The Florida Standard December 2013

The Holiday Edition

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No 9 Winter Issue 2013

Orlando City Soccer becomes the 21st team in the MLS Visit Art Britannia in Art Basel, Miami December 1-21 Guy Fawkes Kissimmee, a tradition of nostalgia!

Charlie Billingham ‘Bum 12’ 100 x 80 cm Oil on polyester

The man behind LEGOLAND Orlando, an introduction to Adrian Jones

CONTENTS

Contents

Editorial Team Publisher Justine Assal Editor Naomi Gonzalez-Longstaff Chief Columnist Laura McLoughlin Contributing Columnists Mayor Teresa Jacobs, Stewart Rushton, Sean Slack Virgin Atlantic, Southwest Florida Brits, BACC Broward County, Patricia Tan, BACC Central Florida Advertising

06 10

The Holidays Difference between USA and UK

14 18 20 24 28 32

A Guy Fawkes Review with A Ship Load of Know How

by Stuart Rushton

info@floridalinkcorp.com 407-401-9690 News

Art Britania

by Ben Austin

by Mark Nash

Justine Assal Q&A Naomi Gonzalez-Longstaff Submissions editor@floridalinkcorp.com

A Place in the Sun The Man Behind Legoland Orlando

by Laura McLoughlin

The Dream Becomes Reality-Orlando City Soccer

by Sean Slack

The North/South Divide in the UK is changing

by Stuart Rushton

Investing in Florida Rental Homes

by Patricia Tan 2 | Florida Standard

The Florida Standard Magazine – The Official British Expat magazine of Florida is a publication of Floridalink LLC. & ORB Marketing Solutions Printed and published in the United States.

Published 6 times per year.

Copyright 2013 Floridalink LLC No portions of this work may be copied or reproduced without express written permission of the Publisher. We can be contacted at Floridalink LLC Info@floridalinkcorp.com 407 401 9690 www.floridalinkcorp.com

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EDITORIAL

Words from the Publisher

We have had tremendous feedback from so many and appreciate every bit of it because we are simply here to publish the platform, the stories belong to the Florida Brit community and to each of you

Incredible how we are entering our third year of publishing The Florida Standard; and how delighted and proud we are that so many are enjoying and contributing to the magazine. The December issue is rich with special articles which celebrate the holidays in Florida with a British flare. Without everybody's input and support, we could not continue to publish The Florida Standard, and this further affirms our original feeling that the Brits in Florida need a collective voice. We are thrilled to see that our readership is growing with each issue and share with you some Holiday cheer!

We set out to provide our readers a publication for the Floridian Brits as a celebration for all that we encompass.

May your holidays be filled with cheer and 2014 a bloody good year.

Yours Sincerely,

l a s s A e n i t s u J

Publisher

4 | Florida Standard

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sTraiGhT froM The hiGhLands of scoTLand To YoU

in the beautiful ochil hills, scotland, you’ll find the source of highland spring. This natural spring water, renowned for its purity, is now available in the Usa. Florida Standard | 5

The holiday differences

between the USA and UK

6 | Florida Standard

Holidays in UK and US

Well it’s that time of year again, the weather is getting colder, the nights are drawing in, and here in America it denotes that the run up to Thanksgiving followed by the Christmas season has begun.

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o let’s have a look at how this festive time of year differs, and is celebrated, in both Britain and America. Now if you’re a Brit, and an American asks you “what are you doing for the holidays?” he or she is talking about Thanksgiving which is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November every year. A holiday to a Brit is their two week vacation to find some sun during the summer months of the year, to an American this is called their vacation. Thanksgiving can be a tricky one for Brits in America. In Britain we grew up with Harvest Festivals, that really only entailed taking a few cans of baked beans or canned vegetables to school or to church. Apart from Christmas and all the trimmings, there is nothing in the UK quite like the American Thanksgiving for us, and we often underestimate the grandeur of the event. It is a huge time of family togetherness in the US, people flying over 1,000 miles to be home with their families, the in-laws coming in from another state and the host of the Thanksgiving meal has been menu-planning for weeks. It’s a celebration and thanks-giving for a bountiful harvest, occurring on the fourth Thursday in November and is a secular day off work. Many Americans tell me Thanksgiving is their favorite time of year. While it can be lots of hard

work (many families sit down to dinners of twenty and more people), there is no gift giving to worry about. It’s literally just time to be with family and friends.

Brits living in America may find themselves invited to someone else’s house for Thanksgiving. As a guest on such an occasion, you should always ask if there’s anything you can bring, and then pray that you recognize the answer.

