Media Contact:
Elizabeth Ray
FRLA Communications Director
850.224.2250 x255
[email protected]

(Tallahassee, FL) The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association is thrilled to congratulate the National Restaurant Association’s (NRA) President and CEO Dawn Sweeney, who was named one of 2015’s “Most Powerful People in Food” by The Daily Meal. This marks the third year in a row Sweeney has earned a top spot on the list.

“Dawn is one of the restaurant industry’s greatest advocates, an innovative leader who works tirelessly to ensure more than one million establishments and industry employees across the nation are well represented,” said Carol Dover, President and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association. “We are proud to work closely with Dawn to help protect and promote the industry. There is no doubt this recognition is well-deserved.”

The Daily Meal recognized Sweeney’s leadership in directing NRA’s key initiatives such as its Kids LiveWell nationwide children’s nutrition program; Conserve, the Association’s sustainability initiative; and the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation ProStart program which runs in nearly 2,000 high schools across the country and provides culinary scholarships to thousands of future restaurant and foodservice leaders.

The list of the top 50 recipients is compiled by The Daily Meal editors with the criterion that these individuals substantially impact the quality and variety of the American diet or the way Americans think about it. Included in this year’s list are heads of national food processing and distribution companies and retail food outlets, agribusiness moguls, tech gurus and recognized restaurateurs.

As President and CEO of the National Restaurant Association, Sweeney leads the primary business association for the restaurant industry. The National Restaurant Association represents multiple foodservice concepts, including quick service, fast casual, managed foodservice, casual and fine dining – along with manufacturers, suppliers and distributors – for an industry of one million restaurant and foodservice outlets and 14 million employees.

Sweeney also serves as the CEO of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, a philanthropic foundation dedicated to enhancing the industry’s service to the public. The Foundation’s major goal is to prepare students for rewarding careers in restaurant management and the culinary arts.

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About the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association
FRLA is Florida’s premier non-profit hospitality industry trade association. Our mission is to ‘Protect, Educate and Promote’ Florida’s $76.1 billion hospitality industry which represents 23% of Florida’s economy, $4.6 billion in sales tax revenue, and nearly 1.1 million employees – making it the state’s number one industry. We offer regulatory compliance and food safety training needs (RCS and SafeStaff®); industry developed career-building high school programs (FRLAEF); sponsor the only event in Florida exclusively serving the restaurant and foodservice industry (FR&L Show, October 6-8, 2015 in Orlando); and we safeguard the needs of the hospitality industry by providing legislative advocacy. We represent and serve more than 10,000 independent and household name members, suppliers, and theme parks. For more information, go towww.FRLA.org and find us on Twitter @FRLAnews, Facebook and YouTube.

Media Contact:
Elizabeth Ray
FRLA Communications Director
850.224.2250 x255
[email protected]

(Ft. Lauderdale, FL) – The Broward Chapter of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association is proud to support local high school students by awarding thousands of dollars in scholarships to further their hospitality education. In Broward County, there are 22 high schools with more than 6,500 students enrolled in school-to-career training programs provided by the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association’s Educational Foundation (FRLAEF).

“These students are the future of Florida’s hospitality industry and we feel it’s important to extend our efforts to ensure they receive opportunities to build the foundation for fantastic careers,” said Eduardo Fernandez, the President of the Broward Chapter and General Manager of the Sonesta Fort Lauderdale. “In 2015, we plan to continue encouraging students in our community to pursue their dreams and help give them the ability to do so.”

In 2014, FRLA’s Broward Chapter hosted its Excellence in Education Gala, awarding 18 students with scholarships and recognizing Vicky Edgcomb as Teacher of the Year. As an instructor at South Broward High School, Edgcomb leads students through industry-derived curriculum, the Hospitality and Tourism Management Program (HTMP), which prepares students for roles in the hotel industry and beyond. Later in the year, Edgcomb identified a need for more student textbooks and FRLA’s Broward Chapter stepped up to provide the necessary materials for the program to continue. Additionally, the Broward Chapter hosted an internship fair for students across the county which gave them the opportunity to make connections with a dozen employers who help lead the industry. In total, the local chapter raised $35,000 for hospitality education.

“I love the hospitality field because it is such a growth area in this part of the country and it is the perfect field for students who want an exciting career that knows no boundaries,” said Edgcomb. “I would like to thank the FRLA for providing resources, phenomenal business partners and field trip opportunities for the students.  You will never know how important this is to their growth overall.”

This year, FRLA’s Broward Chapter will host its 6th Annual Excellence in Education Gala on Wednesday, April 8th, at the historic Diplomat Resort & Spa in Hollywood, Florida, to once again honor teachers, schools and award scholarships to promising students pursuing hospitality careers.  The keynote speaker will be Broward Superintendent of Schools, Robert Runcie.  The local chapter recently announced scholarship opportunities for students graduating in 2015, who are eligible to receive awards at the event. For more information about available scholarships, please contact Broward Chapter Director, Anne Sallee at [email protected] or FRLAEF Director Laura Rumer at [email protected].

