Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Danny McAuliffeFebruary 5, 2018

Hotel advocates are adamantly opposed to a legislative initiative this year that seeks to include public facilities projects in the list of expenditures that can be funded by the tourism development tax, also known as the bed tax. Despite industry woes, the Senate Finance and Tax Appropriations Subcommittee unanimously cleared the proposal on Monday. But […]

Scott PowersMay 9, 2017

That morning mimosa or bloody Mary, or that pitcher of beer to help get through the 8 a.m. Orlando-time match between Chelsea and Manchester United is not going to be a problem any more in Orange County restaurants. The Orange County Commission unanimously voted to roll back the hours to 7 a.m. for the sale […]

Scott PowersSeptember 16, 2016

Sharon Smoley has left the government relations team at Walt Disney World Parks and Resorts to take over as the new state director for Charter Communications. Charter Communications is the new entity created when Charter Spectrum completed its $71 billion acquisitions of Bright House Networks and Time Warner Cable earlier this summer. Smoley will be […]

Scott PowersApril 21, 2016

Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs may be looking for a way out of the corner she’s painted into involving the multi-faceted controversy over the county’s robust tourist tax. The mayor is calling a joint meeting of the Orange County Board of Commissioners and the Orange County Tourist Development Council with the prospect she’ll be seeking a path […]

Scott PowersApril 15, 2016

Mayor Teresa Jacobs‘ rift with key leaders of Orange County’s tourism industry over the future of the county tourism tax is spilling into her biggest speech of the year, her upcoming State Of The County Address. Jacobs reportedly has stripped Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association Chairman Richard Maladecki of his master-of-ceremony role, even though the hotel […]

Scott PowersApril 6, 2016

Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs wants her county to hold off on a new proposal for spending tourist tax money because she thinks any action now would preempt voters, who might get a chance to vote on the tax in November. And unlike Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, who endorsed the plan Friday hours after it was proposed […]

Scott PowersApril 1, 2016

With Orange County’s bed tax flush from record tourism, Orlando’s tourism community wants to see more of that money spent on tourism marketing, the convention center and area sports and arts venues, including the next phase of construction for the Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center. The Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association and Orlando’s three major […]

Tag: Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association
Image via AP.

Expanded use of bed tax revenues gets heat from hotel industry

Commission makes Orange County safe for mimosas

Personnel note: Sharon Smoley leaves Disney for Charter Communications

Teresa Jacobs looking to reopen tourism tax discussions at special meeting

Teresa Jacobs’ spat with tourism industry spilling into state of county speech planning

Teresa Jacobs aims to put brakes Orange County tourist tax proposal

Hotel association, Orlando theme parks pitch for more Orange County tourism tax money