NEWS: Here's What Was Discussed on Friday's Re-Open Florida Task Force Meeting

Last week, Florida announced the formation of the Re-Open Florida Task Force, which includes several theme park representatives, including Josh D’Amaro, President of Walt Disney World.

This week, members of the task force’s working group for the industries of Accommodation, Food, Tourism, Construction, Real Estate, Recreation, Retail and Transportation have spoken daily on conference calls regarding recommendations from their respective industries in dealing with the current global health crisis, and what they see as potential measures for the future.

Earlier this week, we heard from theme park representatives of the task force such as Josh Sprouls, CEO of Universal Orlando Resort, who spoke on the potential precautionary measures the theme park might take upon reopening. In today’s call, the focus turned to small businesses, restaurants, and conference centers.

Department of Business & Professional Regulation

Halsey Beshears, who serves as the secretary for the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, spoke extensively on guidelines that will look to be implemented upon the state’s reopening.

Florida Small Businesses, Hotels & Restaurants

Today’s call focused heavily on Florida’s small businesses, which included the restaurant industry. Beshears spoke on what the Department of Business and Professional Regulation sees as potential guidelines that these businesses should use going forward.

For restaurants specifically, they would like to see updated floor plans for full service restaurants, allowing more distance between tables. They would also like to see restaurants discouraging the congregation of people in bars and lounges, instead focusing on spreading out people across more space.

Along with the practice of spatial distancing, Beshears spoke of the need for placing an emphasis on disinfecting, with suggestions including thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting tables, silverware, condiments, and anything else in between guests.

For hotels he also emphasized the need for disinfecting, promoting frequent handwashing for employees and guests, and even providing alcohol wipes to be used throughout the establishment. For lodging, he also suggested reducing the need for in-person check-in and check-out by using automated check-in, which is notably a system that Disney World already has the option for.

When you check in before arrival, you can use your MagicBand to enter your room to forgo the check-in desk!

Re-Opening Place with Large Gatherings

Perhaps one of the biggest questions for future Disney World guests has been how the state’s reopening will accommodate the larger gatherings that are standard for theme parks. While the theme park representatives on the task force were not part of today’s call, Santiago Corrada, CEO of VISIT Tampa, was on hand to discuss the question.

Convention Centers

In his time presenting, Corrada brought up the large impact that places such as convention centers have on the state of Florida’s economy. He specifically spoke to the fact that convention centers bring in large crowds that will then stay at Florida hotels, and spend money at Florida businesses.

Jcksonville, Tampa, Orlando, Orange County, Broward County, and Miami Beach all have major convention centers that attract large gatherings of people. Corrada specifically brought up that cancellations through the month of May alone for Tampa Bay convention center have cost $122 million.

Corrada implored the task force to take places like convention centers, which rely on large crowds, into consideration when laying out a plan moving forward. Specifically, he would like to see specific guidelines and a checklist for plans on phasing out spatial distancing, which would provide a blueprint for places like convention centers to get back on their feet and bring in visitors.