Contact:

Elizabeth Ray
FRLA Communications Director
850.224.2250 x255
[email protected]

The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) is proud to be a presenting sponsor with VISIT FLORIDA at the 41^st Annual SUN ‘n FUN International Fly-In and Expo held on Tuesday, April 21 through Sunday, April 26 at the Lakeland Linder Regional Airport. The six-day event is the second largest airshow in the world, Florida’s largest convention, and includes aircraft demonstrations, exhibits, aviation workshops, and education forums. More than 200,000 guests, exhibitors, instructors, pilots, volunteers and students from 80 countries are expected to attend.

“SUN n’ FUN inspires, educates, entertains, and encourages aircraft enthusiasts from all over the world to visit the Sunshine State,” said Carol Dover, Presidentand CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association. “FRLA is proud to once again be a part of this family-friendly fly-in and expo and we welcome everyone to attend. Come see first-hand the wonderful hospitality that our state has to offer.”

FRLA is committed to supporting events that promote Florida’s hospitality industry. Over the past three years, the association has proudly sponsored the SUN n’ FUN International Fly-In and Expo which does just that. In 2013, with national budget concerns looming, FRLA helped financially underpin this event so that the state and local economy would continue to benefit from the increased tourism. Last year the event attracted aviation lovers from all 50 states, two U.S. territories, the District of Columbia and an estimated 77 foreign countries. All proceeds were allocated to supporting aviation-based STEM education programs offered throughout the year at the SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Center for Excellence.

Throughout the week, afternoon and evening airshows will showcase aerobatics and precision flying from the Breitling Jet Team, USAF Thunderbirds, Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Red Tail Squadron, the EAA Warbirds of America and many other performers. The event is designed to preserve and enhance the future of flight through world-class events, inspiring and educating people of all ages.

For more details about the SUN ‘n FUN International Fly-In and Expo, please visit, www.SUN-n-FUN.org/FlyIn.aspx.

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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 more than one 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, Fla.) – The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) is strengthening its efforts in the panhandle with the launch of a Greater Pensacola Chapter. The kickoff meeting for the new chapter is scheduled for Wednesday, April 22, at McGuire’s Irish Pub in Pensacola. FRLA is proud to announce John Bloodworth will lead the team. As the Chapter Director, Bloodworth will help support members, mobilize operations and bolster ongoing communications between FRLA headquarters and local offices. He will join FRLA’s four current regional directors, a regional manager and two other chapter directors who represent more than 20 chapters across the state.

“We understand that many of the battles that impact a business’s bottom line are hard fought at the local level and we are proud to help represent our members located in the Greater Pensacola area,” said Carol Dover, FRLA President and CEO. “This community is filled with some of the best in the hospitality industry and with John’s local expertise, we are excited for what’s to come.”

Bloodworth joins FRLA with more than twenty years of successful experience in sales and account management. He most recently worked as the Panhandle and North Florida Sales Executive for Coca-Cola North America, where he worked with small to medium-sized restaurant chains in Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Panama City, Destin and the Pensacola area. Rooted in the community, Bloodworth teaches Business Communication, Public Speaking and Mass Communication at the University of West Florida. He holds a Master’s Degree in Communication from the University of Georgia and a law degree from Georgia State University.

During the meeting, FRLA President/CEO Carol Dover and former FRLA Chairman Bruce Craul are scheduled to share industry insights and provide a legislative update. The event is free and open to FRLA chapter members and non-members. Media is invited to attend.

WHAT:
Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association Greater Pensacola Kickoff Chapter Meeting

SPEAKERS:
FRLA President and CEO, Carol Dover
Legendary Hospitality COO and former FRLA Chairman, Bruce Craul

WHEN:     
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
10:15 AM – 12:00 PM
*Media is Invited to Attend

WHERE:    
McGuire’s Irish Pub
600 E. Gregory Street
Pensacola, FL
To register for the event, please email [email protected] or click here to see the event flyer.

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 more than one 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.