Columbus
Orlando Business Journal
Westgate Resorts to cut hundreds of jobs here
Westgate Resorts Inc. plans to cut hundreds of jobs in Orlando, according to a report from the Florida Department of Commerce. <\p> A June 28 notice to the state from the Orlando-based timeshare company and its related Westgate Marketing LLC said 357 jobs at 8680 Commodity Circle will be cut by Aug. 30. <\p>
A popular job-posting strategy can backfire
Editor's Note: Welcome to The Playbook Edition, a look at stories, trends and changes that could affect your business and career. Want more stories like this in your inbox? Sign up for The Playbook newsletter. <\p> The hiring process sparks plenty of questions for employers and candidates alike. <\p>
Investor buys 9 buildings in Hannibal Square
A Winter Park-based real estate investor paid $55.3 million for a substantial mixed-use property in the city's trendy Hannibal Square district, just west of its historic downtown along Park Avenue.<\p> Demetree Global, headquartered just blocks from the historic district, announced in a July 3 press release that it acquired 168,741 square feet of commercial and residential space across nine buildings along West New England Avenue, as well as 402 W. Welbourne Ave.<\p>
Hunters Creek apartment complex sells for $100.6M
An apartment complex in south Orlando's Hunters Creek neighborhood sold May 24 for $100.6 million, according to a deed that posted June 27, the only multifamily sales to cross the $100 million threshold this year.<\p> Osprey Links, a multi-building complex of 424 units on 27.67 acres near State Road 417 and John Young Parkway, was sold to Osprey Links Owner LLC, which is tied to New York-based Brookfield Properties. <\p>
Latest on bids, timeline for $560M convention center project
The progress on Orange County Convention Center's future $560 million expansion is coming together slowly – with the potential firms to oversee the project now being determined.<\p> The requests for proposals for the project's owner's representative and construction manager-at-risk closed at the end of June, and county staff are in the review process, convention center officials told Orlando Business Journal. <\p>
This Orlando Health app gives a voice to patients who can't speak
Jen Foley knows how hard it can be for a patient who cannot verbally express their needs or questions.<\p> The brand manager for Orlando Health had an experience with her father Arthur in 2009 where he woke up from surgery and could not communicate with words. After trying and trying, he stopped and slumped his shoulders. <\p>
Climbing gym goes vertical in trendy Orlando district
A climbing gym is underway in the Packing District, the latest feature in Orlando's $700 million developing neighborhood.<\p> High Point Climbing & Fitness broke ground in July on a 45,000-square-foot facility at 1978 Stanhome Way, west of Orange Blossom Trail. <\p>
3 investment steps you may want to consider before next April
Although we’re not too far past April and the financial event it’s known for, Tax Day, this is a good time to begin preparing financially for next tax season. <\p> April has been famous as the month when tax returns are due, but it’s now becoming known for another significant financial event – Financial Literacy Month. Last year, both Congress and the Florida Legislature officially designated April as Financial Literacy Month to better ensure people have basic knowledge to make important financial decisions and support life goals such as education, health care and retirement.<\p>
Pay growth slows in Florida after several years of gains
The median annual pay in Florida is up 2.5% over the last year and nearly 14% over four years, according to data from payroll provider ADP. <\p> However, the median salary has dropped each month in 2024, with the May level of $51,700 down from a high of $52,100 last December. <\p>
Orlando among most popular US cities to move to, study shows
Orlando remains one of the hottest relocation destinations in the U.S. according to a recent report studying moving patterns.<\p> In a report released in May by PODS Enterprises, LLC, a moving and storage company, Orlando ranked No. 18 nationally among cities with the highest number of move-ins. The study measures moving trends and data from cities across the U.S., but only ranks the top 20 highest move-in and move-out locations.<\p>
How Orlando's May TDT collections fared