If anyone mentions biscuits or gravy be aware that they’re not the same as British biscuits and gravy. don’t turn up with a packet of digestive biscuits and a bowl of Bisto gravy! American biscuits are not a sweet snack, but more like unsweetened scones to go with dinner. Gravy is usually thicker than the British version and, in the south in particular, more like a white or Béchamel sauce. The American Thanksgiving meal is somewhat like a traditional British Christmas meal, there will be turkey, but you won’t be getting chipolata sausages, Yorkshire pudding, or sprouts. If you’re a Brit attempting to host a Thanksgiving celebration, l recommend doing your homework first. An internet search will bring up thousands of web sites walking you through every aspect, and there are more than a dozen phone hotlines you can call up in an emergency.

Turkey company Butterball promises – “No question is too tough for these turkey talkers, and they are ready and excited to tackle any challenge you throw at them.

So what comes next after Thanksgiving? Well a fairly recent addition to the

Florida Standard | 7

holiday season is Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. It is said to get its name because businesses end up in the black after this weekend. Black Friday really kicks off Christmas shopping in the USA as it’s is a huge shopping day where prices are often ridiculously slashed. With gifts in mind, some bargain hunter’s camp out all night for a spot at the head of the queue. (Apparently many of the same deals are available online, so the really savvy shopper need never leave the comfort of home.) Black Friday isn’t a federal (national) holiday, but is a public holiday in some states. There is some concern that it’s ruining Thanksgiving because many huge retailers are now opening on Thanksgiving evening in an attempt to boost holiday sales.

As soon as the Thanksgiving leftovers are scarfed down, hearts and minds turn to the next holiday. This generally means Christmas, although many Americans celebrate Hanukah or Kwanzaa and some celebrate more than one. Hanukah is the eight-day Jewish holiday, which may fall at any time from late November to late December. (There are various spellings for this celebration.) Kwanzaa is the six day celebration (December 26-January1) honoring African culture in the African American community. Many schools in the U.S. now incorporate all three holidays into a more diverse winter-themed celebration at the end of the semester or term. So 8 | Florida Standard

let’s move onto Christmas in both America and Britain. Christmas in the U.S. isn’t too different from its British cousin, although Brussels Sprouts, and Christmas pudding are noticeably absent. One thing that might surprise Brits in America, is there is no Boxing Day. If Christmas lands in the middle of the week, you could well find yourself back at your desk bright and early on the 26th.

Another big difference is the way we greet people. In Britain we would greet somebody by saying “Merry or Happy Christmas”, in America, because the country is not founded on one religion, you will hear “Happy Holidays”, personally l feel it

is missing something, and still say “Happy Christmas” . But when it comes to decorating for the Christmas period, there is no contest! Lackluster Brits might be content to drape a single dreary string of lights over an artificial tree, but this simply won’t do in America. Here, illuminating your entire home inside and out, and quadrupling your electricity bill is mandatory….! Most American’s start to set up their displays the weekend after Thanksgiving. Everywhere large marquis are suddenly erected on vacant pieces of land around the town, and live Christmas trees of every shape and size are on sale. It’s a family event to go and pick the tree, and you will see car after car that weekend after Thanksgiving with a Christmas tree tried to the roof rack on its way home to be decorated.

So let’s fast forward to Christmas Day, well there are few differences between the two countries on how the sequence of events pan out. Let’s start with the UK, Christmas Eve is a time when you need to get the children to bed as early as possible so you can finish off the last minute wrapping and then, when you think they are asleep, bring out all the presents. Now in America, the presents will already be placed under and around the tree, in the UK, this also happens, but they also are placed in a large pillow case and put at the bottom of the children’s bed. That’s how l remember Christmas in my youth, waking

Holidays in UK and US

up and screaming Santa’s been and jumping out of bed to scatter the contents of the pillow case all over the bedroom floor. But one of the main differences on Christmas Eve is that in America, many families will have their Christmas meal that evening. It may not be turkey as this was only used four weeks previously for the meal at Thanksgiving, so an alternative at Christmas is normally ham or “Terducken”. This is a dish consisting of a deboned chicken stuffed into a deboned duck, which is in turn stuffed into a deboned turkey. The reason many American have their meal on Christmas Eve is so on Christmas day they can relax as many will be returning to work on the 26th December, in the UK we have the two day holiday with Boxing Day falling on the 26th.

So this brings us to the question “what is Boxing Day?” well In Britain, it was a custom for tradesmen to collect "Christmas boxes" of money or presents on the first weekday after Christmas as thanks for good service throughout the year. This is mentioned in Samuel Pepys’ diary entry for 19 December 1663. This custom is linked to an older English tradition: Since they would have to wait on their masters on Christmas Day, the servants of the wealthy were allowed the next day to visit their families. The employers would give each servant a box to take home containing gifts and bonuses, and sometimes leftover food. In today’s modern world, Boxing Day in the UK is a day of sport, most towns and cities will have a football match (soccer in America) and on television there will be a day of sporting events shown. In America, sport, particularly American Football is the normal programing for Christmas Day. And so, after the Christmas Holiday we have

a few days to recover before celebrating New Year, and another year starts where we work as much as we can to pay off all those credit cards that were used to the max to buy Christmas Presents.

