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Statewide Business Briefs - Oct. 2008
INSURANCE
INFORMATION WAREHOUSE — Florida State University’s Florida Catastrophic Storm Risk Management Center has launched stormrisk.org, a clearinghouse for information about Florida’s property insurance issues, especially as it relates hurricanes.
TOURISM
‘VOLUNTOURISM’ — More convention-goers are opting to volunteer in their spare time during conventions rather than taking in the sights or lounging at the pool, according to a new new University of Florida study. Tara Schickedanz, who conducted the research for her master’s thesis in tourism, recreation and sports management at UF, found that conventioneers increasingly see the trips as opportunities to help out in a community.
Of the 100 meeting professionals responding to Schickedanz’s online survey, 43 said they would include voluntourism activities in future convention plans. Nearly 45 said they had participated in voluntourism activities while attending a convention.
INFRASTRUCTURE
CAPITAL INJECTION — Gov. Charlie Crist launched a program designed to pump billions of dollars into Florida’s economy through construction and economic development projects, including roads, schools and waterway improvements. Accelerate Florida is aimed at speeding the spending of $28.6 billion the state
has amassed for infrastructure projects over the past decade. Crist is seeking input from business leaders in a series
of Accelerate Florida meetings statewide on ways to help stimulate the economy.
