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I was glad to speak at the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association’s Fall Board Meeting & Gala today in Clearwater. Hospitality is essential to our state’s economy, and since I became governor, Florida has hit record after record in tourism. @FRLAnews has been a great partner to the State of Florida, especially when it comes to disaster response. Since Hurricane Isaias made landfall, FRLA has assisted with feeding displaced Floridians and encouraged more than 76,000 lodging establishments to relax pet policies and waive pet fees for evacuees. FRLA also secured lodging for strike teams that are canvassing affected areas to help small businesses reopen as soon as possible. Today, I was proud to announce that @VISITFLORIDA is awarding $1 million to the Northwest Florida Tourism Council to resume their successful marketing campaign following Hurricane Isaias. This investment comes from a dedicated disaster recovery budget that is set aside to help Florida’s tourism industry. The returns are proven to be great: For every dollar invested in this strategic tourism marketing effort in 2024-2025, Northwest Florida generated $58.95 in total economic impact. Recovery efforts are still underway, and the safety of residents and visitors remains our top priority. We will coordinate with local partners to ensure that the marketing campaign timeline reflects their readiness to welcome tourists to enjoy Northwest Florida’s world-class beaches, outdoor recreation, and natural beauty.