Visit Florida counting on $80 million budget
Visit Florida President and CEO Bryan Griffin said the tourism marketing agency is in line to receive $80 million from the state in draft budgets for fiscal year 2026-2027 now before the Senate and House – the same level as the current year. Visit Florida, expected to release first quarter 2026 tourism numbers by Friday, estimated a record 143.3 million people traveled into Florida in 2025, a 0.2 percent increase from 2024. More from the News Service of Florida.
Epic Universe's next chapter begins
Epic Universe generated 24% year-over-year theme park revenue growth in the first quarter of 2026. Universal is planning new additions including a potential attraction in the Harry Potter area. Orange County collected a record $384.6 million in hotel tax revenue during Fiscal Year 2025. The park’s opening also contributed to broader gains across Central Florida. More from the Orlando Business Journal.
More than growth: Why construction will define Southwest Florida’s future
Southwest Florida has long been one of the fastest-growing regions in the country, driven by tourism, migration and business expansion. At the center of that momentum is an industry that often operates behind the scenes but shapes nearly every aspect of regional progress: construction. Construction plays a direct and measurable role in the local economy. Every project creates jobs, supports small businesses and contributes to the tax base. More from Florida Weekly.
Boca Raton CPA firm acquires Tampa company
A top 50 accounting firm is expanding in the Sunshine State after acquiring Tampa-based Brimmer, Burek and Keelan (BBK) LLP. HBK CPAs and Consultants did not disclose financial terms of the deal, which closed earlier this month. Combining the two firms, according to a statement, expands HBK CPAs & Consultants’ reach to six Florida markets: Boca Raton, Fort Myers, Naples, Stuart, Sarasota and Tampa. More from the Business Observer.
After nearly six years, Related Group launches work on Downtown Jacksonville high-rise
After nearly six years of planning and two trips back to the drawing board, The Related Group of Miami held a ceremonial groundbreaking May 20 for its high-rise project on the Downtown Southbank of Jacksonville. According to Related, the project involves a $202.7 million private investment and is the first new luxury high-rise on the Jacksonville riverfront in more than a decade. More from the Jacksonville Daily Record.
Florida Dining
Palm Beach chef’s Michelin-recommended restaurant finally opens in Coral Gables
Chef Clay Conley and his partners may be opening their hit restaurant Buccan in Coral Gables this week, but they’ve been working on getting to Miami for almost a decade. “I always liked Miami,” says Conley, who spent more than five years as executive chef at Azul, the glamorous restaurant at the late, lamented Mandarin Oriental on Brickell Key, which was demolished in April. “I always liked Coral Gables. We just kind of kept our eyes open for a spot down here.”
» More from the Miami Herald.
Florida Trend Exclusive
‘This is a gateway’
Florida State University has secured a major role in coordinating a program that could be worth up to $151-billion from the U.S. Missile Defense Agency's SHIELD program. The program leverages FSU's research expertise in high-field magnets, materials and cybersecurity for the rapid delivery of innovative capabilities that help solve complex defense challenges. The SHIELD program is a central element of the emerging "Golden Dome for America" homeland defense initiative that seeks to enhance detection of advanced aerial threats.
» Read more from Florida Trend.