September 28, 2010 – The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) today announced it will hold 19 statewide briefings in 14 cities across the state in areas that have been impacted by actual and perceived oil along Florida coasts.   Pensacola, Florida will serve as host location to the first meeting being held Monday, October 4, with Port St. Joe completing the tour on Wednesday, October 20, 2010.  Three webinars currently scheduled for October 8, 19 and 26 are available to those unable to attend the briefings.

“Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association members have filed claims through BP and subsequently through the Gulf Coast Claims Facility, with no relief,” said FRLA President and CEO Carol Dover.  “Many of our members are under the false impression they do not have a legitimate claim, when in fact they do.  For this reason, we believe our members need to be fully informed about filing a claim for economic recovery dollars,” continued Dover, who also serves on the Governor’s Gulf Oil Spill Economic Recovery Task Force and its Economic Impact Assessment Working Group.

The Association is encouraged by GCCF Administrator Ken Feinberg’s remarks at its September 14 annual board meeting in which he stated he is open to reconsider his blanket rejection of claims by hotels and restaurants that had losses despite not having oil on or nearby their property.  Feinberg officially took over the claims process from British Petroleum on August 23, 2010.

Attorneys from Weitz & Luxenberg, Levin Papantonio and Cooney & Conway will give an overview of the Gulf Coast Claims Facility claims process and litigation options to help determine if there is a claim as a result of the BP oil spill. Their presentation will include information about calculating loss, economic modeling they are undertaking for FRLA business losses and how you can become involved. You do not necessarily need to show a loss from last year to be eligible for compensation; any reduction in income you would have earned in this economic recovery year is compensable. And if you don’t have a claim, you will have confirmation that you are not losing out on an opportunity to receive a claim. If you do have a claim, the law firms will assist you in presenting the claim.

Webinars

10/8/2010 10:00 AM EDT

https://www.livemeeting.com/lrs/8001476666/Registration.aspx?pageName=qz90ltrb4stbt0zw

10/19/2010 2:00 PM EDT

https://www.livemeeting.com/lrs/8001476666/Registration.aspx?pageName=d10bjq2ctqjhbd90

10/26/2010 10:00 AM EDT

https://www.livemeeting.com/lrs/8001476666/Registration.aspx?pageName=9cxsfgzt41ftnpv0

Click here for complete briefing schedule, locations, and RSVP information.

October 4, 2010 – Today Ken Feinberg, Administrator of the Gulf Coast Claims Facility (GCCF), announced that geographic proximity to the BP oil spill would not prevent a legitimate individual or business claim from being processed.

“This is incredible news for hundreds of thousands businesses and employees in the hospitality industry who have been adversely impacted by the BP oil spill across the Sunshine State,” said Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association President/CEO Carol Dover.  “Our restaurateurs and hoteliers have been denied claims due to the proximity issue; however, there is no question our members have taken a huge economic hit by the perception that oil had washed ashore Florida’s white, sandy beaches,” continued Dover, who also serves on the Governor’s Gulf Oil Spill Economic Recovery Task Force and its Economic Impact Assessment Working Group.

Feinberg continues to review each claim on a case-by-case basis and claimants must prove damages resulting from the spill itself and not other causes, but “physical proximity from the spill will not, in and of itself, bar the processing of legitimate claims,” he said.

On September 14, 2010, Feinberg addressed the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) board members at their annual meeting held in Orlando and announced he would seriously consider changing his emergency protocol criteria to now include the payment of claims whether or not a Florida hotelier or restaurateur experienced oil washing up on their shore.  His remarks may be viewed here  http://www.associationinternetvideo.com/Publisher_Main.aspx?PublisherId=129.

FRLA today holds the first of 19 statewide oil spill briefings in 14 cities in order to provide an overview of the claims process and assist in determining whether a claim exists for losses due to the BP oil spill and, if so, the extent of those losses going forward.  FRLA is working with the law firms of Weitz & Luxenberg, Levin Papantonio and Cooney & Conway.  For a complete schedule of the regional oil spill claims briefings, please go to www.FRLA.org/oil-spill-updates.