To learn more about FRLA’s Broward Chapter, please visithttp://frla.org/chapters/broward/welcome.

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About the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association
FRLA is Florida’s premier non-profit hospitality industry trade association. Our mission is to ‘Protect, Educate and Promote’ Florida’s $76.1 billion hospitality industry which represents 23% of Florida’s economy, $4.6 billion in sales tax revenue, and nearly 1.1 million employees – making it the state’s number one industry. We offer regulatory compliance and food safety training needs (RCS and SafeStaff®); industry developed career-building high school programs (FRLAEF); sponsor the only event in Florida exclusively serving the restaurant and foodservice industry (FR&L Show, October 6-8, 2015 in Orlando); and we safeguard the needs of the hospitality industry by providing legislative advocacy. We represent and serve more than 10,000 independent and household name members, suppliers, and theme parks. For more information, go towww.FRLA.org and find us on Twitter @FRLAnews, Facebook and YouTube.

Media Contact:
Elizabeth Ray
FRLA Communications Director
850.224.2250 x255
[email protected]

The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association Educational Foundation (FRLAEF) is proud to present the 2015 ProStart Culinary Team Competition. In its 15^th year, the high-stakes competition features students from Florida’s ProStart program, 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 Florida are enrolled in the program. The event is scheduled to take place Friday, February 27 and Saturday, February 28, 2015 at the Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando.

“This event gives hardworking hospitality students an opportunity to showcase their talents and highlight the lifelong skills they learned through the FRLAEF, which is the only organization in Florida designed to provide students with school-to-career hospitality training,” said Carol Dover, President and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association. “These students are Florida’s next generation of hoteliers, restauranteurs and business leaders and it is incredibly rewarding to watch them succeed in their home state.”

Students will compete for more than $800,000 in scholarships. First-place teams from the management and culinary competitions will advance to the prestigious National ProStart Invitational in Anaheim, Calif., April 18-20, 2015.

During the event, ProStart students will demonstrate culinary techniques in a high-energy competition as they prepare a three-course meal in 60 minutes, using only two butane burners with no access to running water or electricity. Additionally, management teams will develop a business proposal for an original restaurant concept and present it to a panel of industry judges, who challenge them to address the issues restaurant managers face on a daily basis. Please see the below schedule for a full listing of events.

The media is invited to attend both days of competition, and the awards ceremony.There will be an opportunity to film the events and interview the participants and judges. Please contact FRLA Communications Director Elizabeth Ray at 850.224.2250 x255 or via email at [email protected] to arrange. The complete list of winners will be posted on the FRLA website and distributed to media outlets following the awards ceremony.

WHAT:
The FRLA Educational Foundation’s ProStart Culinary Team Competition
400 Florida High School Students from 49 Schools Scheduled to Compete

WHEN:               
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015
9:00 AM – 6:00 PM           Johnson & Wales University Culinary Competition
9:00 AM – 5:10 PM          Cracker Barrel Management Competition
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM        Keiser University Edible Centerpiece Competition
9:00 AM – 6:00 PM          Education & Business Expo

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2015
7:00 AM – 3:00 PM          Johnson & Wales University Culinary Competition
8:00 AM – 2:00 PM          Cracker Barrel Management Competition
8:00 AM – 3:00 PM          Education & Business Expo
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM        The Coca-Cola Company Waiters Relay Competition
6:30 PM – 9:00 PM           Salute to Excellence Awards at Rosen Plaza Hotel, Grand Ballroom

WHERE: 
Rosen Plaza Hotel
9700 International Drive
Orlando, FL 32819

For more information about the FRLAEF program, list of participating high schools, and the 2-day event program, please contact Laura Rumer at 321.689.7192 or email her at [email protected]. You may also access the FRLA website at http://frla.org to learn about ProStart.

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About the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association
FRLA is Florida’s premier non-profit hospitality industry trade association. Our mission is to ‘Protect, Educate and Promote’ Florida’s $76.1 billion hospitality industry which represents 23% of Florida’s economy, $4.6 billion in sales tax revenue, and nearly 1.1 million employees – making it the state’s number one industry. We offer regulatory compliance and food safety training needs (RCS and SafeStaff®); industry developed career-building high school programs (FRLAEF); sponsor the only event in Florida exclusively serving the restaurant and foodservice industry (FR&L Show, October 6-8, 2015 in Orlando); and we safeguard the needs of the hospitality industry by providing legislative advocacy. We represent and serve more than 10,000 independent and household name members, suppliers, and theme parks. For more information, go to www.FRLA.org and find us on Twitter @FRLAnews, Facebook and YouTube.

Media Contact:
Elizabeth Ray, [email protected], 850.224.2250 x255
Christina Johnson, [email protected], 850.391.5040

(Tallahassee, FL) – The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) is proud to present this week’s episode of Emeril’s Florida airing Sunday, February 8, 2015, at 2:30 p.m. EST on the Cooking Channel. In Sunday’s episode, “Out on the Town,” celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse travels to downtown area hotspots in Miami, St. Petersburg and West Palm Beach.

