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|  |  Meetings News & Notes
Study Reveals Meetings Do Mean Business
The "Economic Significance of Meetings to the U.S. Economy" study was released recently by the Convention Industry Council. It revealed that the U.S. meetings industry directly supports 1.7 million jobs, $263 billion in spending, $106 billion contribution to GDP, $60 billion in labor revenue, $14.3 billion in federal tax revenue and $11.3 billion in state and local tax revenue.
The data also disclosed that the meetings industry's $106 billion impact to the U.S. economy is greater than the auto manufacturing and information and data processing services industries. The study was conducted by PwC US and spearheaded by an alliance of 14 organizations representing the domestic meetings, travel, exhibitions and events industries brought together via the Convention Industry Council.
New developments in the Florida Keys
Construction of an 18-mile stretch of the Florida Keys Overseas Highway, including a taller and wider bridge to Key Largo, is scheduled to wrap up this spring, meaning that groups will be able to get to the Keys more easily and more quickly.
Among other improvements: The 275-room Ocean Reef Club recently completed renovations to its guest rooms, and Hawks Cay Resort hired a new European-trained food and beverage director. Upcoming enhancements: The Crowne Plaza La Concha's new sales and marketing director promises an exciting new meetings program, and the DoubleTree Grand Key Resort plans to upgrade and expand its business center in 2011.
LongHorn Steakhouse opens first 'green' restaurant in Orlando
LongHorn Steakhouse, owned by Orlando-based Darden Restaurants, has opened its first "green" restaurant at 8398 Vineland Ave., in the Lake Buena Vista area.
This is the first LongHorn Steakhouse, and one of 10 Darden restaurants overall, designed to seek Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. It is designed to earn silver certification.
The restaurant's environmentally friendly features include recycled building materials, increased use of natural light and energy-efficient equipment and fixtures. |
