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FRLA President and CEO Carol Dover to Host Tourism Industry Briefing With Key West Hoteliers and Restaurateurs

TALLAHASSEE, FL – The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association’s (FRLA) President and CEO Carol Dover will hold a Tourism Industry Briefing with local hoteliers and restaurateurs on Tuesday, May 25, in Key West, Florida to discuss tourism and marketing efforts in Florida.  Special Guest Senate President Jeff Atwater (R-North Palm Beach) will provide a legislative update on the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.  The Briefing will include information on recent decline in reservations and bookings in the area, how to file claims through British Petroleum (BP) for those in the hospitality industry affected by the oil spill situation, and to inform state, national and international travelers that Florida is open for business.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010
10:30 AM
Waldorf Astoria Casa Marina
1500 Reynolds Street
Key West, FL 33040-4700

Participants:
Carol Dover, President and CEO, Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association
Florida Senate President Jeff Atwater (R-North Palm Beach)
State Representative Ron Saunders (D-Tavernier)
Keith Overton, FRLA Chair; Senior VP and COO, TradeWinds Island Resorts
Waldorf Astoria Casa Marina Area Manager and FRLA Monroe Chapter President, Kevin Speidel

Invited Participants:
Key West Mayor Craig Cates
Monroe County Mayor Sylvia Murphy
United States Coast Guard Commander, Captain Pat DeQuattro
Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Representative

Attendees:
Members, Monroe Chapter, Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association
Hospitality and Tourism Partners
City and County Officials and Delegates

For additional information, including media confirmation, please contact Christina Johnson at 850.391.5040 or via email at Christina@On3PR.com.

CLICK HERE for pdf version

Tourism Officials Press Crist for Help to Bring Vacationers Back to Florida After Oil Spill

On Wednesday, May 12, board members of Visit Florida, pleaded with Governor Charlie Crist for money to launch a marketing campaign to let travelers know the spill has not yet reached the coast of Florida.

FRLA President/CEO Carol Dover, a Visit Florida board member, said this time before Memorial Day usually has Panhandle hotel phones ringing constantly.

"Literally yesterday there were no calls. Reservations have dropped from the 90th percentile now down into the teens," Dover said. "This is their peak season. They live and die by the next 90 days," Dover said.

After the meeting adjourned, Dover sent the following letter to Governor Crist detailing the ‘FLORIDA IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS’ marketing campaign.

READ: Carol Dover's Letter to Governor Charlie Crist Regarding Marketing Campaign (May 11, 2010)

WATCH: Video from Visit Florida Meeting (May 11, 2010)

READ: Governor Crist's Press Release (May 12, 2010)

READ: Senate President Jeff Atwater's Letter to Governor Crist Regarding the Disbursement of Advertising Funds from BP (May 20, 2010)

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Memos from Governor Crist

MEMORANDUM:Governor Crist Announces $25-Million Tourism Advertising Campaign Memorandum of Understanding with BP (May 25,2010)

MEMORANDUM: Executive Order 10-106, regarding an extension of Governor Charlie Crist’s declaration of a State of Emergency to Charlotte, Lee, Collier, Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties due to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.  (May 20, 2010)

MEMORANDUM:  Governor's Executive Order Number 10-101, Establishing the Gulf Oil Spill Economic Recovery Task Force (May 11, 2010)

READ: CFO Alex Sink's Message to Florida Hotels and Restaurant Regarding BP Oil Spill

• Carol Dover Quoted in CNN Article: "Gulf Fights for Tourists in Wake of Spill"

• SBA Administrator Offers Economic Injury Assistance to Florida Small Businesses Affected by Deepwater BP Oil Spill

• Setting the Record Straight About Florida Seafood by Commissioner Charles Bronson

• Visit Florida Travel Advisory

• Oil Spill Member and Industry Outreach

• Executive Order of The Governor Regarding Oil Spill (April 30, 2010)

• Statement by FRLA President and CEO Carol Dover on FL Hospitality Industry and Louisiana Oil Rig Explosion (April 28, 2010)

• Statement by Carol Dover on Offshore Drilling Legislation (March 29, 2010)

• Senate President Jeff Atwater Announces Process for Offshore Drilling Study (November 9, 2009)