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Tuesday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
How Florida’s cruise capital of the world came back from COVID-19
The cruise capital of the world is showing no signs of relinquishing that distinction. PortMiami, Florida’s largest port, set a record for passengers served in one year, according to new data on Monday. The port said that 7.3 million passengers traveled in and out during the 12-month fiscal year 2023, which for the cruise industry began October 1, 2022, and ended September 30, 2023. That was nearly twice the four million passengers seen the prior fiscal year. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
See also:
» Port Canaveral loses title of world's busiest cruise port after one year to Miami
After spinning off from FIS, Worldpay moving HQ from Florida back to Cincinnati
Worldpay, a global provider of payment technology products, is re-establishing its headquarters in Greater Cincinnati and bringing 500 new jobs, according to the state of Ohio. The company is about to become an independent company again after Jacksonville-based Fidelity National Information Services Inc. (FIS), unwinds its previous purchase. Its new headquarters will be at the same site. More from Jacksonville Business Journal.
SeaWorld files plans for long-discussed hotel near theme park
SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. is finally making a move into the hotel game in the Orlando market, according to documents filed with Orange County. Sea World of Florida, an entity tracing back to SeaWorld's 7007 Sea Harbor Drive Orlando address, filed a development plan review application with the county on Dec. 11 for a project called "Starboard DP." More details with the filing show the project request is "to construct a 504-room hotel on 29.92 acres." More from the Orlando Business Journal.
In Miami-Dade County, fights coming over farms, parties and new suburban houses
Will changes in Miami-Dade County regulations cause more farmland loss or ease the troubles of an endangered agriculture industry? County commissioners are considering two proposals to rewrite rules governing rural construction and what kind of side businesses farms can operate on their properties. The separate items up for final votes on Tuesday are the latest clash over housing prices, sprawl and how strictly to regulate commercial operations in rural Miami-Dade. More from the Miami Herald.
Sports grabbing larger share of tourism economy for Sarasota-Manatee region
Sports tourism is big business – $300 million a year in Manatee County alone, officials say. "The industry itself around the country has just exploded," said Pete Harvey, director of sports for Visit Sarasota. "Looking at the fiscal year for 2024, we are looking at about an $80 million economic impact from amateur sports tourism." More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
ImagineCare joins forces with Florida organizations to improve birth outcomes, mental health of children and home-and community-based services
As part of its commitment to serve Medicaid managed care recipients in Florida, ImagineCare has formed contractual partnerships with 20 nonprofit organizations serving vulnerable residents across the state. These organizations, including Who We Play For and Episcopal Children’s Services, can expand and enhance their programs and services with the long-term support and resources provided by ImagineCare, a joint venture between Spark Pediatrics and CareSource. [Sponsored report]
Florida Dining
Meet Tampa’s Greenlane, the drive-thru with healthy fast food under $10
A new drive-thru chain founded in Tampa is expanding across the region. Greenlane — which specializes in salads and wraps — opened its first location earlier this year in South Tampa. Next year, it aims to open two more in Tampa and St. Petersburg. “Yes, we’re a salad brand. But we’re not your average rabbit food,” reads the company’s website. The chain was created to fill a gap in the drive-thru market that’s saturated with cheap, greasy food.
» More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Sports Business
Lake Nona's USTA National Campus to host international tennis event for first time
Orlando in 2024 will get to host an international competition with some of the top women's professional tennis players from the U.S. The U.S. Tennis Association will use the USTA National Campus complex in Lake Nona to host the U.S. vs. Belgium Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Qualifying competition on April 12-13. It will include a best-of-five series of matches over two days at the 1,500-seat championship stadium at the complex.
» Read more from Orlando Business Journal.
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