March 29, 2024

Monday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 8/16/2021

Florida sees tourism rebound in second quarter

Florida attracted 31.7 million visitors in the second quarter of this year, as the state continued to expand tourism-marketing efforts and COVID-19 vaccinations became readily available. The total was a 16.3 percent improvement from the first three months of the year and was 223.4 percent above the second quarter of 2020, when the global pandemic devastated the state’s vital tourism industry. More from the News Service of Florida.

Tropical Storm Fred expected to bring heavy rain, dangerous storm surge to Florida Panhandle

Tropical Storm Fred is maintaining 50-mph winds as it heads toward Florida's Panhandle, according to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center. Heavy rainfall and a dangerous storm surge are expected in the Panhandle and along the Big Bend area later today. On the forecast track, the center of Fred should move across the northeastern Gulf of Mexico today, and make landfall in the western Florida Panhandle this afternoon or early evening. More from Florida Today.

As COVID-19 surges again, the arts feel the pinch

It’s the encore the arts didn’t want. With COVID-19 surging again in Florida, local theater companies and other cultural organizations have been forced to regroup, revamp and re-mask. Already two theater productions have canceled performances because of COVID outbreaks among the cast, another theater’s fall schedule is up in the air, and Opera Orlando has postponed its fundraising gala — until next May. More from the Orlando Sentinel  .

Software firm ConnectWise relocating global HQ to downtown Tampa

One of Tampa’s biggest technology companies is moving to a new home. Information technology software firm ConnectWise will relocate its global headquarters from the West Shore district to an office tower in downtown Tampa, the company announced Monday. ConnectWise will occupy just over 65,000 square feet in the Park Tower Building at 400 N Tampa St., adjacent to Lykes Gaslight Square Park. More from the Tampa Bay Times.

Sarasota real estate brokerage aims to offer a luxury experience - no matter the price range

Sarasota's most noticeable new downtown storefront isn't a clothing boutique or a small-plates restaurant with craft cocktails. It's not even an art gallery, or a nail salon where receptionists hand customers mimosas the minute they walk through the door. Living Vogue, at 1540 Main St. in the former Black Bird Home Gallery storefront space, is a real estate office, though its pop art paintings, pool table and arcade games might suggest otherwise. More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

Profile
Angel investor looks to lead the next generation, fund dreamers and make money in the process

 Steve MacDonald sees his mission as pretty straightforward. He wants to find dreamers and innovators, smart people with good ideas and the desire to see them through. And then he wants to give them the money they’ll need to see those ideas come to life and, in the process, make a better world. Simple, right? For anybody else, the answer would likely be no. But to hear MacDonald talk, what he’s proposing and what he wants to do with his life is as easy as can be.

» More from the Business Observer.

 

Travel Trends
Norwegian Cruise Line makes first return to Florida

floridaNorwegian Cruise Line has joined the sailing party from Florida with only vaccinated guests thanks to a federal court injunction over a new state law that prohibits proof of vaccination. The company’s return to the state was uncertain as it wanted to stick with its vaccinated-only guest policy despite the passage of the law on July 1 in Florida that would fine companies $5,000 per instance for demanding so-called vaccine passports.

» Read more from the Orlando Sentinel.

Tags: Daily Pulse, Afternoon Pulse

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Bitter-to-swallow cocoa costs force chocolate shops to raise prices
Bitter-to-swallow cocoa costs force chocolate shops to raise prices

Central Floirda chocolate shops are left with a bitter taste as cocoa prices hit an all-time high earlier this week.

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