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SRQ DAILY Sep 10, 2018

Monday Business Edition

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Monday Business Edition

"Our performance cost is less and we deliver a better experience."

- Rob Sadoff, Hampton Inn & Suites Sarasota/Bradenton Airport
 

[Politics]  Hampton Inn & Suites Launches Uber Partnership
Jacob Ogles, jacob.ogles@srqme.com

As ride-sharing continues to redefine transportation, a Sarasota hotel has launched a new partnership with Uber to replace its shuttle service with private rides. Guests at the Hampton Inn & Suites Sarasota/Bradenton Airport will have free rides scheduled to and from the airport.

“Guest needs are evolving in terms of people being more plugged in and, in general, having less time,” says Rob Sadoff, co-founder of the Scarlett Hotel Group. “With lifestyles changing, it feels cumbersome if you land and are stuck at the airport.”

The Scarlett group first decided to try replacing shuttle service with Uber rides at a property in Omaha. Now, the group is ready to expand and try the program at its Hampton. The company forged a formal partnership with Uber, which hints the practice could become commonplace in the industry.

"Uber Central gives the hospitality industry a great way to provide guests with an enhanced experience during their stay," says Mary Fairchild, Head of West Coast, Uber for Business. "We're excited to see leading companies like Scarlett Hotel Group partner with Uber for Business for seamless, reliable guest transportation.”

Sadoff says an increasing number of customers feel comfortable dealing with drivers through the Uber app, but for those who don’t regularly rely on the service, receptions at the Hampton Inn & Suites will coordinate trips for guests. As long as guests have cell phones, staff will communicate pickup and drop-off times with drivers.

And Sadoff stressed the switch to private riders as opposed to group shuttles would also enhance the guest experience by alerting hotel staff to the precise time when guests can be expected to arrive in the lobby. That streamlines check-in and lets arriving guests get to their room will less time at the counter pulling up reservations.

From a business point of view, eliminating shuttle service in favor of an Uber partnership also brings with it cost savings. In Omaha, Sadoff says transportation costs dropped by some 40 to 60 percent for the hotel. “Our performance cost is less and we deliver a better experience,” he says.

The switch at the Sarasota hotel comes months after a new law went into effect on July 1 allowing Uber and similar ride-sharing services to operate in every jurisdiction in the state of Florida following uniform regulations. 

[Business]  Westfield Siesta Key Announces Public Night Market

Beginning October 12th, 2018, Westfield Siesta Key will be the site of a new biweekly Night Market—an evening dedicated to showcasing local artisans, vintage finds, canned goods, jams and jellies, local beer and wine, original artists, decor and fabulous finds. At the same time, the Night Market is designed to become more than just a multi-vendor market, but a place to relax, unwind and socialize with family and friends at the beginning of each new weekend. For that reason, the Market will include a variety of entertainment and dining offerings for visitors of all ages. Guests will be able to explore and shop items from over 60 hand selected local artisans with everything from handcrafted jewelry and organic bath and body products to specialty coffee, succulents, antiques and home goods. The Night Market will run every second and fourth Friday from October through December, and is free and open to the public. 

Westfield Siesta Key Night Market

[Real Estate]  Muehling Joins SaraBay Suncoast Realty

SaraBay Suncoast Realty has welcomed Beth Ann Muehling, a real estate sales professional. Muehling is a member of the Realtor Association of Sarasota & Manatee and was selected as a participant in its 2018 Leadership Academy, a rigorous program designed to train emerging realtor leaders who want to get involved, make a difference, grow their businesses and expand their leadership skills. She is also a graduate of the Real Estate Institution (GRI), a designation that sets her apart as a real estate professional who has made the commitment to provide a higher level of professional services by securing a strong educational foundation. Muehling also holds her Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES) designation—this empowers her with the knowledge, understanding and resources to address the needs of 50+ real estate clients and customers. 