“As a part of Florida’s number one hospitality industry, restaurants are closely tied to travel and tourism in our state,” said Carol Dover, President and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association. “As Emeril takes viewers on his journey to stunning Florida restaurants serving inventive and unique cuisine, we trust that our more than 38,000 eating and drinking establishments will continue to fuel the appeal of the Sunshine State to visitors.”

Emeril’s first stop in the “Out on the Town” episode is Meat Market, a glamorous take on the traditional steakhouse located in Miami’s South Beach. The restaurant offers high-quality cuts of meat, delectable seafood, and fresh produce all under the supervision of Executive Chef Sean Brasel, known for his use of local ingredients. Meat Market also features a crudo bar that serves fresh tiraditos in addition to a traditional bar celebrated for its handcrafted cocktails. Emeril talks with Chef Brasel about the restaurant and samples some of his favorite entrees including Foie Gras Torchon, Asian BBQ Lamb Ribs, and Buffalo Tenderloin Steak with Chili Espresso Rub.

Next, Emeril travels to downtown St. Petersburg for a stop at The Birchwood Inn. The restaurant at The Birchwood is Birch & Vine, an award winning farm-to-table concept on the bottom floor of the 1924 building, with The Canopy Rooftop Loungeresting in the heart of St. Petersburg’s waterfront, complete with private cabanas, fire pits, living room seating and high top tables. A St. Petersburg native, Executive Chef Jason Cline heads up the culinary program and has created a globally inspired menu using locally grown organic ingredients. Chef Cline sits down with Emeril to taste some of the establishment’s signature dishes.

Hullabaloo, a unique restaurant that calls itself an “Italian Gastropub,” is Emeril’s third stop thisepisode. Hullabaloo is located in the heart of downtown West Palm Beach in the center of a busy dining and entertainment district.  The establishment serves innovative, farm-to-table cuisine that pairs perfectly with their signature craft cocktails and extensive beer and wine selections featuring unique vineyards and microbreweries. Hullabaloo boasts an urban setting with the sounds of 1940’s music during the evening, and Indie Rock late at night. Emeril meets with Executive Chef and General Manager Fritz Cassel to discuss his restaurant concept and try a few of his popular menu items including Braised Pork Shoulder with a Porcini Mushroom Risotto and Thin Crust Pizza with Spec Ham, Gouda Cream Sauce, Goat Cheese and Arugula.

The show reruns on Monday, February 9 at 9:30 a.m. EST and Thursday, February 12 at 10:30 a.m. EST.  Please check local listings.

Emeril’s Florida Season Three is a 13-episode series highlighting the Sunshine State through the eyes of Emeril on-location with a focus on food, cooking, events and activities around the state. Throughout the third season, Emeril will be visiting Florida’s top restaurants and resorts. He will also prepare some of his favorite recipes which often will feature some of the best seafood Florida has to offer. The FRLA and VISIT FLORIDA sponsor the series. For additional information on the series, including links to previous episodes, please go to the Cooking Channel website here. For a preview of Sunday’s episode, click here.

Editor’s Note:
For photo and video requests of Emeril Lagasse with local chefs, and recipes of featured dishes, please contact Elizabeth Ray at [email protected]or 850.224.2250 x255, or Christina Johnson at [email protected] or 850.391.5040.

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About the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association
FRLA is Florida’s premier non-profit hospitality industry trade association. Our mission is to ‘Protect, Educate and Promote’ Florida’s $76.1 billion hospitality industry which represents 23% of Florida’s economy, $4.6 billion in sales tax revenue, and nearly 1.1 million employees – making it the state’s number one industry. We offer regulatory compliance and food safety training needs (RCS and SafeStaff®); industry developed career-building high school programs (FRLAEF); sponsor the only event in Florida exclusively serving the restaurant and foodservice industry (FR&L Show, October 6-8, 2015 in Orlando); and we safeguard the needs of the hospitality industry by providing legislative advocacy. We represent and serve more than 10,000 independent and household name members, suppliers, and theme parks. For more information, go to www.FRLA.org and find us on Twitter @FRLAnews, Facebook and YouTube.

Media Contact:
Elizabeth Ray
FRLA Communications Director
850.224.2250 x255
[email protected]
Regulatory Compliance Services (RCS), a subsidiary of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) is proud to present its 2015 Spring Break Hospitality Workshop to promote a safe and successful spring break season. This free responsible vendor training session will bring together businesses, community leaders and law enforcement to promote alcohol sales best practices, raise staff awareness, and advise the local hospitality industry on recent changes to the local law. The event will be held Tuesday, February 24, 2015 from 2:00 – 4:00 PM at the Boardwalk Beach Resort in Panama City Beach.