In the wake of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill that has devastated areas of Northwest Florida, FRLA has led the charge in representing the industry through marketing, communications, tourism briefings, claims procedures, and paid advertisements to let the world know that Florida is Open for Business.

On September 15, 2010, Florida Governor Charlie Crist announced $700,000 to speed the economic recovery for Florida’s hospitality industry affected by the oil spill. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation will return to the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association funds originally intended to support the hospitality industry for use in an enhanced advertising of upcoming coastal events.  The campaign will work to attract potential visitors who may have postponed, or previously cancelled, their travel to Florida. The campaign, dubbed “Back to the Beach – ‘Fall Back into Summer,’” will encourage participation in fishing tournaments, concerts, a songwriter’s festival and seafood festivals to promote Florida tourism.

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October 20, 2010 — The momentum is growing! Florida volunteer organizations and beach-lovers across the state are signing on to what may well be the world’s biggest beach rally — the Great VISIT FLORIDA Beach Walk on Saturday, Nov. 6.

The statewide Beach Walk, sponsored by FRLA, will show the world that Florida beaches are as gorgeous as ever, in photos uploaded to the internet by volunteers who will walk all 825 miles of Sunshine State beaches.

“Floridians are passionate about our beaches and we all have a favorite mile or two,” said Will Seccombe, VISIT FLORIDA Chief Marketing Officer. “This is a great opportunity for all of us to enjoy what we love about Florida and support our state’s economy at the same time. By sharing thousands of photos of every one of Florida’s 825 miles of beaches, we will put to rest any lingering concerns from this summer’s oil spill.”

VISIT FLORIDA, Florida Lottery and Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association are all reaching out through their partners to get the Beach Walk message out to Floridians.

Individuals and groups who want to take part in the historic day’s official tally can learn more and register at www.VISITFLORIDA.com/beachwalk. Official volunteers commit to walk a designated mile and upload a photo taken along the way. Their photos, and others taken that morning, will appear in real time on the Great VISIT FLORIDA Beach Walk page on VISITFLORIDA.com, along with an interactive map detailing all the beach miles walked.

October 19, 2010 — The  Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association (FRLA), in conjunction with the Panama City Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau and Hess Entertainment, today is pleased to present Country Music superstar Clint Black – Live in Concert – at Pier Park in Panama City Beach, Florida.  The concert will be held Friday, November 5, 2010 at 8:30 p.m. CST and is free to the public.  Pier Park, 600 Pier Park Drive, is conveniently located between the World’s Most Beautiful Beaches and Back Beach Road in the heart of Panama City Beach, Florida.

The concert is part of the FRLA’s “Back to the Beach – Fall Back into Summer” marketing campaign and Northwest Florida’s premier Wine and Food Festival “Taste of THE Beach.”  FRLA’s marketing campaign began in October when Florida Governor Crist allowed for the transfer of $700,000 from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s trust fund to speed the economic recovery for Florida’s hospitality industry.

“What a tremendous honor to have someone of Clint Black’s talent and stature to agree to host a free concert for the families and employees of our hoteliers, restaurateurs, and everyone impacted by the perception of oil washing ashore Northwest Florida beaches,” said Carol Dover, President/CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association.  “This is a great time for tourists and residents alike to discover the beauty of Northwest Florida during the fall season and we encourage everyone to come enjoy one of the many fishing tournaments, concerts, seafood and arts festivals all promoting Florida’s unique culture and cuisine.”

Clint Black and his band will perform outdoors and under the stars immediately following Taste of THE Beach’s “Taste of Bay” to be held from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. CST at Pier Park.  NOTE:  All Taste of Bay ticket holders will receive VIP Stage-Front Access for the concert. The Clint Black Concert Poster may be found here.

