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Calming Tourist Fears

Panama City News Herald
Weather Channel's Cantore: No oil headed here
by Pat Kelly - May 27, 2010
http://www.newsherald.com/news/oil-84151-beach-panama.html

Carol Dover on CNBC SQUAWK BOX
Airtime: Tues. May 25 2010 | 8:44 AM ET
An outlook on tourism in Florida following the BP oil spill, with Carol Dover, Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association president and Stephen Leatherman, Florida International University.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232/?video=1503639529&play=1

 


Chairman Keith Overton Quoted "Tourism ads: No oil spill on Florida beaches"

by: Rob Shaw - Tampa Tribune - May 25, 2010
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/may/25/tourism-ads-no-oil-spill-florida-beaches/news-breaking/

 


 

Governor Crist Announces $25-Million Tourism Advertising Campaign Memorandum of Understanding with BP

Click Here to read 


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)


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)


MAY 6: FRLA President and CEO Carol Dover Press Conference with Local Hoteliers and Restaurateurs to Discuss Tourism and Economic Impact of BP Oil Leaks

READ: Carol Dover's Talking Points

READ: PRESS RELEASE

WATCH NOW 

Tourism Industry Concerned About Oil Spill

WEAR – TV (ABC) Channel 3 on May 6, 2010

http://www.weartv.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/wear_vid_8226.shtml

 

Pensacola Oil Spill

Bay News 9 on May 6, 2010

http://www.baynews9.com/VideoPlayer/?Pensacola_Spill_506 


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


FRLA Encourages Members to Compile Information Related to Loss Resulting from 2010 Gulf Oil Spill

FRLA is a member of the EOC Emergency Support Function 18 (Long Term Business Recovery), and will represent our interests at the EOC throughout the activation and resolution of this event.  We have been asked to begin tracking economic losses resulting from this event.  BP has established a toll free Claims Line for Florida hoteliers and restaurateurs to begin the claims process.  Please dial 1.800.440.0858 and be ready to provide basic information such as name of business, contact information and Federal Tax ID number.

Please begin compiling information related to any loss you suffer, and be able to substantiate as best you can how the spill affected the loss.  For lodging properties, quantify cancellations and associated lost sales, and for Restaurants compare sales year-over-year, with any decreases potentially attributable to the spill.  We expect a short form of some sort to be developed to capture the needed loss information, and will provide that and post to our website as soon as available.  This will also be used to update the Governor’s Office and emergency management officials in critical decision making over the coming days and weeks, so please participate and be as accurate as possible.-  Florida State Emergency Information Line: (800) 342-3557

 Important Phone Numbers:

-  BP Claims Line: (800) 440-0858
-  Environmental hotline and community information: (866) 448-5816
-  Wildlife distress hotline: (866) 557-1401
-  To report oiled shoreline or request volunteer information: (866) 448-5816
-  Vessels of Opportunity (boats) program: (425) 745-8017

You can also visit the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's response website at http://www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon for more information.

Click Here for the BP Claims Website


LATEST NEWS UPDATES - GULF OIL SPILL


 

Smart Choices When Dining Out

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FRLA-Related Sites

FRLA Trade Show

American Hotel & Lodging Association

National Restaurant Association

Visit Florida – Official state tourism website

 

 

NRA Library-Research Brochure

FRLA Members have access FREE, CUSTOMIZED RESEARCH from NRA.  Rather than sending questions to info@restaurant.org as was done previously, you can now send them to askus@restaurant.org. When you send an email to this address, it will come directly to one of the information specialists in the Washington office. As with our phone call system, you will receive a reply within 48 hours, and often within one day.  Click Here to view brochure. Contact, Myra Engers Weinberg, Sr. Director, Information Services and Library mweinberg@restaurant.org 

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