W Fort Lauderdale Hotel - Outdoor event space resolution

May 14, 2011 Subject: W Fort Lauderdale, Resorts/Hotels/Food & Beverage Operations ~ Outdoor Space Site Plan Dear Honorable Board of Adjustment Committee Members: We write to you to express our concern about proposed limits and regulations on outdoor space usage. As you are aware our City relies heavily on Tourism as a major source of revenue and employment. We respectfully request your favorable support to protect the rights of the City of Fort Lauderdale’s resorts, hotels and food and beverage operations to have full use of their outdoor spaces for events and gatherings. Hospitality and Tourism is the Florida’s largest employer. This is true for our area as well, and in fact this economic powerhouse generates one job for every 85 tourists that visit us. We are fortunate to live in an area that is famous worldwide for its beautiful weather. Let’s work together to seek positive solutions towards enhancing our ability to attract additional visitors and residents to the City of Fort Lauderdale. We have attached our resolution in regards to this concern and hope that you will find it accurate and fair. We appreciate your review, time and favorable consideration. We look forward to our continued relationship and working together to make our City of Fort Lauderdale the best it can be. Resolution Whereas group business and corporate and social events are key part of the success of Greater Fort Lauderdale's tourism; and Whereas, with 77 degree year round temperature, one of Fort Lauderdale's key selling points for groups is the ability to hold outdoor events at resorts, hotels and food & beverage operations day and night; and Whereas the wedding industry is a 50 billion dollar a year industry; and Whereas in 2011, tourism had a regional economic impact of $9 billion in large part due to the ability to hold outdoor weddings and events at City of Fort Lauderdale hotels; and Whereas, more than 131,000 hospitality jobs have been produced (for every 85 visitors, one job in Broward is created); and Whereas, the GFLCVB has even developed a website specifically to attract weddings, social and Corporate events to the Broward County market (www.Sunny.org/weddings, www.Sunny.org/meetings, www.Sunny.org/visitors/reunions); and Whereas resort hotels in the City of Fort Lauderdale expressly develop their properties to use of their outside spaces, which is an inherent use; Whereas, the City of Fort Lauderdale has issued a zoning memorandum in the matter of the W Fort Lauderdale that outdoor events at resort hotels require additional and specific site plan approval; and Whereas, the City of Fort Lauderdale has taken Code Enforcement action against the W Fort Lauderdale that have attempted to use their outside spaces; and Whereas, the City's position on the W Fort Lauderdale is inconsistent with promoting the tourism industry generally and resort hotels specifically; and Whereas the City's position with regard to the ability of W Fort Lauderdale to use their outdoor spaces could have grave consequences on the Fort Lauderdale tourism industry and economy; Now therefore, the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association – Broward Chapter urges the City of Fort Lauderdale to make a determination that a resort’s, hotel's and food & beverage operation’s use of its outdoor spaces for events and gatherings is inherent in the site plan approval and does not require a separate and distinct approval. In Hospitality, Heiko Dobrikow Board of Directors President FRLA – Broward Chapter