One last thing, at Christmas, on the television in both the USA and Britain, a film that is always shown is “The Sound of Music” and one song from that film is sung by Julie Andrews to the Von Trapp children when they are scared of a thunderstorm, called “These are a few of my favourite things”. So if l am asked what are my favourite things about Christmas that l miss being a Brit now living in the USA, apart from Family and friends it would have to be special Christmas television programs on Christmas Day. Now in America we always have the Walt Disney World Parade in the morning, but then its football from then on with no special programing at all. In the UK the Christmas period is always a special time for television programs, There is a special edition of a TV guide called the “Radio Times” that is issued to cover the two weeks from the 17th December to New Year’s Day when special programs are shown, and the edition always sell out. But the most important thing that everybody watched is the Queen’s Christmas speech at 3pm on Christmas Day, everybody would stop what they were doing and gather around the television to watch it, l suppose it’s just a British tradition l grew up with.

But l am lucky, as l am able to watch all of the UK television programs right here on my computer in Florida. So Christmas Day for me still involves seeing the Queens Speech.

All that is left for me to do is to wish everyone reading this article a very Happy Thanksgiving, and l wish you all a joyous and Happy Christmas period with your friends and family.

Stewart RUShton Born and raised in the United Kingdom, from an early age l knew that whatever I did in life I wanted it to include aviation and travel. Left school and started my career in aviation flying as a flight attendant for British Airways, I then return back to earth and started to work on the ground in airline operations. Thirty years ago l was asked to come over to Orlando for three weeks to watch over the operators of the first charter flights that were to be operated from the UK to Orlando. That 3 weeks turned into 6 months, I returned home to the UK, obtained my US Visa from the Embassy and returned to Orlando where I have lived ever since and now have become a US citizen. I still work in aviation as an Operations Manager, and consider myself a lucky person who still enjoys getting up and going to work.

Florida Standard | 9

Gordon Cheung Burning Light Breaks the Waves 80 x 100cm / 2013 Stock market newspaper collage, archival inkjet, acrylic and UV varnish on Canvas

Art Britannia Where the UK makes its mark in Art Basel 2013, Miami’s hottest art show and exhibit

Art Miami Basel is upon us once again.

The fancy hotels on Collins Ave have been fully booked for months. Champagne, caviar and lobsters are being shipped in special, the private jets are prepped and ready for take off. While many millions of dollars of artwork are being packed into crates and transported from all the four corners of the world. Invites to parties and shows being sent and RSVPs received in reply.

10 | Florida Standard

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he art hordes are about to descend, some are coming for the shopping, others for partying, in the end it makes no difference as there will plenty for everyone. The parties and the previews, the late night dinners and the dancing until dawn, all go to make Art Miami Basel the incredible extravaganza it is.

So, where to start? How is it possible to take in all the fairs and events in the space of four days? Art Miami Basel will test the endurance of even a hardened art fair visitor. Sensible day shoes a must and a late afternoon power nap advised.

Art Britannia

The first major show to open will be Tracey Emin at MOCA- on Tuesday 3rd Dec –‘ Angel without you’ featuring her neon series, which is eagerly anticipated. Tracey Emin may have mellowed a touch over the years and become along with Grayson Perry, a ‘national treasure’, but her work is as powerful as ever, at turns provocative and poetic. http://mocanomi.org/ Then we have the main fair opening at the Convention Center) and all the surrounding satellite fairs following suite. The ones on the Beach to look out for are Scope and the second edition of Untitled. These marquees filled with gallery booths offers a wide selection of work at medium market value. https://www.artbasel.com/en/ miami-beach NADA at the Deauville Hotel on Collins is a first class fair, showing younger and more emerging galleries, always exciting work to be found here.

Look out the young British gallery – Henry Kinman.

Off the Beach and around the Design District, are strong up-market fairs like Art Miami and further downtown you will find the slick looking Pulse at the Ice Palace. http://www. newartdealers.org/ In Wynwood and around the Design District throughout Art Miami Basel are numerous Pop Up shows, including the newcomer and flying the flag show – ‘Art Britannia’ – At 3940 North Miami Ave. Until 21st Dec http://www.artbritannia.com/ This exhibition highlights contemporary British art practice and includes young emerging artists, such as Charlie Billlingham, Mary Ramsden, Guy Rusha, James Capper together with more established artists, such as Gordon Cheung and Sam Jury.

‘Art Britannia’ aims to develop an ongoing cultural exchange between the UK and Miami. It seems fitting that this show coincides with Tracey Emin first US Museum show and as she has paved the way for contemporary British art to flourish on the international circuit having represented Britain at the Venice Biennale in 2007. ‘Art Bri-

James Capper Original Ripper Tooth Steel

tannia’ promise to deliver the next generation of young British artists with an emphasis on painting and considered constructions. Also featured is a ‘minishow’ within the show with over 44 smaller paintings taken directly from the ‘Summer Saloon’ show - Lamb & Lion gallery (located at the back of an East London pub).