SaraBay Suncoast Realty

[Government]  Manatee Accepting Nuisance Abatement Board Applicants

Manatee County is accepting applications for three positions on the Criminal Nuisance Abatement Board, which hears cases regarding criminal nuisances on places or premises located in unincorporated areas of the county. The three board seats are for two-year terms beginning October 21. The Criminal Nuisance Abatement Board is composed of five members who are appointed by the Board of County Commissioners. Applicants should be Manatee County residents who are interested in providing administrative oversight with authority to impose administrative fines and other non-criminal penalties in order to provide equitable, expeditious and effective method of enforcing ordinances in the unincorporated areas of Manatee County. Familiarity with the County’s Nuisance Abatement ordinance is preferable. Applications are due Friday, September 21 and may be found online. 

Manatee County Advisory Board Applications

[Science]  Selby Gardens Awarded NSF Grant for Digitization

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens was recently awarded a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF), in support of digitization of the botanical garden’s epiphytic plant collection for future scientific research. Over the course of its 40-year history, Selby Gardens botanists have conducted research expeditions in more than 200 localities, exchanged herbarium specimens with 192 institutions and swapped live plants with 114 institutions around the world. Selby Gardens’ scientific staff will now be able to expand and digitize a significant portion of this collection, making it easily accessible to the global scientific community. The NSF grant is part of a massive effort to digitize herbarium collections of universities, natural history museums and botanical gardens throughout the United States. Selby Gardens was invited to be part of the team due to its significant epiphyte collection. Selby Gardens will digitize 50,000 specimens for the network, which has a goal of digitizing two million specimens in three years. 

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

[Arts and Culture]  Embracing Our Differences Issues Call to Artists

Embracing Our Differences has invited artists and writers to submit art and inspirational statements for its 16th annual outdoor art exhibit celebrating diversity. The work of 45 artists, poets and writers will be selected for the exhibit, which runs January 19 through March 15, 2019, in Sarasota’s Bayfront Park. Final selections, based on artistic excellence and originality reflecting the theme, “enriching lives through diversity,” will be made by a panel of professional artists, curators and arts educators. The artwork will also be evaluated on how effectively it will read when enlarged to the exhibit's billboard-size dimensions of 16 x 12.5 feet. Quotations must be 20 words or less. There is no submission fee or limit on the number of entries. Submissions must be submitted online or received no later than October 15, 2018. Artists and writers can submit directly online at the website below. 

Embracing Our DIfferences

[Dance]  Sarasota Cuban Ballet Medals in International Competition

Harold Mendez, a 16-year-old dance student at the Sarasota Cuban Ballet School (SCBS), won the bronze medal in the Junior Male category at the 2018 USA International Ballet Competition (USA IBC) held in Jackson, MS. 119 dancers —ages 14 to 28— participated in the by-invitation-only, two-week Olympic style competition. After three rounds of world-class performances, a panel of international judges selected only 18 dancers, representing eight different nations, as the competition’s medal winners. Katherine Barkman, a former SCBS student and now a principal dancer at Ballet Manila won the silver medal in the Senior Female category. Founded in 1979 by renowned American dancer and educator Thalia Mara, today, USA IBC is one of the five most prestigious ballet competitions in the world. 

Sarasota Cuban Ballet School



[BRANDSTORY PARTNER]  Firmo Construction Celebrates 15 Years

“It’s not just the construction; it’s a collaboration.”

SRQ Magazine invites you to meet the creative team of Firmo Construction | Modern. Sustainable. Innovative. As the featured BrandStory Partner in this September’s 2018 edition of SRQ Magazine. Firmo Construction has been raising the bar in Sarasota construction for 15 years and shows no sign of slowing. An early adopter of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certifications, their sustainable portfolio reflects award-winning projects spanning across commercial construction, high-end custom homes, adaptive reuse, tenant improvements, and hospitality. 

Read the full story!

[UPCOMING MARKETING]  Fall House+Home Portfolio, SRQ Magazines November 2018 Edition

Calling all home builders, renovation specialists, interior designers, designers and contractors! Share the top home design trends and any notable recent residential home projects in our annual Fall House+Home Portfolio. 

Click here for more info!

[TODAY]  MUSEUM: Storytelling: French Art from the Horvitz Collection , September 9 – December 2

Explore two exhibitions selected from one of the world’s finest private collections of French art, “Imaging Text: French Drawings for Book Illustration” and “17th and 18th Century French Paintings,” from The Horvitz Collection. Features 60 drawings and 10 related prints for book illustration, created between the 16th and 19th centuries, as well as a selection of 10 paintings. Subjects range from mythological and religious scenes to more playful genre imagery.

The Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota.

[SOON]  THEATER: Salute to the Queen: A Tribute to Aretha Franklin , September 11 – September 15

Nate Jacobs directs this special tribute to the life and legacy of the Queen of Soul, featuring WBTT favorites Naarai Jacobs and Teresa Stanley. The evening highlights Franklin's classic hits and musical impact, while ongoing narration spotlights her professional achiecements and lasting influence.

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1012 North Orange Ave., Sarasota.

[SOON]  FOOD: Boys & Girls Club 13th Annual Leadership Breakfast , September 14

Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County will honor Dick Vitale, Sarasota Philanthropist and Sports Personality, and Todd Jones, Publix Super Markets’ CEO, at the 13th Annual Intertape Polymer Group Leadership Breakfast for their commitment to empowering local youth as future leaders. The event will be held on September 14, 2018 and will take place from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the Lee Wetherington Boys & Girls Club, located at 3100 Fruitville Road in Sarasota. Individual tickets are $50 per person and can be purchased at bgcsarasota.com. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. Please contact Tanya Orr, Community Engagement Manager, for more information by calling (941) 366-3911 or emailing torr@bgcsarasota.com.   

Lee Wetherington Boys & Girls Club, 3100 Fruitville Road, Sarasota

[SOON]  MUSIC: Friday Fest: Dr. Dave Band , September 14, 5pm-9pm

Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall is wrapping up their Friday Fest summertime concert series this September with the Dr. Dave Band. A Bradenton favorite performing for more than a decade as a top-choice house band, this group knows how to wow a crowd with high-energy Southern Rock blended with bluegrass banjo and fiddle. During the show, don’t forget to indulge in the refreshments provided by Van Wezel, including local food trucks and popular beverage vendors. Bring a blanket, lawn chairs and settle in for a good time.

Van Wezel, 777 North Tamiami Trl., Sarasota.

[SOON]  MUSEUM: Watercolors from the Permanent Collection , September 15 – February 3

A selection of watercolors drawn from The Ringling’s permanent collections, illustrating various ways artists have used the medium. The exhibition will feature works by Edward Hopper, Charles Burchfield and Childe Hassam, among others.

The Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota.

[SOON]  FOOD: Dining for a Difference , September 20, 5pm-10pm

Join the Designing Daughters for Dining for a Difference, a community wide, dine out event featuring 20+ local Sarasota and Manatee County Restaurants who will donate a portion of all sales made on September 20 back to the Designing Daughters Grants Program for local Children and Family charities. Simply grab your friends, colleagues and neighbors, pick a participating restaurant and enjoy a meal. No ticket, no fancy clothes, just a night out with your favorite people.This simple act will make a huge impact for local families in need.

Multiple locations, Multiple locations

[SOON]  THEATER: Annie Get Your Gun , September 20 – October 7

Sure-shootin’ Annie Oakley can win prizes with her marksmanship, but she can’t get a man…or can she? This slice of magical American musical theatre still thrills audiences with the classic tunes of the legendary Irving Berlin.

The Players Centre for Performing Arts, 838 North Tamiami Trl., Sarasota.

[SOON]  GALA: 2nd Annual Taste of New Orleans Benefit Dinner , September 22, 6pm-9pm

Truly Valued presents its 2nd Annual Taste of New Orleans Benefit Dinner, at Michaels on the Bay at Selby Gardens with speaker Captain Todd Shear of the Manatee County Sheriff's Office and a night of entertainment with NuJazz. All proceeds support Truly Valued's mission of building self-esteem, confidence and character to promote a positive self- image, positively impact educational and career aspirations and improve academic achievement in adolescent girls. Dinner is complimentary and an opportunity to make a financial gift will be extended during the event.

Michaels on the Bay at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens', 900 South Palm Ave., Sarasota.

