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Thursday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Unemployment taxes will go up for Florida businesses next year
Spurred by the spike in unemployment caused by the coronavirus pandemic, unemployment taxes paid by businesses will increase next year, according to the Florida Chamber of Commerce. Starting in January, businesses paying the minimum rate will owe $20.30 per employee, a $13.30 increase on the current rate. The maximum rate, usually paid by large businesses with a more frequent history of layoffs, remains at 5.4% of the first $7,000 in wages, or $378 per employee. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Florida’s 1 million COVID-19 cases: What do they really mean?
Monitoring the total number of cases is valuable to the extent that it focuses attention on how many lives the pandemic has touched — about 5% of Florida’s 21 million residents. But ultimately it is of little use to judge how widespread the pandemic is on any given day. Epidemiologists and public health experts don’t put much stock in the number. “Standing alone, it can be distracting if not misinforming,” said Jay Wolfson, a professor of public health at the University of South Florida. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Indie Flea returns to St. Pete for first time since the pandemic began
One of Tampa Bay’s most beloved markets is returning this weekend after shutting down for the pandemic. But the new Indie Flea will be different than the crowded outdoor market its fans are used to. The vendors themselves won’t be at their booths. Indie Flea owner, Rosey Williams, is launching a new setup that is more traditional retail store than pop-up market as way to limit the number of people inside the Grand Central warehouse that will host this weekend’s shopping event. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Old Bahia Cabana is gone. But a new chic resort will rise in its place.
Bahia Cabana, a legendary party spot torn down after Hurricane Irma’s winds left it in disrepair, is about to get new life in the form a chic boutique hotel. Covered in glass, the new Bahia Cabana Hotel will rise 10 stories on the same spot that was once home to its predecessor, a 70-room hotel that opened in 1972 and drew a lively crowd with its Key West-style restaurant and tiki bar. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Passengers winging back at Miami International Airport
It turns out Miami-Dade Aviation Director Lester Sola may have overestimated how quickly Miami International Airport (MIA) would bounce back from pandemic-driven passenger drop-offs. In late September, he told Miami Today he expected the air hub “by the time the year is over” to reclaim about 50% of the passenger volumes it had in 2019. But according to Aviation spokesman Greg Chin, MIA is on track to fall short of that figure. More from Miami Today.
Event
Taste test: Epcot festival celebrates holidays in new ways 
It’s not the full-blown “fall, fall on your knees”-level Christmas celebration we’ve grown accustomed to at Walt Disney World, but there’s still a good deal of spirit to absorb during the Taste of Epcot International Festival of the Holidays. Music and food remain major players at the theme park, sometimes in unexpected places, this month.
» More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Business Profile
CryoXL
CryoXL, a whole-body cryotherapy and IV hydration wellness company, has opened its third location as part of a partnership with D1 Training as a professional-grade recovery center for local athletes and members.â?¯ CryoXL services include cryotherapy, Hypervolt massage services, MarcPro muscle stimulation and compression boots. The company's menu of recovery treatments are used by athletes, people in post-op recovery and people in need of a wellness boost. â?¯
» Read more from the Business Observer.
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