Other not to be missed other Art Miami Basel events (or even non events?!) include the opening of the

Pérez Art Museum Miami, which kicks off with the famous Chinese artist/ activist Ai Weiwei – ‘According to What?’ Jedd Novatt in the Sculpture Garden. The Bass Museum has a consistently strong program and would be well worth a visit as are the private collections of the likes of De La Cruz, the Margulies Collection and of course the Rubells’ Family Collection who in keeping with PAMM have a Chinese group show during Basel. Their

Florida Standard | 11

Art Britannia

daughter, Jennifer is a respected artist too. http://www.pamm.org/ - http://rfc. museum/ Site-specific and installation works to look out for include Luis Pons’ – ‘Paper Dreams’ a paper large scale boat floating in the Biscayne Bay by The Standard hotel, which apparently you can go on. Over at the Mondrian hotel, Friends with You will deliver ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ with a dazzling array of colors.

Finally the ‘non-event’ party, Jim Drain and Bhakti Baxter have created

On the cover Charlie Billingham ‘Bum 12’ 100 x 80 cm Oil on polyester

12 | Florida Standard

a super exclusive ‘party’ complete with red carpet, lush drapery and lines of Cadillac Escalades ready to ferry the imaginary VIPs around. This is the most talked about party that literally nobody can get into. One can find this clever and satirical piece at Port Miami Beach.

David Gryn of Artprojx provides the excellent outside Art Miami Basel Video art program and a very pleasant way to relax and unwind after all that walking around. http://www.artprojx. com/Art_Video_2012_ArtBaselMiamiBeach.html If you still have energy left, one can always rub shoulders with the rich and the beautiful at the French style Euro party promoted by the infamous Le Baron or at that other Gallic cool club – Silencio hosted by Pharrell Williams.

Or get down with the Old Skool and check out the Hip Hop acts - De La Soul and Ghostface Killah playing The Stage. For an Indie act Alabama Shakes are playing at the Filmore. The list goes on and on…

Otherwise you can always kick back at the Raleigh Hotel with a Gin and Tonic and watch the art people on show.

Art Miami Basel, make of it what you will, but one thing is for sure there is never a dull moment. A dizzy whirl of cocktail parties and art shows that can make the head swim and that is exactly what you need to do in the ocean after doing the exhausting rounds.

Phew.

1stop : 3 Global Opportunities 1

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Market online ,Globally!

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p.407. 401. 9690 Florida Standard | 13

Let’s face it, we all like and miss something from the motherland and like talking to others with similar accents and giving out some of that Brit Humour! (note the U)

A Guy Fawkes

Review

by Mark Nash 14 | Florida Standard

with A Ship Load of Know How

GUY FAWKES and UPAK

S

o what better way to do this than a huge British get together with fireworks, a bonfire, fish n chips and some good British banter! That’s why we travel from Charleston SC to the big Guy Fawkes Night in Orlando every year. Yes I know we promote UPakWeShip too but I really do enjoy seeing everyone and who doesn’t like talking to the kids with their lovely little British accents.

I think its very important to fit in with the locals, do as the locals do and go with the flow when living the expat life, but once in a while there is nothing wrong with getting the bunting out and showing a bit of Britishness. (is that a word?) Living in Charleston is great, it has lovely local restaurants, bars, shops and a market and has a certain European flavor to it with its downtown local narrow cobbled streets.

The local British population is about 10. We used to have a local British Club where we would meet up once a month but I think we have since moved most of them back. My wife and all our friends here are American which is great and I still, after being here for 20 years make them laugh with some strange saying that once in a while pops out of my mouth that I then have to translate.

I am very lucky though that I have a

Florida Standard | 15

unique job that involves speaking to Brits every day that are moving back or moving over here. I love hearing the stories, the reasons behind the move although sometimes they can be sad and talking to people from all walks of life. I have moved all sorts of people from big movie and pop stars to an 86 year old lady moving across the pond to get married for the first time! Everyone is unique and we always try to give the same personal and professional service.

Like any other nationality we do like to do business between ourselves, support and help each other in business and generally in the community. I believe all

of us are very proud to be British and like to have our Union Jack flags or memorabilia be it clothing, car tags or in my case all of that plus my British guitar on our wall at home.

The Orlando Guy Fawkes night is a unique way for us all to get together and show that Britishness (there’s that word again) off to other nationalities, as well as support each other in the community, network, chat to friends while having a beer and eating a sausage sarnie! To me that’s so worth the 6 hour drive and an overnight hotel expense. After all we are in America where we can drive for hours on the same road without stopping for a single

roundabout or traffic light on a tank of gas that costs less than a British train ticket from English suburbia to London.

