Florida Trend | Florida's Business Authority

Wednesday's Afternoon Update

Fewer Florida restaurants are selling, but for far more. Why?

In trying to gauge if and how Florida restaurants have recovered since the early Covid-19 lockdowns, two trend lines in the data paint a confounding picture of the industry. According to BizBuySell, a marketplace for businesses, restaurant transaction volume — the number of restaurants bought and sold over a given period of time — was down 16% in Florida in the first quarter of 2022, compared to the first quarter of 2019. While transaction volume is still down, however, the median price at which restaurants are selling is much higher. More from the Jacksonville Business Journal.

For Tampa airport workers, new bill could bring better wages and benefits

The Good Jobs for Good Airports Act, introduced in Congress last week, is supported by a slate of unions who say it would help recognize the essential role airport workers play in keeping Americans moving and alleviate labor shortages and fast turnover rates plaguing the industry. It requires airports, airport vendors and airline contractors to pay their service workers at least $15 an hour with benefits, in order to access the billions of dollars the federal government provides to airports each year. More from the Tampa Bay Times.

Tourism in Sarasota-Manatee showing signs of slowing down this summer

As gas and grocery prices have escalated since COVID hit, and remain high, Sarasota-Manatee's extreme pent-up tourism demand of the last year and a half seems to finally be slowing down. While experts said bookings at beachside properties seem to still be strong, it's the inland houses and condos that seem to be more starved for guests. More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

Success of Miami hotels a barrier to international groups

International group travel to Miami is facing the challenge of high room rates caused by the area’s success as a leisure destination. High prices for hotel blocks in the travel group business and long delays in visa processing are slowing growth of sales for international groups, says David Whitaker, president and CEO of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau. More from Miami Today.

100 employers recruiting for 8,000 jobs at Panthers’ arena on Thursday

As unemployment remains at record-low levels in South Florida, employers continue to have a hard time filling vacant positions. About 100 area companies and agencies are banding together to offer a one-stop shop for local jobseekers who are ready to switch employers or return to the workforce. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Event
St. Pete Pride Parade returns for biggest celebration ever

For its 20th anniversary this weekend, St. Pete Pride wraps up a month of star-studded activities and expects Saturday’s parade to top its 2019 draw of 260,000 attendees, which made it the 13th largest Pride event in the nation. It will crack the top 10 this year if it draws more than 310,000 people.

» More from the Tampa Bay Times.

 

Business Profile
Digital Twin Marine

Nicky Bruger and her husband Tom worked side-by-side in the pandemic from their Fort Lauderdale home — she in construction management and he as a ship surveyor, akin to a home inspector for ships. One day, he saw her using a digital model of a job site to plan work. “He was like, ‘Why don’t we do that for ships?’ ” Using 360-degree cameras and Lidar laser-scanning cameras, their company, Digital Twin Marine, creates a detailed, virtual model of a vessel — a digital twin.

» Read more from Florida Trend.