Mission Statement: Advancing Tourism and the Community Through Hospitality

January 17, 2014

In This Edition...

GOLDEN PINEAPPLE

ERIN

300

OFFICIAL NOTICE

DOWNTOWN

30

PUBLIC SERVICEANNOUNCEMENT

BREAKFAST

GOV. SCOTT

YELLOW PAGES

POTENTIAL

HOSPITALITYOPPORTUNITIES

HONOREES

Lodging Memberof the Month

Keith WollingB Resort located in theWalt Disney World®

Resort

Allied Memberof the Month

GOLDEN PINEAPPLE

HAVE YOU REGISTERED?

The CFHLA

Golden Pineapple AwardsDinner , to recognize

200 plus FRONT LINE employees,is set to occur on

Wednesday, January 29at the newly renovated

Wyndham Orlando Resort(Thank you Rich Larkin, General Manager).

Yearly, this networking activity attracts 700+ attendees.

CFHLA is proud to announce that the

Honorable City of Orlando Mayor

Buddy Dyerwill be offering "Special Remarks"

during the evening.

Proudly, this important activity is

sponsored by CFHLA Member:

Steve Dobbins

Comprehensive EnergyServices

Event Partnersof the Month

Board MeetingEducational Institute

Career FairWORKFORCECentral Florida

DowntownHoteliersLuncheon

SystemTechServices

Golden PineappleAwards

Bright House NetworksEnterprise Solutions

Thank You ForYour Support of

CFHLA!

2014 CFHLAExecutive

Committee:

ChairpersonDoug GehretHilton Orlando 1st Vice ChairpersonGerald UrquiolaCaribe Royale Resort& Convention Center 2nd Vice ChairpersonDave BartekLoews HotelsUniversal Orlando

For more information and to register, please visit

WWW.CFHLA.ORG/GPA

ERIN

CFHLA Member Services Director

Erin Walshcelebrated a Birthday this past week

(January 13th)

Happy Birthday

Erin!300

Although none of the 150+ bowlers

rolled a perfect game (300), the CFHLA

Team Building

Bowling

SecretaryDavid FriederichGrand Bohemian Hotel TreasurerDoug RidgeOrlando World CenterMarriott Assistant TreasurerJetse PottingaMelia Orlando Hotel HistorianPat EngferHyatt Regency GrandCypress ImmediatePast ChairJim BurnsGrande Lakes Orlando

Hospitality Updates:

Gov. Scott's $100Mtourism plan will bringbillions in business forOrlando Richard BilbaoReporterOrlando Business Journal

More than $1.35 billion innew tourism business forOrlando. That's the realmessage behind FloridaGov. Rick Scott's Jan. 10press conference, where heannounced plans todedicate $100 million tobolster Visit Florida's adcampaigns aimed atgrowing the state's tourismindustry.In 2012, Florida welcomed91.5 million visitors to thestate - and Scott is aimingto break the 100 millionvisitor mark, making theSunshine State "the No. 1tourism destination in theworld." And because "this allowsVisit Florida to generate amuch broader messageglobally to come to

activity of January 16th was a positive"Members Doing Business With Members"

networking event.

For the record,

32 teams of 5 bowlers each

participated in this "Sold Out" activity.

Below please find the

Team Building Bowling

Awardees

Individual High ScoreJoe Faulkner

Allegra PrintScore 259

Individual Low Score

Sue Miller

BrickmanScore 45

Team High Score (Both Games)

Millennium Grounds & WaterScore 1514

Team Low Score (Both Games)

Melia Orlando Suite Hotel Team #1Score 656

Below please find photographs from the gathering:

Florida," it will allow VisitOrlando to use its ownfunding to draw visitorsspecifically to CentralFlorida, added GeorgeAguel, president and CEOof Visit Orlando. He said when the tourismnumbers are tallied for 2013later this year, they'reexpected to show thatOrlando had another recordyear, besting the 57 milliontourists the city drew in2012. So more funding for2014 will provide a boostpotentially to break thatrecord again.But the payout from Scott'splan will go even further. Based on figures from VisitOrlando, the Central Floridaregion attracted 28.5 millioninternational and non-Floridian visitors to thestate in 2012 - nearly athird of the state's totalvisitation. If Florida's visitation can bepushed to 100 million, thatcreates the opportunity forOrlando to attract another2.64 million tourists. Andthat would mean $1.35billion-plus in new businessfor area hotels, attractions,restaurants, andentertainment and shoppingvenues. Domestic touristsspend $512 per person pertrip, and internationaltravelers spend nearlydouble that. In addition, typically onenew job is created for every85 new visitors, whichmeans Central Floridacould welcome an influx of31,000 new tourismindustry jobs. --

5 things to know aboutnew I-Driveentertainmentcomplex

Melia Orlando Suite Hotel

Sheraton Vistana Villages

2014 CFHLA Chairman Doug Gehret of the Hilton Orlando, Scott Tripoli of the DoubleTree by

Hilton Orlando at SeaWorld, Cindy & Will Andrew s of Sunbrite Outdoor Furniture

Anjali FlukerSenior Staff WriterOrlando Business Journal

International Drive's newestmega development, the$200 million Orlando Eye,is four days awayfrom debuting its firsttenant, LongHornSteakhouse - and that'sjust a piece of what's tocome in the next fewmonths. Orlando-based UnicorpNational DevelopmentsInc. has plenty going on atits I-Drive sister projects:The Orlando Eye andthe $100 million I-Shopsredevelopment/expansion oftheWyndham OrlandoResort. UnicorpPresident ChuckWhittall presented anupdate on the two projectsduring theInternational DriveResort Area Chamber ofCommerce's Jan. 9meeting.Together, the projects willcreate 1,000 temporaryconstruction jobs. They'realso bringing plenty of newshops, eateries andentertainment destinationsto Central Florida's busyconvention area, which isexpected to help draw moreconventions and tourists toOrlando. The OrlandoEye, previously known as I-Drive Live, is working on itsmain attraction, the 425-foot observation wheel andterminal building.Other spaces in the worksinclude MerlinEntertainments Ltd.'s SeaLife Aquarium, YardHouse restaurant, theproject courtyard and itsfour shops and eateries,and a non-pharmacyWalgreens tourist store.Construction has beencompleted on a third Merlin

To view additional photographs, please click here.

OFFICIAL NOTICE

The CFHLA AnnualMeeting of the Corporation

will occur on

Friday, February 28thduring the

"Membership Luncheon"

featuring STR

The purpose of this gathering is to

ratify refinements to the Association's Bylaws.

DOWNTOWNOn January 13th, the

Downtown General Managers Groupmet with officials from

SunRailrelating to the pending opening of the new SunRail System

(To start by May 1, 2014)

Mike Wacht of SunRail relaying details of the new SunRail System to

the Dow ntow n General Manager Group

CFHLA Thanks

David Friederichof the

Grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando

Entertainmentsattraction, MadameTussauds wax museum,and a 1,600-space parkinggarage. The wax museum,along with the otherattractions, should open bythe end of this year. therestaurants will open asthey are completed.Construction also is underway on several other retailand restaurant spacesfronting I-Drive, and Unicorpis still in talks with anunnamed attraction thatwould be a first in theworld, but "it's a greatname, and it's going to begreat for InternationalDrive," Whittall toldattendees.And here's a few things youmight not know about theprojects:

Unicorp wants toadd another 200-400room tower to theWyndham OrlandoResort at I-Shops

Much of the retailspace at I-Shops willbe completed byApril

Garage parking willbe free

The projects areexpected to draw 3million visitorsannually

Unicorp wants tocollaborate withsurrounding hotels inthe area on market,strategies and howto better worktogether.

for hosting this meeting&

System Tech Services, Inc.for serving as the sponsor.