“As part of Taste of THE Beach, we are proud to be co-sponsors of the Taste of Bay event, which brings thousands of residents and visitors alike to our beautiful beaches,” said Dan Rowe, President/CEO of Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Fall is the perfect time of year to visit Panama City Beach and this year’s event will reach a new level of excitement with the free Clint Black concert on Friday evening,” said Rowe.

“Taste of Bay enjoys more than 1,000 guests each year as they taste wines offered by hundreds of vineyards and sample culinary delights from area restaurants at Pier Park,” said Beth Oltman, President and CEO of the Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce.  “To have country superstar Clint Black top off our event is sure to attract an even bigger audience from our local community,” continued Oltman, organizer of Taste of Bay.

“Southwest Airlines, who have been tremendous community partners through the opening of the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, will offer a 10 percent discount on their ‘Wanna Get Away’ fares,” said Kitty Whitney, President/CEO of the Walton Area Chamber of Commerce. “These exclusive discount fare savers card will be given to every guest and at every event upon check in. This is truly an event you won’t want to miss!” concluded Whitney, who also serves as Chair of Taste of THE Beach.

For additional concert information please visit www.FRLA.org.  For a complete listing of all events, times and locations for Taste of THE Beach activities being held November 4-7, go to www.TasteoftheBeachFla.com.

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About Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA)
FRLA’s mission is to Protect, Educate and Promote Florida’s hospitality industry – which represents a $57 billion industry, 20% of Florida’s economy, $3.4 billion in sales tax revenue, and more than 900,000 employees, making it Florida’s largest employer.  In the wake of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill that has devastated areas of Northwest Florida, FRLA has led the charge in representing the industry through marketing, communications, tourism briefings, claims procedures, and paid advertisements to let the world know that Florida is Open for Business.  FRLA is among the most influential trade associations in Florida, counting among its 10,000 members some of the largest businesses across the state in lodging establishments, restaurants, and thousands of suppliers to the industry.  For more information, go to www.FRLA.org. 

About Panama City Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau
Panama City Beach is situated on 27 miles of sugar-white sand beaches bordering clear, emerald-green waters where the Gulf of Mexico and St. Andrews Bay converge.  With more than 300 days of sunshine annually and attractions such as St. Andrew’s State Park and Pier Park, the region has long been favored by travelers seeking an affordable beach vacation with year-round offerings for families, couples, groups and adventure-seekers.  These include championship golf courses, spas, sporting events, award-winning dining and diverse recreational activities. Panama City Beach recently opened the new Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, offering non-stop flights on Delta Airlines and Southwest Airlines. To learn more, please visit www.VisitPanamaCityBeach.com

About Taste of THE Beach
Held November 4-7, 2010, Taste of THE Beach – an annual food and wine celebration on Northwest Florida’s Gulf Coast – was formed to showcase the area’s beaches, culture and restaurants, paired with unique wine events and a charity auction. As the presenting sponsor, Southwest Airlines will help expand awareness of Taste of THE Beach with a broader regional focus through its daily service to and from the area at the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport.  The charity auction will raise much needed funds for several charities supporting children in critical need.  Savor the flavors, sights and sounds of Northwest Florida’s Gulf Coast through Taste of THE Beach.  For a complete listing of all events, times and locations, go to www.TasteoftheBeachFla.com.

(Whitney Ray, Capitol News Service, January 27, 2011) Not satisfied with the way BP is trying to make amends, state lawmakers are pushing legislation to help people hurt by the oil giant’s mistake. Today in Tallahassee, bills to create tax breaks and extend unemployment pay for people who lost business because of the spill last summer received preliminary approval. Carol Dover, President of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association says the tourism industry needs help from the state and federal government as well as BP if it’s going to rebound in time for the spring tourism season.

“It hit during our peek season so some of our tourism industries have not recovered. Anything that BP can do, along with the legislature, that’s going to infuse cash, marketing, and tax incentives are good. Anything that we can do to get employees back on the payroll, people back to the panhandle and celebrating how beautiful north Florida is will help,” said Dover.