“In preparation for spring break, we are pleased to work closely with our local hospitality community and raise awareness of recent local ordinance changes that will cultivate a more safe and enjoyable environment for our businesses and spring breakers alike,” said Panama City Beach Mayor Gayle Oberst.

Mayor Oberst is slated to speak at the event alongside Panama City Beach City Manager Mario Gisbert and Panama City Beach Police Chief Drew R. Whitman. They will be actively involved in discussion during the workshop, which will include training presented by RCS in coordination with Florida’s Division of Alcohol Beverages and Tobacco.

“As Florida’s premier provider of responsible alcohol vendor training, we are passionate about server and seller alcohol education.  We are thrilled to partner with Panama City Beach government and business leaders to actively support a safe and memorable spring break season,” said FRLA Vice President of Education and Training, Geoff Luebkemann.

Responsible vendor training is a program offered to bar and restaurant staff.  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.

The media is invited to attend the workshop and if planning to be present will need to contact FRLA Communications Director Elizabeth Ray at 850.224.2250 x255 or via email at [email protected].

WHAT:
2015 Spring Break Hospitality Workshop
Includes FRLA’s RCS FREE Responsible Vendor Training

WHEN:               
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
2:00 – 4:00 PM

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

Businesses looking to participate in the event should contact RCS Northwest Regional Manager, Caitie Mook at 850-933-3762 or [email protected]. For more information about RCS please visit http://www.regcomplianceusa.com/.

About the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association
FRLA is Florida’s premier non-profit hospitality industry trade association. Our mission is to ‘Protect, Educate and Promote’ Florida’s $76.1 billion hospitality industry which represents 23% of Florida’s economy, $4.6 billion in sales tax revenue, and nearly 1.1 million employees – making it the state’s number one industry. We offer regulatory compliance and food safety training needs (RCS and SafeStaff®); industry developed career-building high school programs (FRLAEF); sponsor the only event in Florida exclusively serving the restaurant and foodservice industry (FR&L Show, October 6-8, 2015 in Orlando); and we safeguard the needs of the hospitality industry by providing legislative advocacy. We represent and serve more than 10,000 independent and household name members, suppliers, and theme parks. For more information, go to www.FRLA.org and find us on Twitter @FRLAnews, Facebook and YouTube.

Contact:
Elizabeth Ray, [email protected], 850.224.2250 x255
Christina Johnson, [email protected], 850.391.5040

(Tallahassee, FL) – The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) is proud to present this week’s episode of Emeril’s Florida airing Sunday, February 15, 2015, at 2:30 p.m. EST on the Cooking Channel. In Sunday’s episode, celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse travels to the Southwest Gulf Coast of Florida to explore three restaurants in the beachfront city of Naples.

“Here in Florida, we are blissfully spoiled by the quality of restaurants and food that our state has to offer, and the dining establishments featured in this episode of Emeril’s Florida are no exception,” said Carol Dover, President and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association. “FRLA is thrilled that Emeril continues to feature cutting-edge dishes and talented chefs that routinely satisfy the culinary desires of Floridians and our visitors.”

Emeril’s first stop is Osteria Tulia, one of the hottest restaurants in the growing Naples dining scene.  Osteria Tulia is an Italian restaurant owned by Chef Vincenzo Betulia. The menu and décor of the restaurant are inspired by Chef Betulia’s childhood and the centuries-old tradition of Italian osterias, informal village taverns serving homemade specialties and regional wines. The pastas, sauces and desserts are house-made by Chef Betulia and his culinary team of 30, which includes his mother, father, wife, cousin and Osteria Tulia’s chef di cucina.  The restaurant boasts many awards including a Golden Spoon Award by Florida Trend magazine and two Naples Illustrated Dining Readers’ Choice Awards for Best New Chef and Best Restaurant. Chef Betulia and Emeril sit down to talk about the restaurant and sample some of Osteria Tulia’s signature dishes.

The second stop for Emeril is Mereday’s Fine Dining, a waterfront restaurant in Naples serving contemporary cuisine made with the freshest seasonal ingredients available. Chef Charles Mereday owns the restaurant, and he has helped put Naples on the culinary map. In 2013, the restaurant was mentioned in Conde Nast Traveler as one of the top dining destinations in Naples, considered one of America’s Top 20 Destinations for Foodies. Mereday’s Fine Dining has an elegant dining space flooded with light from floor-to-ceiling windows that face water on both sides. Diners choose from a two, three or four-course dinner menu with a complimentary dessert, or from an a la carte bar menu, both which change daily. Emeril talks with Chef Mereday about the dining scene in Naples while he prepares some of his favorite dishes for Emeril to try.

The final location Emeril visits in Naples is Pinchers Crab Shack.  Owner Tony Phelan is originally from Texas, but following the oil bust in the late 1980s, Tony brought his family to Florida.  The concept for his restaurant started out simply, with only sixtables and 12 employees. Tony decorated the small restaurant with décor you might find in a seafood shack on the Gulf Coast, cooked the freshest seafood, and served it in a fun, down-to-earth atmosphere. The concept was a hit! Today, Tony and his family own ten Pinchers locations and plan to open several more.  Tony and Emeril share stories about the restaurant business and taste some of the items offered on the Pinchers’ menu.

