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3/17/10 - Alex Sink sets economic goals if elected Florida governor

3/16/10 - Study: Drilling debate over state’s Gulf waters has wider implications

3/12/10 - Resort casinos on the table for Florida

3/10/10 - U.S. may aid Florida budget

3/9/10 - Putting off tax hike will be costly

3/8/10 - Six candidates qualify for House District 4 special election

3/5/10 - Legislator wants calorie counts right on the menu

3/2/10 - Unemployment Compensation Tax Cut Passes

3/2/10 - Slip and Fall Update

3/1/10 - Legislature opens session Tuesday looking at budget shortfall

2/26/10 - Florida's new unemployment rate is on hold

2/24/10 - Trouble for SunRail? Amtrak wants new deal on liability

2/23/10 - Cruz wins special election for Florida House seat

2/22/10 - LEGAL CHALLENGE FILED AGAINST BIOMASS PLANT

2/17/10 - Florida growers group changes stance on tomato pickers' pay

2/16/10 - SINK BACKS UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS CHANGE

2/15/10 - Last Round Before Session

2/12/10 - SUPREME COURT RULES LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CAN SET ELECTION RULES

2/10/10 - House Moves Unemployment Compensation Tax Fix

2/9/10 - 2-cents per beer to save billions for Floridians

2/8/10 - ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS RAISE QUESTIONS ABOUT JOBS BILL

2/5/10 - House Members Talk About Keeping Oil Rigs Out of Sight

2/3/10- Summary of Today's House Economic Dev. Council Meeting; Unemployment Rate Hike

2/2/10- SCIENTISTS WEIGH IN ON DRILLING DEBATE

1/29/10 - Amtrak and Florida make nice: no deal though

1/27/10 - Obama trip here may mean high-speed rail funding

1/26/10 - Senate President Jeff Atwater's no-new-taxes pledge is self-serving

1/25/10 - Brace for an ad blitz over Florida growth amendment

 

 

 

 

News and Upcoming Events

View video highlights from March 9 Tourism Day

Industry News

2010 TOURISM DAYS: REGISTER NOW FOR MARCH 23, 2010 TOURISM DAY

NRA & AH&LA EVENTS

BREAKING NEWS:
Unemployment Compensation Tax Cut Passes
March 2, 2010 - On this opening day of the 2010 Regular Session of the Florida Legislature, the Florida House and Senate each passed HB 7033, a bill that will provide significant relief to Florida businesses like yours that were otherwise facing a dramatic increase in their unemployment compensation (“UC”) taxes for 2010 and 2011.
 
FRLA was an early and vocal advocate in the Florida Legislature for quick passage of this bill. 
 
In sum, if your business is paying UC tax at the minimum rate, your tax was due to jump from the $8.40 per employee you paid in 2009 up to $100.30 per employee in 2010 and $164.05 per employee in 2011.  Under the bill passed today, your UC tax should instead be approximately $25.20 per employee in 2010 and $53.90 per employee in 2011.
 
If your business is paying UC tax at the maximum rate, your tax was due to jump from the $378 per employee that you paid in 2009 up to $459 per employee in 2010 and 2011.  Under the bill passed today, your UC tax should instead remain at approximately $378 per employee in 2010 and 2011.
 
The bill will also allow employers to make their 2010 and 2011 UC tax payments in quarterly installments without interest or penalties as long as the employer timely makes the filings and payments and pays an annual $5 administrative fee.
 
Notably, while this legislation will provide short term relief to businesses by reducing the UC tax in 2010 and 2011, the likelihood is that Florida employers will face significant UC tax increases in 2012 and beyond due to the poor economy and high unemployment.  Hopefully, however, the economy will have improved sufficiently by that time for employers to better handle such tax increases.
 
Governor Crist is expected to sign the bill later today.

FRLA NEWS ALERT: McCollum Sues Expedia, Orbitz

FRLA NEWS ALERT: McCollum Sues Expedia, Orbitz

Travel Promotion Act Update from U.S. Travel Association

February 26, 2010
State Partners,
 
Last night, by a vote of 78-18, the Senate passed the Travel Promotion Act (TPA).  The House has already passed the TPA and President Obama is expected to sign the bill into law sometime in the next week.  This is a major accomplishment for the restaurant, travel, and hospitality industries.  Thanks to those of you who reached out to Senators encouraging them to support the bill.  Earlier this week, we sent out a press release and letter to each Senator urging quick passage of the TPA (see attachment and below).
 
The vote broke down as follows:  All Democrats who voted supported the bill.  The following Republicans also voted in favor:
 
Alexander, Barrasso, Bennett, Bond, Chambliss, Cochran, Collins, Ensign, Enzi, Graham, Isakson, Johanns, Lugar, Murkowski, Snowe, Vitter, Hatch, LeMeiux, Wicker, Voinovich, and Thune.
 