This year the Great British Guy Fawkes event nearly didn’t happen due to lack of sponsorship and volunteer help. With only weeks to spare the event became a reality again thanks to Justine Assal and her hard working team and some new sponsorship. We loved the new venue a lot more than we liked the weather that evening but eh up we are British and can deal with a little rain eh!

Thanks again Justine, Raja, Steve Coonie and Robin for all your hard work.

UPakWeShip will definitely be back to see all our friends in 2014. This year we gave out and taught Americans what a torch was. Next year who knows but we plan to make it a fun time and look forward to seeing everyone and more next year.

Cheers Mark Nash UPakWeShip 866 868 6386 www.upakweship.com Marks favorite Christmas memories from back home in Chorleywood where he grew up are: Kings College Choir singing Christmas Carols on the radio Christmas Eve Cadbury’s stockings, Christmas Crackers, a real tree & holly, left overs with French bread, cheese, Branston & Piccalilli, Christmas Pud with sixpences in it and going to the pub on Boxing Day.

16 | Florida Standard

Florida Standard | 17

Where British Buyers and Floridian Agents Meet For some time now, many Brits have been gazing over the Pond eyeing the Floridian property market and wondering when the right time might be to make a move.

As with any downturn, investors are often faced with the conundrum of when a market is about to bottom out, as any positive fluctuations can be blips or false dawns before a further plateau or fall.

It’s vital for both buyers and vendors to keep in mind the reasons behind a particular purchase, as capital appreciation isn’t always necessarily the driving factor and trying to predict the bottom of a market before it has bounced is fraught with issues – but you can identity contributory factors if you know where to look.

18 | Florida Standard

Property expert and TV presenter Jonnie Irwin and the A Place in the Sun: Winter Sun team will be returning to Florida to take an updated look at the market they reported on back in early 2012, when some markets had been heavily, no, drastically, discounted.

As Irwin has previously discussed in his A Place in the Sun magazine column, the US is technically out of recession, and, with the Brazilian economy flying, many buyers were not only getting American owners and banks off the hook, they were starting to put confidence back into a market that was stood like a rabbit in the headlights, having witnessed falls in some areas of up to 70 per cent.

In the past year or so, many buyers of different types – from house-hunters on the TV show looking for a cheap condo or a hedge fund making multiple purchases – have made their move and bagged what look to be some very well-timed and priced purchases. This should in no way deter buyers from looking at property now – if anything, it should encourage them.

The Florida Property Pavilion at A Place in the Sun Live at Olympia Lon-

don on 28th-30th March 2014 offers the perfect opportunity for buyers and sellers of Floridian real estate to meet. It’s an area dedicated to buying property in Florida within Europe’s largest overseas property exhibition and the official live event of the hit TV show.

Set around a dedicated seminar theatre, there are booths available for Floridian real estate agents as well as companies offering supporting services such as immigration, tax, legal and foreign exchange.

As the third most popular place for Brits to buy a holiday home* The Florida Property Pavilion is a bright and buzzing area, filled with serious property hunters looking to move forward with their Florida property purchase.

To book a booth in The Florida Property Pavilion at A Place in the Sun Live, speak to Gerry Larkin on 0044 20 3207 2920 or sales@aplaceinthesun.com *Source: A Place in the Sun annual ten best places to buy abroad survey 2014.

28th - 30th March 2014 Olympia London

The proven way to meet British buyers of Floridian property

‚ The three-day show at Olympia London is our first event in 2014 and the twentieth consecutive show since 2005 ‚ A Place in the Sun Live has a proven track-record of attracting an audience of British buyers excited at the prospect of purchasing Floridian property ‚ A marketing campaign across national and regional newspapers, magazines, radio, online and PR - no other shows attract the same volume of motivated property hunters ‚ The biggest and best-attended events in the calendar and the ideal opportunity to meet thousands of buyers face-to-face

For an up-to-date floorplan and to find out more about exhibiting at A Place in the Sun Live call +44 (0) 203 2072920 or email sales@aplaceinthesun.com

aplaceinthesun.com/exhibit

5,195 visitors to London Olympia Spring 2013

Florida Standard | 19

An introduction to Adrian Jones, Manager of LEGOLAND Florida and VP of Merlin Entertainment 20 | Florida Standard

interview

You wear a shared hat of sorts as GM of Legoland and VP at Legoland's owner, Merlin Entertainment.

While Legoland is expanding in Polk County, Merlin has considerable expansion plans in Orange County including Madame Tussauds, Orlando Eye, and a Sea Aquarium; are there plans to eventually offer multi day passes and any co-branding between the various attractions?