The show reruns on Monday, February 16 at 9:30 a.m. EST and Thursday, February 19 at 10:30 a.m. EST.  Please check local listings.

Emeril’s Florida Season Three is a 13-episode series highlighting the Sunshine State through the eyes of Emeril on-location with a focus on food, cooking, events and activities around the state. Throughout the third season, Emeril will be visiting Florida’s top restaurants and resorts. He will also prepare some of his favorite recipes which often will feature some of the best seafood Florida has to offer. The FRLA and VISIT FLORIDA sponsor the series. For additional information on the series, including links to previous episodes, please go to the Cooking Channel website here. For a preview of Sunday’s episode, click here.

Editor’s Note:
For photo and video requests of Emeril Lagasse with local chefs, photos of recipes, and recipes of featured dishes, please contact Elizabeth Ray at[email protected]or 850.224.2250 x255, or Christina Johnson at [email protected] or 850.391.5040.

# # #

About the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association
FRLA is Florida’s premier non-profit hospitality industry trade association. Our mission is to ‘Protect, Educate and Promote’ Florida’s $76.1 billion hospitality industry which represents 23% of Florida’s economy, $4.6 billion in sales tax revenue, and nearly 1.1 million employees – making it the state’s number one industry. We offer regulatory compliance and food safety training needs (RCS and SafeStaff®); industry developed career-building high school programs (FRLAEF); sponsor the only event in Florida exclusively serving the restaurant and foodservice industry (FR&L Show, October 6-8, 2015 in Orlando); and we safeguard the needs of the hospitality industry by providing legislative advocacy. We represent and serve more than 10,000 independent and household name members, suppliers, and theme parks. For more information, go to www.FRLA.org and find us on Twitter @FRLAnews, Facebook and YouTube.

Contact:

Elizabeth Ray
FRLA Communications Director
850.224.2250 x255
[email protected]

(Tallahassee, FL) – The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) is proud to support House Bill 739 filed by Representative Shawn Harrison (R-Tampa) and Senate Bill 900 filed by Senator Joseph Abruzzo (D-Wellington) that will spur the growth of Florida’s hospitality and tourism industry. This legislation will spark private capital investment, revitalize our industry’s assets, create jobs and encourage significant long-term economic revitalization to the state. Despite representing the state’s #1 industry, hospitality and tourism has historically been excluded from harnessing Florida’s tax incentives. The bill will provide a balanced approach that allows restaurateurs and hoteliers to renovate their properties, thereby improving the surrounding communities and drawing more visitors in the process.

“Here in Florida, the hospitality and tourism industry represents 23% of the state’s economy and it is imperative we continue to spark development that will allow the industry to thrive. By incentivizing capital improvements for one of the state’s biggest revenue generators we can help continue to ensure families across Florida succeed and our tourism industry continues to thrive,” said Harrison.

“We want Florida to remain a world-class destination by giving restaurants and hotels greater opportunities to invest in their properties that employ more than one million Floridians,” said Abruzzo. “Many of these businesses, especially restaurants, are small ‘Mom and Pop’ family-run operations that don’t have the deep pockets or resources to improve or expand. Senate Bill 900 will help reduce some of the barriers these owners face, clearing the way for our small businesses and neighborhoods to flourish.”

“On behalf of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, we thank Representative Harrison and Senator Abruzzo for crafting a bill that will help keep the hospitality and tourism industry on pace for another record year. This legislation will help assure that Florida will continue to provide memorable experiences for the millions of visitors that expect outstanding accommodations and who in turn help boost the state’s economy by generating tax revenue,” said Carol Dover, President and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association.

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About the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association
FRLA is Florida’s premier non-profit hospitality industry trade association. Our mission is to ‘Protect, Educate and Promote’ Florida’s $76.1 billion hospitality industry which represents 23% of Florida’s economy, $4.6 billion in sales tax revenue, and nearly 1.1 million employees – making it the state’s number one industry. We offer regulatory compliance and food safety training needs (RCS and SafeStaff®); industry developed career-building high school programs (FRLAEF); sponsor the only event in Florida exclusively serving the restaurant and foodservice industry (FR&L Show, October 6-8, 2015 in Orlando); and we safeguard the needs of the hospitality industry by providing legislative advocacy. We represent and serve more than 10,000 independent and household name members, suppliers, and theme parks. For more information, go to www.FRLA.org and find us on Twitter @FRLAnews, Facebook and YouTube.

TAMPA, Fla. – Governor Rick Scott today announced that according to preliminary estimates released by VISIT FLORIDA, the state’s official tourism marketing corporation, 97.3 million visitors came to Florida in 2014, an increase of 3.9 percent over 2013. This is the fourth consecutive record year for visitation to Florida, exceeding the previous high of 93.7 million in 2013. The number of direct travel-related jobs in 2014 was also a record high, with 1,135,700 Floridians employed in the tourism industry, up 3.6 percent from 2013.

