News & Bizness Briefs - 06/16/11
Orlando tourism has record-breaking year
Orange County Mayor and Southwest resident Teresa Jacobs, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, and Visit Orlando President and CEO Gary Sain made an announcement that Orlando drew a record breaking 51.455 million visitors in 2010, up 10.5 percent from 2009. Domestic visits accounted for 47.78 million visitors, a 10.3 percent increase above the previous year; and international travel totaled 3.675 million, an increase of 12.6 percent from 2009. For more information, call 407-363-5872 or visit www.visitorlando.com on the Web.
BUSINESS BRIEFS
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Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center now offers its guests interactive experiences with characters from DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. |
Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center, located at 6000 W. Osceola Parkway in Kissimmee, is offering guests leisure experiences that feature characters from DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc., such as the Madagascar film series. The interactive experiences include character breakfasts, Christmastime events, poolside activities, private birthday parties, parades and more. For more information, call 407-586-2000 or visit www.gaylordhotels.com on the Web. |
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(L. to r.) Stina D’Uva, West Orange Chamber of Commerce president/CEO; Rob Maphis, James A. Cummings Inc. vice president and WOCC Education Committee co-chairman; and Lisa Hilgenfeldt of FuelMySchool.com honor the winners of WOCC’s annual Students of Achievement and Renown — S.O.A.R. — awards. Not pictured: Chesta Hembrooke of S.T.A.R.S. of West Orange, WOCC Education Committee co-chairwoman; and Krista Monteleone of Verizon Wireless. |
West Orange Chamber of Commerce representatives co-hosted a ceremony at Olympia High School to honor this year’s Students of Achievement and Renown — S.O.A.R. — award winners. S.O.A.R. awards are given to students who have shown initiative, good citizenship, commitment and personal growth in the classroom. More than 40 fifth-, eighth-, and 11th-graders from WOCC’s coverage area were recognized during the event. Each student received a medallion and $50 gift certificate. For more information, call 407-656-1304 or visit www.wochamber.com on the Web. |
| Toll Brothers’ Dalenna Manor model home at gated Waterstone in Windermere received a 2011 Orlando Parade of Homes’ first-place award for a production home priced at more than $700,000. The designer-decorated model is a two-story house with more than 5,000 square feet of living space, including five bedrooms, four full bathrooms and one half bathroom, and a three-car garage. The home also boasts a study, formal living room, family room, covered lanai and gourmet kitchen. For more information, call 407-909-9106 or visit www.waterstoneorlando.com on the Web. |
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Morgan and Misti Jimenez open The Big Easy New Orleans-style restaurant in Winter Garden. |
Morgan and Misti Jimenez announced the opening of The Big Easy, located at 15502 Stoneybrook West Parkway in Winter Garden. Morgan was born and raised in Houma, La., and he loves sharing a piece of his hometown with the Southwest Orlando community. The restaurant features New Orleans-style home cooking and a menu that appeals to all tastes. For more information, call 407-654-3279 or visit www.facebook.com/whodatbigeasy on the Web. |
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Attending a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Rosen Centre Skywalk are (l. to r.) Orange County District 2 Commissioner Fred Brummer; Kathie Canning, Orange County Convention Center deputy general manager; Leslie Menichini, Southwest resident and Ros, Rosen Centre general manager; Harris Rosen, Southwest resident and Rosen Hotels & Resorts president and chief operating officer; Todd Frappier, Rosen Centre director of sales and marketing; Christina Thomas, Rosen Centre resident manager; Orange County District 5 Commissioner Ted Edwards; and Gary Sain, Visit Orlando president and CEO. |
Rosen Centre representatives and other local officials attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Rosen Centre Skywalk on International Drive. The structure connects the 1,334-room hotel with the Orange County Convention Center West Building. For more information, call 407-996-9840 or visit www.rosencentre.com on the Web. |
