Mission Statement: Advancing Tourism and the Community Through Hospitality

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1 Mission Statement: Advancing Tourism and the Community Through Hospitality April 04, 2014 In This Edition... TODAY APRIL LUNCHEON NEW MEMBERS CARES CHARITY CHALLENGE ACE HOSPITALITY OPPORTUNITIES HONOREES Lodging Member of the Month Brian Strader DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando at SeaWorld Allied Member of the Month David Chilton Sunshine Recycling

2 Event Partners of the Month Bacchus Bash Platinum Sponsor Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Gold Sponsors Edlen Electrical Exhibition Florida Distributing Company GES - Global Experience Specialist The Mall at Millenia Orlando Premium Outlets - Vineland Ave OUC - The Reliable One PSAV - Presentation Services Uncharted Video Production Silver Sponsors ConnectWhere Touch LMG Construction Services Maingate Transportation will also occur in various staging areas. Minuteman Press Sandlake SeaWorld Parks & Resorts

3 Shergroup, LLC TRS Wireless Walt Disney World Company Bronze Sponsors Harvill's Produce Company Pinnacle Communications Chef James Katurakes Executive Chef Centerplate - Orange County Convention Center The Rotary Club of Dr. Phillips Membership Luncheon American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute Centerplate Empire Roofing Ricky Ly TastyChomps.com Food Blog Author of the Food Lovers 'Guide to Orlando PSAV - Presentation Services Osceola County General Managers Luncheon Serta Mattress Company Downtown Hoteliers Luncheon Global Sourcing International LLC Airport Area General Managers Luncheon Allison Walker News 13 - Orlando Entertainment Report/Anchor Please Follow Bacchus Bash on Social Media System Tech Services Inc.

4 Thank You For Your Support of CFHLA! 2014 CFHLA Executive Committee: The Central Florida Hotel & Lodging Association invites you to attend the Chairperson Doug Gehret Hilton Orlando 1st Vice Chairperson Gerald Urquiola Caribe Royale Resort & Convention Center 2nd Vice Chairperson Dave Bartek Loews Hotels Universal Orlando Secretary David Friederich Grand Bohemian Hotel Treasurer Doug Ridge Orlando World Center Marriott (Thank You Greg Hauenstein, General Manager) Proudly sponsored by: Assistant Treasurer Jetse Pottinga Melia Orlando Hotel Historian Pat Engfer Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Immediate Past Chair

5 Jim Burns Grande Lakes Orlando Hospitality Updates How an I-Drive rail system may help handle future convention traffic Richard Bilbao Orlando Business Journal So what could have helped traffic that bogged down on International Drive during MegaCon on March at the Orange County Convention Center? Well, the Florida Department of Transportation is in the midst of a request for proposals that should close in April to find companies to build a rail system connecting the Orlando International Airport to the convention center. One of those companies is American Maglev Technology Inc., which wants to build a $40 million circulating rail system that would transport I-Drive guests and workers around the massive tourist corridor. Joni Luce Dave Garsh Grant Gouveia Katrina Diamond Kristine Palkowetz The topic of the circulating system came up after I

6 reached out to American Maglev President and CEO Tony Morris about how his proposed rail project could have helped the convention industry avoid the traffic jam of the ages during the MegaCon weekend. "Our proposal includes $40 million for a 'circulator' that connects the convention center to the Hilton Orlando, Rosen Centre, Hyatt Orlando, Pointe Orlando and Rosen Plaza facilities," said Morris, noting it would be ideal to make sure convention traffic never clogs up the surrounding roads like it did on Saturday due to thousands of MegaCon fans. Gary Kirkland Paul Twyford Welcome New CFHLA Members Kathie Canning, executive director with the convention center, welcomed any ideas to help her team alleviate future congestion caused by big conventions. "New transportation options like rail would have definitely helped us. The more transportation options we have the better," Canning said. Currently, most of I-Drive is serviced by a trolley, pedicabs and other shuttles, but they all typically require the use of the roads - which also need to be widened to

7 accommodate the region's growing convention traffic and leisure visitation. Canning said the combination of MegaCon, along with other events at the convention center and nearby hotels, created the perfect storm of what can happen if successful shows come to town on the same weekend. And, unfortunately, most of MegaCon's attendees and other convention area travelers happened to find themselves in bumper-to-bumper traffic that turned a five-minute drive into a multi-hour experience. "It was a phenomena," she said about the weekend, noting that until a rail system is actually built connecting her center to the rest of Central Florida, her team will look into how to address the traffic issue for future MegaCons and more. Lake Nona lands U.S. Tennis Association training complex Anjali Fluker Orlando Business Journal The U.S. Tennis Association has chosen Lake Nona for its next big training center. The association signed Needed Items Include: Body Soap / Lotion Brushes / Combs Cotton Balls / Q-tips / Tissues Deodorant Feminine Products Hand Soap / Hand Sanitizer Miniature First Aid Kits / Band Aids New Socks New T-Shirts male/female all ages New Underwear Shampoo / Conditioner Shaving Cream

8 a letter of intent with Lake Nona Land Co. LLC and is finalizing details to build a prototype tennis complex in the southeast Orlando community, the Orlando Sentinel reported. The new facility could bring tennis pros into the area for training, which means athletes and their families would boost the local economy by dining, shopping, staying in hotels and seeking services nearby. The complex also could bring new jobs to the area, including temporary construction jobs and permanent jobs at the training facility. The U.S. Tennis Association declined to share specifics on the deal or plans, but issued the following statement: Toothbrushes / Toothpaste Additionally, CFHLA is adding to this collection drive, to assist with feeding the Homeless Students of Orange & Osceola Counties. Please consider participating by conducting a "drive" at your business. For additional information relating to "CFHLA Cares," please contact CFHLA Staff Person Lynnea Dawes (407) or Assistant@CFHLA.org. Thank You for your Support of the CFHLA Cares Collection Drive! Click Here for the official Donation Form. (For a printable flyer, please Click Here) "The United States Tennis Association (USTA) intends to create a model tennis facility to house its community tennis and player development divisions. The goal of creating such a facility is to better service and drive the USTA's mission of promoting and developing the sport of tennis in the United States. To that end, the USTA has signed a letter of intent with the Lake Nona Land Company to plan the construction of a

9 state-of-the-art tennis campus in Orlando that would serve this purpose. The parties are currently conducting due diligence and expect to make a final decision regarding the project in the near future." Representatives from Lake Nona declined comment but real estate sources said rumor has it the facility will include four buildings totaling 150,000 square feet with more than 90 tennis courts on 62 acres. Once again, the CFHLA Foundation is partnering with Seminole County Commissioner Lee Constantine's CHARITY CHALLENGE to raise money for Hospitality Education Projects. Details for the 2014 Event are as follows: For every team that CFHLA registers for the Challenge - a portion of the $500 entry fee goes directly to the CFHLA Foundation. (Please remember to designate The CFHLA Foundation as your Charity.) To register as a CFHLA Foundation support team, please CLICK HERE for the official registration form. For more event information, please visit

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