Governor Scott said, “We are excited to announce that Florida welcomed more than 97 million visitors in 2014 marking the fourth consecutive record year for tourism in the Sunshine State. Not only are visitors coming to our state at record levels, but there are also a record number of Floridians employed in our tourism industry.  Florida’s natural beauty, pristine beaches and exciting attractions continue to bring countless visitors to our state and provide valuable jobs for our families.  Our tourism industry is vital to helping Florida become the global destination for  jobs, and this year we are proposing in our ‘KEEP FLORIDA WORKING’ budget an additional $17.5 million so VISIT FLORIDA can market our state and continue our unprecedented growth in visitors.”

VISIT FLORIDA estimates that 11.5 million overseas visitors and 3.8 million Canadians came to Florida in 2014, both of which are record highs and represent 2.6 percent and 2.4 percent increases over 2013 respectively. Estimates reflect a 4.2 percent increase in domestic visitors to Florida in 2014 and show that Floridians took a record total of 20.2 million in-state pleasure trips.  

For fourth quarter 2014, preliminary estimates show a record 22.4 million people visited the Sunshine State. This represents the largest fourth quarter visitation number Florida has ever seen and reflects an increase of 2.8 percent over the same period in 2013.  VISIT FLORIDA also reports that an estimated 3.1 million overseas visitors traveled to Florida in the fourth quarter of 2014, an increase of 0.5 percent, and 765,000 Canadians traveled to Florida, reflecting an increase of 5.6 percent over the same period in 2013.  

“In 2014, a record 97.3 million tourists visited the state of Florida, an increase of 3.6 million people.  That means there were nearly 4 percent more visitors spending money in Florida last year,” said Andrew Hertz, Chair of the VISIT FLORIDA Board of Directors.  “Anyone would be happy to see their business grow by 4 percent year-over-year.  But it is absolutely amazing when an entire industry keeps beating record numbers, while adding jobs and supporting the rest of the state’s economy.”

Tourism and recreation taxable sales for Florida increased every month year-over-year from January through November 2014 (last reported month), representing a 7.7 percent increase over the same period in 2013.  For 2014, the average daily room rate (ADR) rose 5.7 percent and the number of rooms sold grew by 5.3 percent compared to 2013. Florida’s average occupancy rate for 2014 was 69.7 percent, an increase of 4.4 percent over 2013.  This represents a record year for the statewide calendar year occupancy rate, exceeding the previous high of 69.0 percent in 2005. ADR, occupancy and rooms sold all increased every month year-over-year in 2014. 

“Thanks to the visionary leadership of Governor Rick Scott and the Florida legislature, the Florida tourism industry has grown from 82.3 million visitors in 2010 to 97.3 million in 2014,” said Will Seccombe, President and CEO of VISIT FLORIDA.  “With all indicators up – taxable sales, ADR, occupancy and rooms sold – the industry is firing on all cylinders.” 

John Tomlin, Vice Chair of the VISIT FLORIDA Board of Directors and Chief Operating Officer for The Auto Club Group, said, “Achieving record visitation for four consecutive years is a testament to the strong marketing partnership between VISIT FLORIDA and our tourism industry Partners.  With continued support from Governor Scott and the Florida legislature, the Sunshine State is poised to become the No. 1 travel destination in the world.” 

Carol Dover, Member of the VISIT FLORIDA Board of Directors and President & CEO of the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, said, “These record breaking numbers make it clear, Florida is moving in the right direction as a world-class destination. With Governor Scott’s increased support for VISIT FLORIDA, the hospitality and tourism industry can continue to provide incredible experiences for millions of visitors, create jobs and generate revenue to put back in the pockets of Florida families. This year, we look forward to repeating the trend of growth and we are thrilled so many visitors are taking advantage of our unique restaurants, hotels and attractions in the Sunshine State.”

Bill Lupfer, Chair of the VISIT FLORIDA Public Affairs Committee and President & CEO of the Florida Attractions Association, said, “Tourism is the number-one driver of the state’s economy, and we are proud of the Sunshine State’s four consecutive years of record visitor turnout.  This means greater revenues for the state, and more than one million Florida jobs supported by tourism.  We applaud Governor Rick Scott and the Legislative leadership’s support of Florida’s thriving tourism industry and look forward to even greater growth in 2015.” 

Lino Maldonado, Chair of the VISIT FLORIDA Industry Relations Committee and Vice President of Operations for ResortQuest by Wyndham Vacation Rentals said, “Yet another record year for Florida tourism due in large part to the support of our Governor and pro-tourism legislature.  My team is very proud to work in an industry that not only employs so many across our beautiful state, but that produces lasting memories for visitors from around the world.”

