Florida Trend Exclusive

Florida's cruise industry prepares for what is shaping up to be a record-setting 2022

By all appearances, cruise lines won’t have to do much to entice their traditional customers back on board as they resume sailing. Early bookings since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cleared the way for cruising to start again in the U.S. indicate plenty of demand. Carnival said in June that bookings for 2022 were outpacing those in 2019. Royal Caribbean reported that more than 250,000 people signed up for its test cruises out of Miami this summer. And Disney Cruise Line’s maiden voyage of Disney Wish, set to debut next June, quickly sold out this spring. [Source: Florida Trend]

Tropical Storm Fred forecast to form soon in the Caribbean Sea. Where is it heading?

A disturbance in the Caribbean Sea is forecast to turn into Tropical Storm Fred soon, possibly by the time it nears Puerto Rico Tuesday, according to the National Hurricane Center. A NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft is scheduled to investigate the disturbance Tuesday morning to determine the system’s intensity. The system has a 90% chance of becoming Tropical Storm Fred, though its strength is forecast to fluctuate in the next several days. [Source: Miami Herald]

Florida homeowners face spike in insurance renewals

Those looking to renew their homeowners’ insurance in Florida are being blindsided by significant premium increases, as the insurance situation in the state grows complicated. According to Dulce Suarez-Resnick, who has 30 years of insurance industry experience, Florida homeowners are, on average, seeing their insurance premiums surge between 25% and 60% at renewal. [Source: Insurace Business]

Two Florida representatives file bill to put manatees on ‘endangered’ list

With Florida seeing a record number of manatee deaths this year, two U.S. House members from Florida on Monday said they have introduced legislation that would designate the sea cows as an “endangered” species. The proposal by Republican Rep. Vern Buchanan and Democratic Rep. Darren Soto would upgrade the status of manatees under the Endangered Species Act from “threatened,” offering more protections. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

Florida won’t appeal block of ‘John Morgan’ law; 2022 drives have already piled up cash

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody won’t appeal a federal court ruling knocking down a new law capping donations to political committees pushing ballot measures, allowing large donations to flow. But the ruling might not have much effect on the ongoing 2022 ballot drives because of big checks already written to them. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Tech Trail: South Florida’s first TikTok ‘creator house’ is a viral address [Miami Herald]
Where do viral TikToks come from? It’s not just your teenager’s bedroom. In fact, many are manufactured in so-called creator houses. These are residences that accommodate multiple social media stars whose interactions in the houses spark ideas that develop into TikTok narratives and branding. For much of their existence, creator houses have been concentrated in Los Angeles. Now, a South Florida entrepreneur is hoping to open the first one in the region.

› Pensacola business owner gets help from 'Shark Tank' stars [WEAR]
You might have driven by Al Reed's business, Battery Guyz, on Fairfield Drive in Pensacola. But a quick look doesn't tell the story. "I would say that probably 98% of people have never even heard of Battery Guyz," Reed said. "But yet in the past five years, we've generated over $3 million in sales." Reed's story is one of sheer persistence. He started his first business 25 years ago at the University of West Florida.

› Florida is suing Piney Point’s owners. Is the state also to blame? [Tampa Bay Times]
Florida’s lawsuit against the owner of the Piney Point fertilizer plant property breaks down the many ways the state says HRK Holdings failed to care for the site. It is supposed to leave no doubt that, after years of struggling to maintain the complex, HRK left Piney Point open to disaster. But all those allegations, critics say, also read like a list of warning signs that the Florida Department of Environmental Protection missed before the crisis.

› New headquarters in review for Duos Technologies [Jacksonvlle Daily Record ]
Jacksonville-based Duos Technologies Inc., which designs technology for transportation operations, appears to be working toward a new headquarters in Deerwood Park South. The city is reviewing a permit application for Duos Technologies to build-out space on the first and second floors of the former SuperStock building in Deerwood Park South at a cost of $973,229.

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› Mullis Marine Center closes after 62 years in Cocoa because of shortage of parts, labor [Florida Today]
Mullis Marine Center manage to stay afloat during the storms of recessions and hurricanes, but it could not survive the tsunami of the pandemic. On July 31, the door closed a final time at the Cocoa boat engine repair shop that had been a go-to place for boaters and fishermen since Max Mullis started the business in 1959.

› UNF receives $5 million research grant [Jacksonville Daily Record]
The University of North Florida announced Aug. 9 it was awarded $5 million, the largest competitive grant in the school’s history, to participate in the Preventing Alzheimer’s with Cognitive Training study. The grant is to associate psychology professor Jody Nicholson, who will lead the UNF PACT study. UNF is one of six universities taking part in the research.

› Bank promotes official to VP of lending role [Business Observer]
Sanibel Captiva Community Bank has promoted Rudi Hamer to vice president, commercial lending officer and commercial relationship manager. Hamer will be based at of the bank’s Operations Center, 9311 College Parkway, Fort Myers, according to a statement. She’s responsible for originating commercial loans and developing new commercial relationships, the release adds.

› An all-studio complex in St. Petersburg’s Edge District is about to break ground [Tampa Bay Times]
Construction is about to begin on the Metro, a complex that offers fully furnished studio apartments in St. Petersburg’s Edge District. DevMar Development, a Michigan-based company, secured a $16.1 million loan to begin construction on the project, according to a media release. Building on 1st Avenue North and 11th Street is expected to start this month with the goal to finish in late 2022 or early 2023, company officials said.