Week of June 2, 2011
FDOT
Work Program,
Public Hearing
OCCUPANCY UP: Miami ranked first among the top 25 hotel markets in the US for its average 80% occupancy January-April 2011. That's a 4.5% increase over the same period in 2010. Trailing behind Miami were Oahu Island at 80.1% occupancy and New York at 73.3% occupancy. HOT STORY: Hot weather equates to better economy, because residents of warmer areas are more optimistic, say University of Miami researchers in a new study. A state that's 10 degrees warmer heats up economic activity to average 26% stronger, says finance professor Alok Kumar, one of the study researchers. Warm-weather states' recessions also on average are 33% weaker. The researchers' main finding: recessions are weaker and expansions are stronger where people are more optimistic. But which came first, the recovery or the smile? PROJECT COSTS: When considering projects up for approval, commissioners need to look at projected costs with a higher level of scrutiny, Miami Commissioner Frank Carollo said at last week's city commission meeting. "I think we're getting ripped off left and right," he said. "We're just overpaying, plain simply. And that's something in the near future you're going to see me bringing it back up here more and more." TAPPING NEW MARKET: TAP Portugal's inaugural flight from Lisbon to Miami is to arrive at 9:05 p.m. June 6, the first of four weekly Airbus A330 flights by the carrier linking the two cities — TAP plans a fifth flight during the height of the summer tourist season. The first departure from Miami is at 10 that same night, with Nino Brito, ambassador of Portugal to the US, joining in the ribbon-cutting. The carrier says the 8-hour trip is the shortest Miami transatlantic crossing of any carrier to Europe, because Lisbon is Europe's westernmost gateway. TAP already flies between Portugal and Newark, NJ. Complete coverage, including The Insider and all information columns, is available in the e-edition. Sign up at www.miamitodaynews.com |
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