30

CFHLA "Salutes" the

Hyatt Regency

Grand Cypressfor 30 years of service to the

regional hospitality industry

Happy

30th

Anniversary!

The Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

As a membership driven organization, CFHLA wishes to keep Members

informed on issues that may affect your business and the destination as a

whole.

Marketing referrals have become a staple of the tourism industry. It is not

unusual for local attractions, restaurants and shopping venues to offer

monetary incentives to front of house employees. However, please be

aware that marketing referrals are not permissible within the medical

profession.

Those who offer to pay monies in exchange for medical patient referrals

and those who accept those monies in return for their medical referral are

in fact party to a felony, punishable by law. Please CLICK HERE to view the

official statute.

Please do not leave yourself, your front of house employees, and most of

all your lodging establishment, exposed to this type of activity, and

educate your staff relating to this issue.

As a member of CFHLA, a list of Members who operate within the medical

profession can be found by visiting our website.

CLICK HERE to view the CFHLA Membership Directory.

BREAKFAST

On January 14th, over 100 CFHLA Allied Members

attended a networking breakfast which featuredLarge Venues with representatives from:

Orange County Convention CenterJan Addison

Deputy General Manager

Orlando City Soccer ClubForrest Eber

Chief Financial Officer

Orlando VenuesCharles Leone Jr.

Operations Division Manager

This "Members Doing Business With Members"

activity occurred at the

Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Resort(Thank You Jay Leonard, General Manager)

Panelists Charles Leone Jr. of Orlando Venues, Jan Addison of the

Orange County Convention Center, and Forrest Eber of Orlando City Soccer Club

GOVERNOR SCOTT As you may know,

Florida Governor Rick Scottannounced last week a

$100 MillionDollarbudget proposal for

VISIT FLORIDA.

This press conference occurred at the

Orlando International Airport.

CFHLA supports this proposaland will work with State Legislators

to secure this funding.

Florida Governor Rick Scott announcing a $100 million dollarbudget proposal for VISIT FLORIDA

YELLOW PAGES

Do you want your company listing added to the (soon to be printed)

2014 CFHLA Membership Directory, entitled the

Yellow Pages?

THIS "FREE" MEMBER SERVICEis available to all

2014 Paid CFHLA Allied Members.

To finalize your listing,please complete the requested information

by Monday, February 3, 2014

CLICK HEREFOR THE SUBMISSION FORM.

For additional information relating to thiscomplimentary service, please contact

CFHLA Staff Person Erin Walshmembership@cfhla.org / 407-313-5012.

POTENTIAL

On Thursday, January 16th CFHLA held a

Potential New Member Breakfast at the

DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando at SeaWorld(Thank you Scott Tripoli, General Manager)

featuring the

CFHLA Engineers' CouncilBoard Members.

12 Potential New Allied Members Companieswere in attendance for this meeting.

CFHLA would like to recognizethe Engineers' Council for their support of

New Member Recruitment.

Andy Bosw ell of Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort, Cindy Andrew s of

Sunbrite Outdoor Furniture, Jeff Plutz of Orlando World Center Marriott,

2014 CFHLA Engineers Council Chairman Brian Strader of DoubleTree by

Hilton Orlando at SeaWorld, Keith Luka of Wyndham Orlando Resort,

2013 CFHLA Engineer of the Year Trini Mascarenhas of Embassy Suites

I-Drive/Jamaican Ct, and Jack Bubb of Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress.

HOSPITALITY OPPORTUNITIES

Below please find the followingemployment opportunities:

Human Resource Manager

Best Western Orlando Gateway CLICK HERE to view more details

Guest Service Ambassador

Wet n' Wild CLICK HERE to view more details

This Newsletter is Proudly Sponsored By:

BRIAN_HANLEY@US.AFLAC.COM