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By Mark Albright, Times Staff Writer Thursday, July 29, 2010 The gulf oil spill hammered Florida's already beleaguered recreational boating industry during what was supposed to be the start of the industry's comeback this summer. Instead, Florida boat sales dropped like an anchor, as much as 40 percent in June, according to a major retailer. Fewer people ventured off on boating vacations ... Investigators say an office manager at Clearwater's Golson Law Firm wrote herself checks to pay bills from restaurants, retail stores, hair salons, car rentals and hotels in Orlando, San Francisco, Disney and Chicago. Over the past 17 years, the Biltmore Hotel has spent more than $9 million to repair the roof and hotel balconies, nearly $8 million to renovate the guest rooms and more than $3 million to expand its fitness center and build a luxury spa on the hotel's seventh floor. Although ooze from the Gulf of Mexico spill has not reached the Tampa Bay area, officials here want federal lawmakers to know that the disaster's tangible and perceived effect continues to hammer the region's tourism industry. From the Panhandle to Sanibel Island, Gulf Coast hotels are trying to reassure wary tourists with a simple promise: If BP oil slimes our beach, you don't have to pay. Gulf Coast guarantees vary widely. But are they enough for tourists? When you think food and drink in America forget the old idea of McDonald's burgers, fries and a shake or Budweiser. One of the first things John Cain did after Hurricane Dennis made landfall in 2005 was rush over to Frank Brown Park. The president of the United States Fastpitch Association had more than 200 teams relying on him to decide whether or not the USFA... Gov. Charlie Crist has asked oil-giant BP PLC for a second round of money to promote Florida tourism, arguing that providing the cash now will stem the flow of economic-loss claims later. The long July 4 weekend should help hotels along the Pinellas beaches that have been struggling to overcome public misconceptions about the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster. |
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