We have been very successful in

Central Florida is rapidly expanding, whilst the rest of world takes baby steps to get back on its feet, it seems Orlando is leaping ahead with no signs of slowing down. The recent promotion of Orlando City Soccer to MLS status, the Lake Nona project, the continued influx of tourists, in particular Brazilians, are just a few things making this region stride towards economic growth in a big way.

Merlin Entertainment, the owner of Legoland, is another big hitter wanting to take advantage of all that Central Florida has to offer. Adrian Jones, Manager of Legoland Florida and VP of Merlin Entertainment US reveals what the attraction is, along with why he favors Orlando over other population tourist destinations in the US.

‘clustering’ attractions in other cities around the world and Orlando will be no exception. The Madame Tussauds, Orlando Eye and the Sealife attractions offer another dimension to Central Florida. A Merlin Annual Pass that provides admission into all U.S. attractions including both LEGOLAND parks and all midway attractions already exists. These attractions coming to Central Florida will make them more relevant to tourists and residents alike.

With respect to Lego Land, what do you feel are the differences and similarities are between the Windsor, California and Florida’s sites conception and build out and are any of these particular to just Florida?

LEGOLAND Florida was built on the old Cypress Gardens site so we were fortunate to be able to reuse previous buildings, rides, infrastructure and equipment when possible– albeit repaired, modified and updated. The historic gardens and landscaping enabled a brand new park to take advantage of the matured landscaping.

The challenge was to design the footprint of LEGOLAND Florida to best use these assets. The big difference Florida Standard | 21

with the European LEGOLAND parks is the climate and the mix of rides we have compared to some of the older parks. While we have some of the classic LEGOLAND rides like the Driving School, Dragon and Wave Racers, we have also been able to compliment the park with unique rides like Coastersaurus (the only wooden rollercoaster) and Flying school (the only inverted coaster) to give a definite Florida feel.

We also have a water ski show that is unique to Florida based on Pirates paying homage to the Cypress Gardens ski legacy.

It certainly makes sense to see Merlin Entertainment's expansion in Central Florida given that we are the number 1 tourism destination in the world. From the perspective of a magazine that has a focus on British American business, we are certainly interested in how you would summarize this expansion to the area Central Florida has grown steadily since 9/11 with new attractions, restaurants, hotels and facilities to support them. It is a very exciting time for Merlin, we are entering a market domi22 | Florida Standard

interview

nated by more established parks, but we feel it is a great time to capitalize on the huge ‘swell’ of demand being created in general. The time people spend here is growing and the number of markets falling in love with Orlando is also growing. In the case of markets like Brazil, they are spending more dollars when they are here. It also coincides with huge growth in the LEGO brand as well, with massive growth being seen across the U.S. in the last 5 years, which has certainly supported growth of the LEGOLAND parks as well.

On a personal note, you have lived all over and spent a good while in California, how are you enjoying life in Orlando?

I have lived in Las Vegas, Los Angeles and now Orlando. In an effort not to offend anybody….let’s just say I bought a home in Florida and plan to be here for a long time due to the climate, high standard of living and the people are more grounded. Soccer is very important to me and the soccer leagues in Orlando are far more robust than in either LA or Las Vegas.

Your timing in the area couldn't be better with your love of football/soccer and Legoland has been a supporter of Orlando City Soccer from the beginning. How do you feel that having an MLS team will affect the future of the region with respect not only to tourism but to other large brands and franchises starting to take note an give Orlando more serious consideration?

Yes, still buzzing about that announcement.

Phil Rawlins and I are both Stoke-on-Trent natives and both avid Stoke City supporters (Phil is still a Director of Stoke City) and it was only a matter of months before our paths crossed in Orlando and we became good friends. They have been great partners and they were very active in the local ‘grass roots’ kids soccer scene and we were keen to get the NEW message of LEGOLAND out to soccer moms in particular…hence the partnership.

The success has been amazing to be a part of and MLS is great news for Orlando. Soccer is THE World sport and Orlando is a Global brand and the MLS, we have the chance to bring big name stars to Orlando, it is a HUGE marketing boost for the area. Fans are VERY loyal and will definitely travel to Orlando to link a vacation onto a game and I have not even started talking about future exhibition games with clubs like Newcastle, Bolton,

Stoke and Fluminese. I think that Phil would agree with me when I say, half of the challenge for the Club has been to educate important officials in what soccer could REALLY look like in a market dominated by Football, Basketball and Baseball. Once officials like Major Buddy Dyer were on board (who did see the potential VERY quickly) then others followed and the process has been great to watch.

We wish Adrian and his team well in their new home, although I do have to question his taste in UK soccer teams.... Stoke...Really????

Laura McLoughlin Originally from Wigan in the Northeast of England is the Sales Director for AFEX foreign exchange in North and South America. After many years in Florida, Laura has recently relocated to Los Angeles with her husband and daughter. In her spare time, Laura is Chief Columnist of The Florida Standard.

