Florida tourism sees record growth with theme parks leading
Florida’s tourism industry is on a historic upswing, driven by theme parks and strong travel demand. Orange County officials report four straight months of record-breaking revenue, a surge that began after the launch of Orlando’s Epic Universe. Meanwhile, a Visit Florida survey shows more than half of travelers in major markets like New York, Washington, D.C., and Atlanta plan to visit the Sunshine State within the next two years. More from WPBFand Tourism Revieew News.
Culinary Institute of America eyes Jacksonville for its famed school
Jacksonville's expansion of higher education institutions might eventually range from semiconductors to souffles. The Culinary Institute of America, whose award-winning graduates includes the late celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain, has had some talks with city officials about bringing its school in the art of cooking to Jacksonville. More from the Florida Times-Union.
In South Florida, the new third space isn’t a coffee shop. It’s your networking group
More than 100 people descended upon an outdoor bar restaurant in Fort Lauderdale on a recent November night, lounging by the fireplace, sipping wine and snacking on chicken wings, talking and laughing. Some kept an eye out for romantic interests; others reconnected with old friends, or made new ones. But they weren’t just there to have fun. They came to network. More from the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
SpaceX launch kicks off busy December on Space Coast
The Space Coast’s record rocket train of 2025 kept rolling with the first launch of December early Monday. It marked the 102nd launch from either KSC or neighboring Cape Canaveral Space Force Station this year, with SpaceX responsible for all by seven of them. SpaceX, United Launch Alliance and Blue Origin combined to surpass the 2024 record of 93 launches last month with the Space Coast on target to come close to 110 launches before the end of the year. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Southwest Florida family car dealers hold strong amid industry consolidation
Four locally owned car dealerships combine for more than 200 years of history in Southwest Florida, and four of the leaders behind them have held about 40 various jobs among them. It’s a long way to the top if you want to sell some cars. They have continued and thrived, while many other family-owned stalwarts across the region have sold to corporate behemoths or out-of-town companies over the past five years. More from Gulfshore Business.
Business Profile
Operator Solutions building budding astronaut rescue business at Melbourne airport
Operator Solutions is a startup that bills itself as the first commercial human spaceflight rescue company. Based at Melbourne Orlando International Airport, the firm partners with Axiom Space on its private astronaut missions to the International Space Station. The firm aims to expand its services to other industries, including cruise lines and disaster response.
» More from TC Palmand Florida Today.
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Finding utopia
Tracy Williams has a go-to question for the people she works with, one that can be both disarming and spark innovation. “For me,” says the new CEO of Florida Health Care Plans (FHCP), “it’s coming in and asking the team, ‘What’s your utopia? If money didn’t matter and everything was available to you, what would you do’ to improve operations or customer care? When I see that person’s eyes light up and they kind of sit up in their chair and they’re like, ‘Wait, really?’ … Now we can start to reimagine.”
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