Those not voting:  Hutchison, Inhofe, Lautenberg, and Warner
 
Please let me know if you have any questions. 
 
Regards,
Dave
 
Dave Koenig
Director, Tax & Profitability
National Restaurant Association
 
National Restaurant Association Calls on U.S. Senate For Quick Passage of the Travel Promotion Act
Says Bill Will Help Boost International Travel, Help Restaurants and Create Jobs
 
(Washington, D.C.) The National Restaurant Association today called for quick passage of bipartisan legislation in the U.S. Senate, "The Travel Promotion Act," S. 1023, which would aggressively promote international travel to the United States. A successful vote in the upper chamber would send the bill to President Obama for his signature.

"The National Restaurant Association, representing an industry of nearly one million restaurants, offers our strong support for quick passage of the Travel Promotion Act, so it can finally be signed into law," said Scott DeFife, Executive Vice President for Policy and Government Affairs for the Association, in a letter to all members of the Senate. "We are encouraged to hear that the Senate is likely to vote on the Act in the near future."

"While international travel has boomed over the past decade, the U.S. has actually lost visitors from abroad during this time," continued DeFife. "According to research just released by Oxford Economics, this decade long decline in international travelers has cost the U.S. in excess of 440,000 jobs in all regions of the country that could have been created and sustained."

The Travel Promotion Act creates a public-private partnership campaign to market the U.S. as a premier travel destination with the goal of increasing the number of international visitors into the country. Increased international travel to the U.S. would strongly benefit restaurants, as up to 40 percent of annual sales for some segments of the industry are attributable to travelers, with international visitors spending more time and more money – on average of $4,500 per person, per visit – than domestic travelers spend.

The National Restaurant Association has long supported legislation to help attract more international visitors and establish the United States as a travel destination. Roughly half of all travelers report that they dine out when they travel, and dining out is the most popular activity planned after tourists arrive at a destination.
 
 

Help Your Industry Fight the Proposed Oyster Ban!

UPDATE: Congressman Boyd Introduces Legislation To Protect Gulf Coast Oyster Industry

Recently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), through its internal processes, proposed to ban raw Gulf of Mexico oysters during certain months of the year.  This unilateral decision by FDA will devastate small businesses and wipe out desperately needed jobs. The severe and adverse impact to several Gulf Coast communities and Florida’s hospitality industry are incalculable. Please take a moment to contact your elected officials and let them know what will happen if such a law is enacted.

Sample Letter:

Click Here to View Sample Letter (Word Format)

Click Here to View Sample Letter (PDF Format)

Contact Information:

Click Here for Contact Information (Word Format)

Click Here for Contact Information (PDF Format)

Important Calendar Updates

  • On Oct. 21, the House Select Policy Council on Strategic and Economic Planning meets, 212 Knott Building 1:30-6:00 to discuss upcoming legislation regarding off shore oil exploration. Carol Dover, Steve Metz and Richard Turner will be in attendance.
  • On Oct. 29th, Incoming Chairman Keith Overton will be addressing the Florida Congressional Delegation in Washington, D.C. concerning the status of tourism in our State. FRLA extends its gratitude to Keith for going to Washington and “telling it like it is…”  
  • On Nov. 2, FSU is conducting a symposium on off shore oil exploration with experts on both sides of the issue. Leaders from both the Senate and House will be present. The event is a ticketed event and is reportedly sold out. Richard Turner will be in attendance for the hospitality industry.
  • Mark your calendars - December 3, FRLA joins the Central Florida Region and will host the annual Holiday party at the Ritz-Carlton in Orlando in which Speaker Designate Dean Cannon will attend.

THE TAX IS BACK!

 

The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association has learned that the Department of Revenue will publish in the Florida Administrative Weekly this Friday, a NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING on its proposed tax rules relating to sales of food products served, prepared or sold in or by restaurants, lunch counters, cafeterias, caterers, hotels, taverns and other like places.
The public hearing is set for August 31, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. in the Carlton Building, 501 South Calhoun Street, Tallahassee, Florida.
Stay tuned for breaking news as it relates to this tax rule! Also, mark your calendars for August 31, 2009 in case you are needed to testify at this hearing.  
If you are willing to protect your business interests by testifying at this hearing, or by submitting a letter, please contact Richard Turner at: Rturner@frla.org. Be sure to provide a telephone number!

 

 

 

 

FRLA 2009 SINE DIE REPORT

CLICK HERE for the entire report

National Restaurant Association American Hotel & Lodging Association
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