Gaylord Entertainment Co. Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2009 Results

Detailed Gaylord earnings info here.

- Gaylord Hotels Total RevPAR declined only 0.8 percent in the Fourth Quarter of 2009 –

- Net Advance Group Bookings increased 8.7 percent in the Fourth Quarter of 2009 Underscoring Strength of Brand and Customer Loyalty -

Gaylord Palms posted revenue of $41.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2009, a 3.0 percent decrease compared to $43.0 million in the prior-year quarter driven primarily by a decrease in occupancy. Full year 2009 revenue of $157.2 million represented a 13.0 percent decrease compared to $180.8 million in 2008. Occupancy for the quarter was down 4.6 percentage points compared to the prior-year quarter, and was down 10.3 percentage points for the full year. 

Florida Opportunity Fund

The Florida Opportunity Fund has made a commitment of $3 million to 5AM Ventures II, according to TechJournalSouth.com. 5AM is a bioscience venture capital fund that recently completed an investment with a life sciences startup company in South Florida. The Florida Opportunity Fund has announced five investments from the States $29.5 million fund. Fund managers have been on an aggressive schedule since 2009 to make commitments that will attract more venture dollars to the State.

Bio International in Chicago

It's almost like an old Saturday Nite Live cartoon -- only it is real. Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush will be discussing issues relating to both foreign and domestic policy, and other topics at the Bio International Convention May 3-6 in Chicago. The BIO International Convention has a rich history in securing top-level, globally-recognized speakers who bring a fresh perspective to attendees.
http://convention.bio.org/default.aspx

FDA budget worries Device Industry

There's worry among some medical device makers. According to FDANEWS.COM, "the FDA’s proposed 2011 budget includes new user fees for devicemakers. The $4.03 billion budget would require manufacturing facilities the FDA has inspected to pay the full cost of re-inspections and associated follow-up work. The fee would be imposed when the agency re-inspects facilities due to a failure to meet good manufacturing practices or certain other FDA requirements, the agency says. The proposed budget represents a 23 percent increase, mostly from user fees, over the agency’s current budget."

Shared Services event

   The 14^th Annual North American Shared Services & Outsourcing Week returns to Orlando from March 22-25 at the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate.
    This event was mentioned in a recent edition of Fast Company magazine. The blurb noted that outsourcing doesn't mean that jobs have to leave the country. As a matter of fact, one othe participants -- Disney Worldwide Shared Services -- operates in Osceola County.
   Presented by the Shared Services & Outsourcing Network this event series has evolved into the ultimate platform for exchanging ideas, discussing industry trends, benchmarking against peers and building a roadmap for organizations to achieve desired business outcomes. Highlights, include:

   G8: Global Sourcing Think Tank: After its success in Europe, Asia and Australia, this neutral platform aims to help shape a common industry agenda. Hosted by America’s foremost political columnist, George F. Will, the panel will include members from KPMG, Capgemini, IBM, Deloitte Consulting LLP, Accenture, Ernst & Young LLP, SAP and Oracle On Demand.
   Under the C-Suite Spotlight: Business guru Rene Carayol, MBE, will be hosting an exclusive onstage CXO interview focused on board-room revelations regarding shared service & sourcing model strategies.

Biofuel Webinar

   Enterprise Florida and Greentech Media are putting on a Clean Energery Webinar Feb. 10 with a focus on BioFuels.
  Biofuels are the only commercial alternative to petroleum. While 1st Generation biofuels like corn ethanol and soy biodiesel sparked the “food vs. fuel” controversy, the 2nd wave of biofuels such as cellulosic ethanol, algae, and other exotic ones bypass the issue. These advanced biofuels are on the cusp of commercialization. “Biofuels: The Promise of the Next Generations” webinar will introduce leading companies and R&D institutions and discuss the latest developments in the advanced biofuel space.

   The webinar will cover questions such as:
   *What is the difference between 2nd and 3rd Generation biofuel processes?
   *How important are feedstock choices and location of plants?
   *What are the challenges and opportunities for mass commercialization of advanced biofuels going forward?
   Register here http://bit.ly/90cXsr

Lunch and Learn on Feb. 11.

   KISSIMMEE – If you were to compare the business of industrial recruitment to fishing, the first task would be to use the right equipment.
   Osceola County’s economic development toolbox includes a variety of incentives, partners and gear. If incentives are the bait, then the hook is Osceola County’s greatest resource – its land and people.
   On February 11, the Osceola County Economic Development Department is holding a “Lunch and Learn” to help property owners and real estate professionals attract companies that are looking to relocate or expand in Osceola, by preparing their property information using the proper format..
   “Even in tough economic times there are still deals to be made,” said Economic Development Administrator Maria G. Toumazos. “But to seal the deal we must present property in a simple, consistent and easy to view way.”
    Just like a job resume, a property submittal should be customized to highlight and match a property’s attributes to what the client is seeking. On many projects those requirements are set by the client through Enterprise Florida Inc. -- the public-private partnership that serves as the Florida’s statewide economic development agency.

A starring role for Custom Plastic Developments

Have you seen Avatar, the 3D blockbuster motion picture? Well there’s a good chance that the RealD 3D glasses used in the movie were made right here in Osceola County. Custom Plastic Developments has been in business here since 1972. They are one of Kissimmee's best kept business success stories. Every week they are cranking out thousands of those glasses for Avatar and other 3D movies -- along with a multitude of other plastics products. Despite early predictions from some critics that it would be a box office flop, Avatar has gone on to break several box office records during its release and end up becoming the highest-grossing film of all time worldwide, surpassing Titanic. Get ready for a sequel.