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Food & Beverage Industry

Florida operators remain hopeful

Nation's Restaurant News, Sept 27, 1993 by Jack Hayes

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American Vacations, a Miami-based tour operator working with European and South American groups, reported likewise. "We didn't have one cancellation after the [two September] murders," said an American Vacations agent. "And we're still booking for fall and for summer 1994."

Nevertheless, Arturo Soares, the manager-maitre d' at Paparazzi Restaurant on Miami Beach, said there was less foreign tourism and revenue for the city of Miami this summer. "The falloff wasn't that tremendous, but it was noticeable," Soares said.

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The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Florida governor's office both have responded quickly to the tourist tragedies. After the spring incident a law was passed requiring car rental companies to remove decals and coded license plates from their vehicles.

Meanwhile, millions of crime safety brochures have been made available to international tourists.

Mayco Villafana, spokesman for the GMCVB, outlined an 18-point anti-crime strategy -- including eight programs either already implemented or due for approval this year -- aimed at stopping the criminals who prey on tourists.

Gov. Lawton Chiles also ordered 50 additional Highway Patrol officers onto Florida's roadways in response to the latest tourist killing.

Indeed, operators are joining the fight against tourist crime by educating themselves.

Madonna Parsons, the special events coordinator for Dan Marino's American Sports Bar & Grill in Miami's Coconut Grove, said she and other operators discussed the recent tourist tragedies at a local marketing seminar. "We need to find more ways to inform the tourists without worrying them," Parsons said.

At least one hospitality veteran is challenging the industry to flank the tourist crime issue with its own positive response. "We should tell our international guests we're going to take care of them no matter what happens -- tell them to hand over their money in the event of a robbery -- and not to risk being hurt," said Gary Kerns, marketing vice president for Orlando, Fla.-based Planet Hollywood and Orlando Service Group.

"We could easily set up a network to assist tourist victims," Kerns said. "We could guarantee food, shelter, transportation -- any assistance they might need in the event of a tragedy. That's what hospitality is all about."

Food & Beverage Industry

Florida operators remain hopeful

Nation's Restaurant News, Sept 27, 1993 by Jack Hayes

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