To view additional Florida visitor data, go the research page on VISIT FLORIDA’s 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. – See more at: http://frla.org/frla-news/item/1506-gov-scott-more-than-97-million-tourists-in-2014#sthash.FtrerL63.dpuf

Media Contact:
Elizabeth Ray, [email protected], 850.224.2250 x255
Christina Johnson, [email protected], 850.391.5040

(Tallahassee, FL) – The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) is proud to present this week’s episode of Emeril’s Florida airing Sunday, February 22, 2015, at 2:30 p.m. EST on the Cooking Channel. In Sunday’s episode, celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse focuses on the farm-to-table movement in Florida, which refers to producing food locally and delivering that food to consumers.

“With Florida’s ability to grow fruits and vegetables and raise livestock year round, the farm-to-table movement gives restaurants and their patrons the opportunity to celebrate our agricultural industry that supports nearly one million jobs,” said Carol Dover, President and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association. “FRLA is excited that the farm-to-table movement is expanding, and looks forward to the continued momentum of establishments, such as the ones featured in this week’s episode of Emeril’s Florida.”

Emeril’s first stop on the farm-to-table episode takes himto The Floridian restaurant in downtown St. Augustine.  Jeff and Genie McNally are young restaurateurs. Genie is the chef and Jeff runs the front of the house. A primary focus since they opened the restaurant has been to be as farm-to-table as possible. Genie has a farming background and ran a farmers market prior to opening the restaurant. Her farming background ensures that the couple personally knows every purveyor and producer that they use – about 10 separate sources making up approximately 85%of their usable materials. The cuisine at the restaurant is based on availability and seasonality, and due to Genie’s gluten intolerance, all but a few select items are naturally gluten free. Both sat down with Emeril to talk about the restaurant and sample a few of Genie’s signature dishes including Pickled Pepper Shrimp, Cornbread and Blackberry Bruschetta, and Posole Floridian.

Next, Emeril heads to 13 American Table in Boca Raton. A true American establishment, the restaurant’s name is a salute to the 13 stripes on the American flag. Anthony Fiorini, who grew up in Boca Raton, is Executive Chef and known for his dishes made with high-quality ingredients prepared in a simple, but exquisite form. He is one of only 65 owners of the Josper oven in the United States and uses the dual oven-grill to cook many of the restaurant’s signature dishes. Emeril discusses the menu with Chef Fiorini and tastes a few specialties including Josper Grilled Octopus with Chickpea Salad, BBQ Pork Belly Tacos, Whole Hogfish, and Bone-in Ribeye with Fingerling Smashed Potatoes.
Emeril’s final stop takes him to Miami, right next to Miami International Airport, to visit an urban farm called G.R.O.W, Green Railroad Organic Workshop. The founder and owner Thi (Tee) Squire had a vision to turn the empty lot behind her warehouse office into a blossoming garden that could produce herbs and greens for local residents and restaurants. She and her business partner Charlie Coiner have been very successful in creating an environment for growth, and have been able to distribute their produce statewide. Thi leads the operation while also incorporating the community via student fieldtrips and learning experiences two to three times per month. G.R.O.W. aims to educate people that growing food can be done anywhere, even in urban settings. Emeril tours the farm with Thi and meets with some students who visited while he was there.

The show reruns on Monday, February 23 at 9:30 a.m. EST and Thursday, February 26 at 10:30 a.m. EST.  Please check local listings.

Emeril’s Florida Season Three is a 13-episode series highlighting the Sunshine State through the eyes of Emeril on-location with a focus on food, cooking, events and activities around the state. Throughout the third season, Emeril will be visiting Florida’s top restaurants and resorts. He will also prepare some of his favorite recipes which often will feature some of the best seafood Florida has to offer. The FRLA and VISIT FLORIDA sponsor the series. For additional information on the series, including links to previous episodes, please go to the Cooking Channel website here. For a preview of Sunday’s episode, click here.

Editor’s Note:
For photo and video requests of Emeril Lagasse with local chefs and the G.R.O.W program director, photos of dishes prepared, and recipes of featured dishes, please contact Elizabeth Ray at[email protected]or 850.224.2250 x255, or Christina Johnson at [email protected] or 850.391.5040.

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About the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association
FRLA is Florida’s premier non-profit hospitality industry trade association. Our mission is to ‘Protect, Educate and Promote’ Florida’s $76.1 billion hospitality industry which represents 23% of Florida’s economy, $4.6 billion in sales tax revenue, and nearly 1.1 million employees – making it the state’s number one industry. We offer regulatory compliance and food safety training needs (RCS and SafeStaff®); industry developed career-building high school programs (FRLAEF); sponsor the only event in Florida exclusively serving the restaurant and foodservice industry (FR&L Show, October 6-8, 2015 in Orlando); and we safeguard the needs of the hospitality industry by providing legislative advocacy. We represent and serve more than 10,000 independent and household name members, suppliers, and theme parks. For more information, go to www.FRLA.org and find us on Twitter @FRLAnews, Facebook and YouTube.

