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Wednesday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
These are the COVID-19 signs that Floridians need to watch for this winter
Although the researchers saw it coming, Floridians failed to react to the early warning signs of the delta variant until COVID patients flooded into hospitals. Now as winter looms, experts are monitoring for signs of potential new waves to prepare differently. COVID is not over as some people seem to think it is, but models do show the pandemic easing in the state. New case levels have dropped to where Florida was in late June and early July, before delta took off. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Inflation on the menu: Florida restaurants pass on soaring food costs
The next time you go to your favorite restaurant, you may notice higher prices on the menu. Inflated food costs and supply chain shortages are causing restaurants to bump up prices. Toni Naumann owns Benchwarmers Café in Spring Park. Naumann has been in the industry for more than 20 years but has never seen anything like this. Between the pandemic, higher food costs and worker shortages, Naumann says the hospitality industry cannot catch a break. Naumann says she already raised prices twice this year and the restaurant is struggling to stay affordable. [Source: WJXT]
NASA pushes Artemis III moon landing to at least 2025
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson announced Tuesday a delay in the Artemis moon launch dates, including pushing the first return by humans to the lunar surface until at least 2025. He said Artemis I, the uncrewed first flight of the Space Launch System and Orion capsule, is now targeted for February 2022. The rocket is stacked and ready for a wet dress rehearsal that will be on the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center in January. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
Royal Caribbean’s CEO is stepping down after decades at the helm
Richard Fain, the CEO of Royal Caribbean Group since 1988, plans to step down in January but will continue to serve as chairman of the company’s board of directors. Fain’s biggest challenge during his long tenure was steering the Miami-based company through the pandemic. Royal Caribbean (ticker: RCL) and its peers were shut down for about 15 months starting in March of 2020. The company only began sailing out of U.S. ports in June. More fron Barron's and the Orlando Sentinel.
Turtle soup threatens future of reptile in Florida, 11 other states
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing threatened status for alligator snapping turtles — huge, spike-shelled beasts that lurk at the bottom of slow waterways, luring prey to their mouths by extending a wormlike lure. Every state in their range now protects them, but the lingering effects of catching the reptiles for turtle soup are among the reasons their numbers are now so low. [Source: WFLA]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› First Watch reports first-ever quarterly financials
Revenue skyrocketed at First Watch Restaurant Group in the third quarter, while net income at the recently-public company squeaked out of the red. The Bradenton-based company reported a profit of $783,000 in its third quarter, an increase over a loss of $11.1 million for the same time period last year and a $7 million loss in the same quarter of 2019.
› The fastest growing U.S. communities? Two Miami neighborhoods make the list
Some Miami neighborhoods are evolving at a rapid rate, adding residential housing faster than most U.S. metro areas, according to a new study. Downtown Miami and Midtown/Edgewater ranked among the top U.S. metros for the highest number of high-rise units delivered since 2017, according to a national market insights report by RentCafe, an apartment rental site.
› Development partners plan first luxury Fairmont hotel in Orlando
A luxury hotel under the acclaimed Fairmont banner is being planned in Central Florida, according to a report in GrowthSpotter. New York-based Development Ventures Group (DEVEN), which co-developed Orlando’s Bonnett Creek Resort, has announced it’s teaming up with hospitality group Accor to bring a new Fairmont Hotels & Resorts branded hotel to Orlando.
› SeaWorld still feels pandemic pain, but making progress
SeaWorld Entertainment bought back about $83 million dollars worth of its stock this quarter and spent money on capital projects at its parks, the company’s CEO said Tuesday, as the theme park industry continues to rebound from the costly pandemic crisis. Fueled by 7.2 million visitors for the third quarter, the parks generated about $521 million in total revenue — a 10% jump compared to a pre-pandemic 2019 third quarter.
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