This is not your neighborhood bike trail, says conservancy President Bill LaMee, the 2,000-member group's only paid employee. Its path is 1,000 feet wide and winds 1,300 miles from the Panhandle to the Everglades.
At least it would if it were finished. The conservancy and its partners need to acquire 380 of those miles from thousands of owners to create Florida's version of the Appalachian Trail. The trail, which is maintained by the national Forest Service, would be upgraded to include trailheads with restrooms, parking areas, campsites and fishing holes, as well as educational signs at historic sites. But the conservancy needs money.
Its first stop: The Florida Legislature. The conservancy will ask lawmakers this spring to pledge $20 million that LaMee hopes to match with federal money.
Then the group and a "green ribbon committee" it's assembling of more than a dozen high-profile leaders will approach corporations, foundations, philanthropists and civic groups.
Organizers, including the 5,000-member Florida Trail Association, have given themselves 10 years to reach the goal. But they won't stop there. LaMee wants to see the trail, which now winds sporadically through 40 of Florida's 67 counties, link up not only with all of the state's local and regional trails but also with paths in Alabama and Georgia.
Florida conceivably could see European visitors, Boy Scouts and other avid hikers walk their way from the Keys to Canada, LaMee says. That is, after they spend a few days in the theme parks.
Around the Industry
Roughing It
Ecotourism is a big buzzword these days, but it means different things to different people, says Barry Pitegoff, vice president of research for Visit Florida, the state's official tourism marketing agency. Today's outdoor enthusiasts don't all carry backpacks, sleeping bags and granola bars, Pitegoff says. Travelers want ecotourism incorporated into their regular travel packages. That means they want to get out in nature by day for some hiking or fishing but return to the Four Seasons at night for a hot shower, a cocktail, a warm meal and a comfy bed. Even rugged nature enthusiasts sometimes want their campsites equipped with internet access.
Vacation Reunions
Walt Disney World Resorts is banking on another travel trend with its new Magical Gatherings website, www.disneyworld.com/magicalgatherings, which lets individuals at different locations plan their Disney vacation itineraries together in real time on the internet via group votes, chats and even web searches. People are so busy that every family vacation is like a reunion or a surrogate for time you didn't spend together, says Orlando-based tourism consultant Peter Yesawich. The trend extends to friends, too, who are increasingly traveling in groups, Yesawich and other industry experts say. Research shows more than three-quarters of the country's leisure travelers have taken group trips in the past five years. Disney is trying out the concept at its Florida theme parks before it will consider introducing it in California and at other properties.
Generating Returns
The state's four welcome centers are generating an 11% return on their investment, according to a survey taken for Visit Florida, which operates the sites at a cost of $1.6 million a year. Almost four of every 10 sets of travelers that stopped at the centers for information modified their plans to spend more money in Florida by, for instance, visiting more attractions or stretching their stay, generating an additional $1.8 million in sales tax revenue.
High Point
Orlando International Airport's air traffic control tower has been named the Federal Aviation Administration's National Air Traffic Facility of the Year for 2002 among large airports. The nation's tallest control tower handled more than 577,000 flight operations without an error and was rated on factors including safety, operational efficiency, customer service, communications, employee development, external relations, resource management, human relations, professionalism and employee morale.
Economic Factors 101
Organizers have canceled plans for a fund-raiser for the University of Central Florida's Rosen School of Hospitality Management in Orlando. The Crystal Ball Golf & Gala 2004 weekend was to take place Feb. 6 and 7, but organizers were concerned about the "current economic climate," among other factors, according to a memo sent to community volunteers. The $36.4-million campus is still expected to open with a dedication ceremony Feb. 5.
Pet Projects
The trend of allowing hotel guests to bring their cats and dogs into their rooms is extending to Starwood Hotels & Resorts, parent company of Westin, Sheraton, St. Regis and W hotels, which is going so far as to provide a "Heavenly Bed" duvet and a plush doggie robe at some Westins. La Quinta has gotten into the act as well and is one of the most commonly listed brands on a website devoted to traveling pet owners, www.bringyourpet.com.
Triple Play
A $50-million expansion project at the Ocean Center Convention and Entertainment Complex in Daytona Beach will add 100,000 square feet of exhibit space, 40,000 square feet of meeting space and a 30,000-sq.-ft. ballroom, nearly tripling the size of the facility.
Rock 'n' (Cinnamon) Roll
Wake up and shuffle down to the kitchen for a cup of coffee and some scrambled eggs, and you might just bump into Sammy Hagar, Blondie or KC and his Sunshine Band. That's the idea behind The Kitchen, a new restaurant at the Orlando Hard Rock Hotel, where visiting rock stars whip up their favorite meals for hotel guests and leave behind some rock 'n' roll memorabilia.