Orange County's tourist development tax collections were up in May from the prior year.<\p> Orange County Comptroller Phil Diamond said proceeds from the tax on hotels and short-term rentals hit $28.38 million for the month, higher than May 2023 by $2.2 million. Through May, TDT collections are down for the year compared to last year by $1.1 million. <\p>
More downtown apartments in the pipeline
Orlando Union Rescue Mission wants to build more transitional housing units for the homeless in the downtown area north of Camping World Stadium. <\p> The nonprofit has proposed a three-building, 108-unit multifamily community on 4.77 vacant acres at 1525 W. Washington St. It is seeking a modification of its future land use to allow for the higher intensity.<\p>
Orlando Health breaks ground on new hospital
Orlando Health's rapid expansion into the Tampa Bay region is moving forward in Pasco County, where it has broken ground on a new hospital.<\p> The nonprofit health system based in Orlando said construction is underway on its Wiregrass Ranch hospital on 47 acres in the northeast quadrant of the intersection of State Road 56 and Wiregrass Ranch Boulevard. Orlando Health bought the property for $15.9 million in late 2022, four months after the project went public. The hospital is slated to open in April 2026.<\p>
Bishop Moore high school plans 4 new buildings, more
Bishop Moore Catholic High School plans to expand its campus in College Park with four new buildings and a pedestrian bridge. <\p> The Orlando-based private school is seeking an adjustment to its master site plan to include four properties it acquired between 2018 and 2023 near its campus at 3901 Edgewater Drive. The properties will have space for new construction at the roughly 60-acre campus. <\p>
These are America's most-delayed flights
Airlines are expecting record-breaking traffic for the summer — and for the July Fourth holiday — but fliers on many routes would be wise to build in some extra time for their travel plans. <\p> That's according to an analysis by The Business Journals of the latest on-time data from airline analytics company Cirium Inc. The analysis looked at routes with at least 20 flights. <\p>
This theme park patent may improve the ride loading experience
The iconic thumbs-up from theme park workers to let other employees know it's OK to start a ride is something guests have become familiar with — and a new technology using an AI-type process may make that gesture even more important.<\p> A Universal Destinations & Experiences-related patent dubbed "System and Method for Controlling Operation of a Ride System Based on Gestures" appears to use a camera system that can read the gestures of ride operators to begin, stop or hold a ride — taking away the need for human operators at a control console. <\p>
St. Cloud to get project with restaurants, more
A new retail project is taking shape along one of Central Florida's fastest-growing corridors.<\p> Osceola County records show Evan Futch, a land-use planner in the Orlando office of civil engineering firm Avid Group LLC, is the applicant for the project planned to rise at 2831 E. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway/U.S. Highway 192, east of St. Cloud, on behalf of landowner Lote Group LLC, a Gainesville-based developer.<\p>
These Florida neighborhoods have the most excessive property fees
Tax, home insurance and homeowner association fees can add hundreds or even thousands of dollars to your monthly bills. But the level of these fees compared to your repayments can vary widely depending on where you live, even down to your ZIP code.<\p> To find out where the most and least excessive fees are, lender CashNetUSA analyzed these add-ons as a percentage of overall monthly costs around the U.S. to see where potential homeowners can find the best deals — and which areas have the most disproportionate property fees. <\p>
Chick-fil-A in the works in Kissimmee
A new Chick-fil-A restaurant is being proposed in Kissimmee as that brand and chicken restaurants in general continue to grow in the region.<\p> National firm Bowman Consulting filed plans with Osceola County for a Chick-fil-A location connected to a Publix-anchored plaza at 3267 Vineland Road, between State Road 417 and Osceola Parkway. The proposed Chick-fil-A would be 5,428 square feet on a 74,013-square-foot lot, with two drive-thru lanes and 55 parking spaces.<\p>
Orlando Business Journal
5K+
Posts
2M+
Views
Central Florida's source for local business news, breaking news alerts, newsletters, business intelligence and local business networking. An American City Business Journals publication.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.