State lawmakers are also asking for help from Congress for income tax relief for the victims of the spill.

http://www.flanews.com/?p=11445

February 18, 2011 — “While we are encouraged that some of our members have been paid through the GCCF, there are many of Florida’s hoteliers and restaurateurs who have yet to receive economic recovery dollars, or have received compensation in amounts much lower than requested.

“The Florida and Restaurant Lodging Association will be reviewing the ‘Methodology for Future Claims’ document that is to be made public by Ken Feinberg today in the hopes it takes into consideration the unknown – the long-term impact of future tourism and hospitality losses in the months and years ahead.

“Florida tourism represents a $57 billion industry, 20% of Florida’s economy, $3.4 billion in sales tax revenue, and more than 900,000 employees, making it Florida’s largest employer.  It is critical the hospitality industry is protected by filing an oil spill claim to recoup lost wages and income.  This is no different than filing an insurance claim if one is impacted by a hurricane or fire and suffered economic damages.

“FRLA is working with the law firms of Weitz & Luxenberg, Levin Papantonio and Cooney & Conway to provide the hospitality industry with free legal assistance in securing economic recovery dollars.  Millions have been lost in hospitality and tourism dollars due to the oil spill and the perception of oil washing ashore Florida’s beaches and coastline.

“We urge FRLA members, and non-members, who need assistance in filing the required claims payment documentation or who have yet to receive any compensation from the GCCF, to go to our website at www.FRLA.org and click on the ‘FRLA Oil Spill Claims’ icon to reach out to our legal team today.”

FRLA Oil Spill Claims Information:
http://frla.org/oil-spill-updates/item/430-frla-oil-spill-claims

# # #

About Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA)
FRLA’s mission is to Protect, Educate and Promote Florida’s hospitality industry – which represents a $57 billion industry, 20% of Florida’s economy, $3.4 billion in sales tax revenue, and more than 900,000 employees, making it Florida’s largest employer.  In the wake of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill that has devastated areas of Northwest Florida, FRLA has led the charge in representing the industry through marketing, communications, tourism briefings, claims procedures, and paid advertisements to let the world know that Florida is Open for Business.  FRLA is among the most influential trade associations in Florida, counting among its 10,000 members some of the largest businesses across the state in lodging establishments, restaurants, and thousands of suppliers to the industry.  For more information, go to www.FRLA.org.

May 2, 2102 (By Associated Press) – NEW ORLEANS—A federal judge on Wednesday preliminarily approved a proposed class-action settlement that would resolve billions of dollars in claims against BPBP.LN +0.70% PLC over the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier’s ruling allows the settlement process to proceed, but he will hold a “fairness hearing” on Nov. 8 before deciding whether to give his final approval to the deal between London-based BP and a team of plaintiffs’ attorneys.

Read More.. 

July 23, 2012 (Written by Travis Pillow – Florida Capital Bureau)  The first checks remain a long way off, and much is uncertain, but federal and Florida legislation committing billions in fines from Deepwater Horizon operator BP will mean unprecedented cash windfalls for eight Florida counties, Wakulla and Franklin among them. As much as $20 billion in fines for the 2010 rig explosion and oil spill offers the chance to change the nature of Florida’s northern Gulf coast after the fisheries, resorts and people were threatened by more than 200 million gallons of spilled oil.

Read more… 

October 23, 2012, Laurel Brubaker Calkins and Margaret Cronin Fisk, Bloomberg News  – BP PLC urged a U.S. federal judge to approve a proposed US$7.8-billion settlement of thousands of claims by coastal businesses and property owners who sued over economic damages from the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill. “The settlement will bring full compensation to all class members, including those on the Gulf Coast, while resolving a major component of the Deepwater Horizon litigation,” BP lawyers said Monday in an after-hours filing in New Orleans. “The alternative is all-out litigation that would last many years and have an uncertain outcome for class members.”

Read more….