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Southeast: Seizing Opportunities
Creative thinkers build on region's strengths to support new sectors and forge a prosperous future.
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY
Flying high: Vero Beach-based Piper Aircraft — fresh off its May acquisition by investment management company Imprimis — is slated to roll out its $2.19 million PiperJet “very light jet” by 2012.
Play ball: Dodgertown — the Vero Beach facility that was vacated in 2008 when the Los Angeles Dodgers moved their spring training to Arizona — is undergoing rejuvenation. Minor League Baseball now holds three five-year leases on the four-diamond facility and is making big plans. With 89 rooms, tennis courts, an Olympic-sized pool, conference center and up to 300 employees during peak events, this unique facility has undergone a $2-million facelift and will host college and high school tournaments, Major League umpire training and corporate team building, says Craig Callan, vice president of Minor League Baseball-Vero Beach. “Our target is 40 to 45 weeks of business a year.”
KEY WEST/MONROE COUNTY
Cruisin’ in: Cruises and the revenue they generate in disembarkation fees and sales of merchandise, food and beverages remain vital to Key West’s economy. At just over 80,000, arrivals in May 2009 were double the number for the previous May and contributed to giving Key West its best May ever for cruise traffic. Elsewhere in the Keys, tourism remained strong. Despite the high cost of gasoline, 79% of all Keys visitors continue to arrive by car, and more than half of those are Floridians coming from Tampa southward. “The greatest amenity we have is U.S. 1,” says Kevin Speidel, Waldorf-Astoria area general manager and managing director. “That road leads to a Caribbean vacation destination.”
Putting heads in beds: The Southernmost Hotel Collection is adding to its portfolio of Key West accommodations to meet increased demand, says Matt Babich, general manager and minority partner. The company bought and subsequently razed Atlantic Shores Hotel and the Sands Beach Club, then opened 80 oceanfront rooms at its newest property, Southernmost on the Beach. When Babich arrived in the Keys in 1988, occupancies were 30% in “shoulder” seasons. Now, he’s seeing strong guest figures year-round.
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Making education accessible Florida Keys Community College debuted its “virtual campus” in 2008, and online course offerings have increased almost 60%, with enrollment in the virtual campus spiking 250% in spring 2009. Among the newest course offerings: solar panel installation, with two FKCC faculty participating in a Florida Solar Energy Center “train the trainer” program, pharmacy technician certification, medical coding and billing and educator preparedness. |
