Seating (Table of 10)

Tickets can be purchased here. For sponsorship information, click here or contact FRLA Broward Chapter Director, Anne Sallee, at asallee@frla.org. For media RSVP, please contact Erin Power, FRLA Press Secretary at 850.224.2250 x255 or by email at epower@frla.org.

VISIT FLORIDA to Showcase Historic Florida Main Street Communities

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, VISIT FLORIDA announced a new initiative to showcase Florida Main Street communities. In partnership with the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) and the Department of State’s Florida Main Street Program, VISIT FLORIDA has begun including these historic Florida communities on the Florida Attractions Finder – a popular online tool where visitors can personalize their Florida experience.

VISIT FLORIDA President & CEO Ken Lawson said, “Florida’s rich culture and historical offerings are some of the biggest reasons why we welcomed a record of nearly 113 million visitors last year. By connecting Florida Main Street communities with the Florida Attractions Finder, we are bridging two successful programs to benefit smaller communities across the state. This program is a great example of the innovative programs that VISIT FLORIDA is known for and another reason why fully funding the organization at $76 million is in Florida’s best interest.”

Florida Main Street aids historic retail districts across Florida in revitalizing their centers of activity and commerce by creating job opportunities, preserving the community’s historic resources, saving tax dollars, and ultimately building a positive image for the community.

Secretary of State Ken Detzner said, “We’re excited to partner with VISIT FLORIDA to provide unique, personalized cultural and historical tourism opportunities for travelers through the Florida Attractions Finder. Our Florida Main Street communities exemplify economic-based historic preservation that draws tourists into our small towns. We’re saving our downtowns so visitors can experience a piece of pure Florida.”

The Florida Attractions Finder is an online resource created by VISIT FLORDA and TripTuner that includes theme parks, farms, wineries, historical districts, and now Main Streets. With 47 Main Streets in Florida, this new feature will give travelers the opportunity to identify an authentic local experience anywhere they vacation. With the ability for users to “dial-in” their personal preferences, the tool is geared to organically increase options for visitors planning their Florida getaway, as well as spotlight local small businesses throughout the state that might otherwise be overlooked. The user experience includes pictures and videos that provide the unique ability to get a feel for the area and its offerings.

President and CEO of the FRLA Carol Dover said, “This exciting new initiative highlights numerous experiences across the state for all visitors to enjoy. The Florida Attractions Finder is a unique tool that showcases many of Florida’s hidden gems and allows travelers to enjoy local fare and flair. VISIT FLORIDA continues to lead its peers in revolutionizing destination marketing. We’re optimistic this partnership will stimulate additional tourist spending, which fuels Florida’s economy and promotes job creation throughout the hospitality industry.”

As part of today’s launch, VISIT FLORIDA has added an initial grouping of eight Main Streets to the Florida Attractions Finder and will continue to work with these communities to highlight additional Main Streets throughout the spring and summer. VISIT FLORIDA will showcase the unique nature of each of these communities to create better reach to visitors coming to Florida. Click the names to view the profiles for the communities already listed on the Florida Attractions Finder which include Ormond, DeLand, St. Cloud, Vilano Beach, Venice, Apalachicola, Stuart and New Port Richey.

To view a presentation VISIT FLORIDA hosted today for Florida Main Street program representatives to learn more about how they can get involved with the Florida Attractions Finder and other VISIT FLORIDA and FRLA programs, please click here. For more details, please contact attractionsfinder@VISITFLORIDA.org.