Florida Standard | 23

THE DREAM B

REAL

BECOMES

LITY

SPORt

ORL CITY SC OFFICIALLY JOINS THE MLS BY: SEAN SLACK

The Cheyenne saloon in downtown Orlando has been a part of many of the great historical sporting events in years past. It used to host the “ZONIES” Friday Night Frenzies leading up the annual Citrus Bowl game. It housed UCF’s Gatecrasher auctions when there was a time needed to raise money for the athletic department.

The Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders came in during a tour back when Dallas was still America’s team. And, who can forget the day when Pat Williams came in and unveiled the name of the Orlando Magic?

Finally, the 1994 World Cup pairings were also announced….right here.

However, as an Orlando resident my entire life, I can tell you that none of these events compared to the exhilarating event hosted by Orlando City soccer last week. The energy, the passion, and the overall commitment on every level was apparent. And, even if you were not born here, you had to be touched by the palatable enthusiasm that dripped from every person in the building. It truly was a night to remember.

It will be written that on Tuesday, November 19, 2013, Orlando City soccer was officially announced as a member of the MLS (Major league soccer). Attended by several dignitaries making it possible includingIn the stage were, Governor Rick Scott, Mayor Buddy Dyer, All City Commissioners, Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs, OC Commissioners, Dr.

Darryl Osbahr M.D. from Orlando Health, Coach Adrian Heath, President Phil Rawlins, and Flavio Augusto da Silva.

We have been fans of Orlando City soccer since its inception a couple of years ago. We have been intimately attached to the passionate fans of Orlando City because we knew one day the RUCKUS would help push

us from a dream of a second major league franchise in Orlando to reality.

When the event was in the beginning phases, the fans mostly responsible for leading the charge were ushered in and immediately the songs and chants began to the delight of everyone in the building. It literally felt like we were at a pep rally, and the energy was intoxicating.

SPORt

As song after song was loudly presented with the constant rhythmic pounding of drums and the flashes of colors of purple and red from the flags being waved, several kids from Orlando youth soccer were lead to the front stage and they joined in the party.

About an hour in, rest of the dignitaries came in and each loaned their hands and personal words this momentous night.

Although there were several highlight moments, a couple of them really stood out for those in attendance. First, when Phil Rawlins came on the stage and discussed the program’s inception…thanking all of the employees and countless others who were involved in making it happen. And, when he talked about his wife, Kay, and their journey. You could see how personal this triumph was and it really signified the emotion of this night.

Finally, when Flavio Augusto da Silva spoke…it was amazing. Usually, owners of sports teams are little conservative, held back, and will offer similar, staple remarks.

However, this was not Mr. Silva.

He expressed his gratitude to the fans, the commissioners, and countless other government officials. But then he did something I have never seen before. He made the event and this team personal. He told the crowd….” We not only want this to be a great team, but we want to use it to change lives. I am an example of someone who changed their life.”

Lost possibly in the euphoria of announcing he wanted to make the team the best team and we were going to go after great players like KAKA, was this poignant moment in sports when an owner lets you inside of himself…even for a brief moment.

I asked him more about this when I had a chance to interview him, Orange County mayor Teresa Jacobs, and MLS Commissioner Don Garber. This can be seen on our facebook page at Orlando Green and Yellow.

So, now the dream has become reality.

MLS soccer is here in Orlando. And we could not be happier.

Sean Slack is the owner of Marquis International. For the last twenty years he has been helping develop tourism business primarily from South America for companies in the United States like the Sports Authority, Macys, hhgregg, and many more. Sean has become known as an authority on the subject of creating tourism sales.

He regularly gives seminars and workshops on developing tourism sales and serves as a partner for Orlando Green and Yellow magazine providing articles, video interviews, and other content.

The

divide in the UK is ch

28 | Florida Standard

hanging

THE NORTH/South differences

Now in recent days there have been quite a few “tests” showing up on Facebook to see if you’re a “Northerner” or a true “Londoner”… Well a new study by the University of Sheffield has redrawn the imaginary social barrier that crosses England separating the North from the South.

N

ow for those who do not live in the UK, and are not aware of the North/South divide, it’s an imaginary line that was drawn through a Motorway (interstate) service station called “Watford Gap” which is located on the M1 motorway, 70 miles north of London. So if you were North of Watford Gap you were classed as “Northern” south of Watford Gap and you were a “Southerner”. Southerners are proposed to be the sophisticated, wealthy, and culturally correct, while Northerners are given the image of being working class, talk funny with a strong broad accent, and live in industrial areas.

This new study has changed the imaginary line, instead of starting at “Watford Gap” as many southerners believe, the new line is actually at an angle, the university of Sheffield study has found the most accurate way of dividing Britain in terms of health and wealth, is to draw a diagonal line which starts at the Severn estuary, splits the Midlands in half, and ends at the Humber on the east coast of England (see photo 1)…. Now l can hear a lot of you gasp, as you find out that after going through life as a northerner, you now find you are classed as a southerner!

