Florida has record tourism in third quarter bolstered by domestic visitors
Florida posted a record third-quarter tourism total this year, with the numbers bolstered by U.S. visitors as international travel continued to lag behind pre-pandemic levels, according to the Visit Florida tourism-marketing agency. Despite the state taking hits from two hurricanes in August and September, Visit Florida on Monday estimated 34.61 million people traveled to Florida during the third quarter, up from 33.995 million during the same period in 2023 and 34.551 million in 2022. [Source: News Service of Florida]
Florida Trend Exclusive
Florida Icon: Arthenia Joyner (extended interview)
Arthenia Joyner was the first Black female attorney in Hillsborough and Polk counties. She tells us: "I know the one turning point in my life was when my dad rejected my request to send me to law school. I came home and told my father I wanted him to pay for me to go to law school. And he said, ‘Young lady, I have sent you to college. You don’t owe anybody a dime. If you want to be more than what I have paid for, then you have to invest in Arthenia, because I’m not spending another dime.’" [Source: Florida Trend]
Projects eyed to increase space launches
State aerospace leaders have outlined major upgrades around Cape Canaveral as they look to build on this year’s record number of launches, which were boosted Monday by the liftoff of two Falcon 9 rockets. Space Florida officials think six projects, ranging from an improved electrical system to replacing a bridge, need about $100 million a year through public and private investments. [Source: News Service of Florida]
Florida tax deadline extension: What you need to know
Florida had a devastating storm season this year as several ripped through the state: Debby, Helene, and Milton chief among them. These hurricanes unleashed over 40 tornadoes, wreaking havoc through the state and taking a personal toll with lost lives and massive flooding leading to damages estimated at around $50 billion. As a result, the IRS has extended the tax deadline for all of Florida to May 1, 2025. [Source: Kiplinger]
Can DeSantis appoint himself to U.S. Senate if Rubio joins the Trump administration?
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has an opportunity. With president-elect Donald Trump expected to name Marco Rubio as his secretary of state, DeSantis will soon have the power to temporarily appoint someone to fill Rubio’s seat in the U.S. Senate. [Source: Miami Herald]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Orlando, Miami, Tampa among most debt-ridden major metros in U.S.
Orlando, Miami and Tampa are among the top 10 large metros with the most non-mortgage debt in the country, according to a study by LendingTree. The research examines non-mortgage debt of the 50 largest metros in the U.S. Non-mortgage debt includes auto loans, student loans, credit cards, personal loans and other types of debt excluding mortgages.
› Hertz reports $208M adjusted net loss in Q3
Estero-headquartered car rental company Hertz recorded an adjusted net loss of $208 million, or $0.68 loss per diluted share, during the third quarter, according to an earnings report. The company posted a $1 billion noncash asset impairment charge during the quarter. Company officials said the size of the impairment charge was largely due to the decline in fleet residual values over the last year or so.
› UNF survey: Jacksonville manufacturing activity still slow
Manufacturing activity continued to contract in the Jacksonville area in October, according to a monthly survey by the University of North Florida’s Local Economic Indicators Project. However, the manufacturers surveyed expressed cautious optimism that conditions will improve.
› Meet Tampa International Airport’s next CEO
General counsel and executive vice president Michael Stephens will oversee Tampa International Airport next year, positioning the airport for a new chapter of leadership during a time of breakneck growth for the transportation hub and Tampa Bay. He will succeed Joe Lopano, who has helmed the airport since 2011 and whose legacy looms large.
Go to page 2 for more stories ...
› Manatee Awareness Month: Florida’s sea cows coming to Blue Spring, other winter havens
November marks the 45th year for Manatee Awareness Month, a special time to recognize and honor Florida’s sea cows that was designated by former Florida Gov. Bob Graham in 1979. This month also marks the official start of manatee season, which runs from Nov. 15-March 31. During the winter season, hundreds of the gentle giants make their way into Florida’s natural springs or power plant outflows as a way to keep warm.
› Ocean Era aquaculture project in Gulf off Sarasota County open for comment
The Environmental Protection Agency is seeking comment by Nov. 25 on modifications to the permit for the Ocean Era aquaculture project, which would raise red drum fish in an offshore net pen in the Gulf of Mexico off of Sarasota County. A draft of the modified permit for discharge of waste was issued Oct. 23, roughly two weeks after Hurricane Milton made landfall near Siesta Key.
› Billionaire Paul Singer's Elliott invests $5B in Honeywell
Elliott Investment Management, a hedge fund founded by billionaire Paul Singer, acquired a $5 billion stake in Honeywell International Inc. Now, the West Palm Beach-based firm wants to change the corporate structure of the Fortune 500 company, which manufactures and sells products across the aerospace and defense, industrial automation, logistics, health care and retail sectors.
› A shake-up at Sistrunk Marketplace: Fort Lauderdale food hall replaces all food, drink vendors
Fort Lauderdale’s restaurant scene keeps on evolving, even inside the city’s only food hall, which just reshuffled its lineup of vendors as part of a major overhaul. The 40,000-square-foot complex known as Sistrunk Marketplace has dropped the “brewery” from its name and added video games, karaoke and eight new eateries, all designed to create what owner Steven D’Apuzzo calls a “more experience-driven destination.”