[SOON]  FOOD: Boards for Bravery: A Charity Charcuterie Event , September 23, 4:30pm–7pm

Learn how to build the perfect charcuterie board while supporting pediatric cancer research. Inspired by Benjamin Gilkey’s love of charcuterie, admission includes wine and appetizers from Louies Modern, a handcrafted charcuterie board to take home, pairing education from local experts and the chance to create your own palette of fine meats, cheeses and delicious accoutrements, provided by local artisans. Proceeds benefit The Benjamin Gilkey Fund for Innovative Pediatric Cancer Research, which supports groundbreaking studies led by physicians at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital.

Louies Modern, 1289 North Palm Ave., Sarasota.

[SOON]  PERFORMANCE: iconcept jr: The Future of Fashion , September 23, 12pm

25 designers ages 8–16 are encouraged to use repurposed/recyled materials in their creations. Most of them will also wear their outfits in the runway show, adding self-confidence and stage presence as skills gained. The participants are treated to a professional fashion photoshoot for the program guide, as well as professional hair and makeup stylists backstage to complete their look. Proceeds from the event benefit the expansion of the Art Center's youth art education programs and help students who are in need of financial assistance receive scholarships.

Art Center Sarasota, 707 North Tamiami Trl., Sarasota.

[SOON]  SEMINAR: 16th Annual Forty Carrots Free Community Speaker Event , September 25, 9am-12pm; 7pm-8:30pm

Forty Carrots Family Center's Annual Free Community Speaker Event presented in partnership with Community Foundation of Sarasota County returns for a 16th year featuring best-selling author and parenting expert, Dr. Michele Borba. She will be discussing “How to Cultivate Mentally-Healthy, Resilient, Empathetic Children (Despite a Trophy-Giving, Anxiety-Driven, Helicoptered and Bubble-Wrapped Culture)” and “UnSelfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All-About Me World.” In these free presentations, parents and educators will learn how to shift children's focus from I, me, and mine, to us, we and ours. With examples from years of research, Dr. Michele Borba will offer a framework that yields successful, happy kids who grow up to be kind, moral, courageous and resilient adults.

Community Foundation of Sarasota County and Riverview High School Performing Arts Center, 2635 Fruitville Rd., Sarasota; 1 Ram Way, Sarasota.

[SOON]  SEMINAR: 2nd Annual Grey Matters, A Symposium on Alzheimers Research , September 28, 11am-2pm

Don't miss out on this year's amazing Grey Matters Luncheon Symposium benefitting The Roskamp Institute. This year's Alzheimer's Disease-Research based Symposium will focus on lifestyle, wellness and healthy aging. For information or to be added to this year’s waiting list please call Megan Micale at (941) 552-9832.

Michael's on the Bay at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 811 South Palm Ave., Sarasota.

[SOON]  SEMINAR: Real Men Wear Pink Reveal Party , September 29, 5pm-7pm

Join the American Cancer Society as they reveal the 2018 Real Men Wear Pink of Sarasota–Manatee. The candidates will participate in a fashion show, hosted by the tenants of the Mall at University Town Center. Come out and see which men in our community are dedicated to raising funds and awareness to help fight breast cancer. Light refreshments will be served.

The Grand Court at The Mall at UTC, 140 University Town Center Dr., Sarasota.

[SOON]  THEATER: Raisin , October 3 – November 11

Taking place in the 1950s on the South Side of Chicago, the story revolves around a working class black family aspiring to a better life after the death of their father. Hope is sparked by the arrival of a $10,000 life insurance check. But conflicts arise when mother and son want to spend the money in different ways. 

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1012 North Orange Ave., Sarasota.

SRQ Media Group

SRQ DAILY is produced by SRQ | The Magazine. Note: The views and opinions expressed in the Saturday Perspectives Edition and in the Letters department of SRQ DAILY are those of the author(s) and do not imply endorsement by SRQ Media. Senior Editor Jacob Ogles edits the Saturday Perspective Edition, Letters and Guest Contributor columns.In the CocoTele department, SRQ DAILY is providing excerpts from news releases as a public service. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by SRQ DAILY. The views expressed by individuals are their own and their appearance in this section does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. For rates on SRQ DAILY banner advertising and sponsored content opportunities, please contact Ashley Ryan Cannon at 941-365-7702 x211 or via email

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