Media Contact:
Elizabeth Ray
FRLA Communications Director
850.224.2250 x255
[email protected]

(Tallahassee, FL) – The Partnership for Florida Tourism is proud to present Florida Tourism Day on Wednesday, March 11, 2015 in Tallahassee. The event is designed to educate the legislature, media and Floridians on the significant role tourism plays in the success of our state’s economy. According to preliminary estimates, 97.3 million visitors came to Florida in 2014. This is the fourth consecutive record year for visitation to Florida, exceeding the previous high of 93.7 million in 2013.  The number of direct travel-related jobs in 2014 was also a record high, with more than 1.3 million Floridians employed in the tourism industry, up 3.6 percent from 2013.

Ten statewide organizations are scheduled to participate in the event and will host a downtown nighttime celebration that is open to the public. The street party will be held on Adams Street between College and Jefferson Streets where musical group The Free Wheelin’ Band will perform live beginning at 5:00 PM. Food vendors and downtown restaurants will provide refreshments for purchase. Last year, Florida Tourism Day drew more than 400 industry attendees, representing 44 Florida counties, who met with legislators and government leaders.

Participating organizations include: VISIT FLORIDA, Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, Florida Attractions Association, Florida Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds, Florida Association of Destination Management Organizations, Florida Association of Museums, Film Florida, the Florida Sports Foundation, Florida Cattleman’s Association and the Florida Department of Agriculture.

“It is truly incredible to see so many great leaders rally together here in Tallahassee to safeguard the needs and celebrate the achievements of industry which represents 23% of our state’s economy. As an industry, we are the state’s largest job creator and it is critical that we continue to work together alongside Governor Rick Scott and our state legislators to ensure visitors keep coming back for a fantastic hospitality experience that is exclusively offered here in Florida,” said Carol Dover, President and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association.

“2014 marked the fourth consecutive record year for Florida tourism. Given that we have the best tourism product on the planet, visionary public sector leadership from Governor Scott and the Florida Legislature, more than 1.1 million Floridians who provide exceptional service to our visitors every day, and highly impactful marketing programs from VISIT FLORIDA and our destination marketing partners across the state, Florida is well-positioned to become the No. 1 travel destination in the world,” said Will Seccombe, President and CEO of VISIT FLORIDA.

“Florida’s finest family attractions are excited to join with our industry partners to celebrate Florida’s unique position and reputation as the world’s preeminent tourism destination. With over one million Sunshine State residents employed in Florida tourism jobs, and over four years of unprecedented growth in visitor numbers, we look forward to an even brighter future for our industry,” said Bill Lupfer, President & CEO of the Florida Attractions Association.

“The Florida RV Park and Campground Industry is proud to be a partner in the 2015 Florida Tourism Day event. It’s important that all of us in the industry come together to recognize and celebrate the positive impact tourism has on Florida’s economy. Thanks to VISIT FLORIDA, The Partnership for Florida’s Tourism, and the support of Governor Rick Scott and our state legislators, Florida is well on the way to becoming the #1 travel destination in the world,” said Bobby Cornwell, President/CEO of the Florida Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds.

“Tourism marketing through VISIT FLORIDA and our county tourism promotion agencies is critical to maintaining Florida’s market share within the competitive market for tourists. Florida must continue to fund VISIT FLORIDA’s marketing efforts as well as protect the current uses of the Tourist Development Tax to continue attracting more visitors and creating good jobs for Floridians,” said Robert Skrob, Executive Director, Florida Association of Destination Marketing Organizations.

“The Florida Association of Museums is honored to be a partner in Tourism Day again this year and we look forward to building on the tremendous success of last year, with increased visitors and revenues for our great state,” said Malinda Horton, Executive Director of the Florida Association of Museums. 

“It is well known that film, television and digital media are key components to promoting tourism in Florida.  A recent survey conducted by VISIT FLORIDA showed 22.7% of domestic visitors to the state indicated viewing a movie or television series filmed in Florida contributed to their decision to travel here. We believe diversity in our state’s marketing efforts generates increased tourism, enhanced ROI numbers and positive economic development benefits,” said Michelle Hillery, President of Film Florida.

“A recent economic impact survey showed a $43 billion benefit to the state and a $5.6 return on investment for every dollar spent, which indicates the sports industry continues to prove itself as a viable economic driver for Florida. As strong contributors to the industry, we are looking forward to participating in this year’s Florida Tourism Day to highlight many of our great events that are sure to attract millions of visitors to the state,” said John Webb, President of the Florida Sports Foundation.

For media inquiries, please contact Elizabeth Ray at 850.224.2250 ext. 255 or via email at [email protected]. For the complete schedule of events on Florida Tourism Day, please click here.

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The Partnership for Florida’s Tourism is a grassroots coalition which began in 2006 designed to raise awareness of the importance of tourism and to increase public funding of tourism marketing.  Key stakeholders in the tourism industry have joined in this effort. The Partnership is comprised of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, Florida Attractions Association, Florida Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds, Florida Association of Destination Management Organizations and VISIT FLORIDA.