Experts divided the nation using analysis

of education standards, life expectancy, death rates, unemployment levels, house prices and voting patterns. Those who go to university are more likely to attend the high-powered Russell Group of universities, which include Oxford and Cambridge, if they come from the South.

And there is a "missing year of life expectancy" north of the line which "nobody can explain". Professor Dorling, who led the Sheffield University study, said he accepted there are affluent northern areas, such as Cheshire and the Vale of York, which "look and sometimes act' like the South yet they remain northern. (Don’t blame me for these words; I’m just the messenger…) "In the South, especially London, there are similar pockets of poverty," he added. The decline of manufacturing in the Midlands means Coventry and Birmingham are now northern in characteristics, while Leicester is more associated with London. Professor Dorling continued "It costs more money to live in the South and you need more qualifications to get a job,” A lot of problems in the North are also potential solutions in the South. "There are people in the North who could be carers for southerners in their old age, but they are in the North." (ouch…)

OK enough of Professor Dorling’s words, as a northerner l feel like I have to defend my part of the country. So here is a comparison, done by the daily mail Florida Standard | 29

THE NORTH/South differences

newspaper, on two families who live 300 miles apart in Britain, one in the north, and one in the south, two families, two radically different lifestyles. Meet the Sewells and the Salloways who have exactly the same income to live on. They are £50,000-a-year families which, according to recent research, puts them in the envied bracket of Britons who feel they have made it financially. That sum £50,000 ($80,000) is the amount people in the UK feel they need to earn in order to send a message to others that they are established and successful. The Sewells (photo 2) live in the sought-after Surrey village of Wonersh in one of the most expensive corners of Southern England, while the Salloways (photo 3) live in the picturesque Northern village of Ovingham in Northumberland. In Surrey, 41-year-old Andrew Sewell is an area sales manager in the construction industry. His wife, Melanie, is an occupational therapist, and together they have a combined income of £50,000. The Sewells; mum, dad and two children live in a four-bedroom detached house worth an estimated £600,000 ($960,000), with two cars on the drive. Clearly they are not on the breadline, but Melanie, 46, says the soaring cost of everything, from petrol to food and utility bills, means they are feeling the pinch.

Since living on £50,000 is proving to be a struggle for the Sewells, one obvious possibility would be to move to an area where their money stretches further. ‘I love the culture of the South, especially London, but 30 | Florida Standard

it’s just so expensive to live here,’ says Melanie. ‘Everything from parking to getting a haircut and calling out a plumber costs a small fortune. ‘I don’t think people in other parts of the country realise how much more things cost down South. I pay £45 ($70) for a trim at the hair salon, but go only every four months now as opposed to every two.

I can’t even afford regular check-ups at the dentist, and eating out is now a rare treat.

The story is very different for the Salloway family, also members of the £50,000-a-year club, but with a far more affluent lifestyle to show for it. Mum Claire cycles to her job as an NHS nursing assistant, while Nick is the managing director of Status, a digital advertising company. He commutes to Newcastle, a 25-minute drive, but is home most evenings by 6pm. Claire, 39 says; ‘We are members of a private health club and go there several times a week. Nick loves to pop in on his way home from work because it’s the perfect way to relax and unwind.’ Claire believes her family are lucky enough to enjoy ‘the perfect lifestyle’. With only 10 per cent of their monthly income being spent on the mortgage on their £200,000, four-bedroom semi-detached home, they have no financial woes and plenty of scope to put away savings. ‘We’ve worked hard to get where we are and we feel we’ve made it on the income we have,’ says Claire. ‘We feel successful and, though we don’t waste money, it’s nice to be able to splash out on luxuries. ‘I don’t have to think

about the cost of my weekly supermarket shop, for example, and if I want a new dress, I can go out and buy one.’ Other luxuries include a fortnight’s skiing holiday every year at an exclusive resort in the French Alps.

Then there is a regular two-week summer holiday abroad. At weekends, the family can indulge their love of the countryside and the outdoor life. They also eat out three or four times a month, usually at a local Italian restaurant. A regular family treat is to go tenpin bowling followed by a meal out. Sunday lunches at a local pub are also popular. It certainly sounds like the good life. Claire believes quality time together as a family is crucial, and says she is happy their combined earnings allow them to do things that might be out of reach of many families, including the Sewells in Surrey. Claire was shocked at the price of houses down in the south. ‘Our house would probably cost at least £600,000 in the South-East — which is three times what it is worth up here.

‘Spending that much on a mortgage would be unthinkable — our whole lives would revolve around servicing such a huge debt.

‘I would hate to have the worry of not being able to turn up the heating when it’s cold.

When the electricity or council tax bills land on our mat, we never have to worry that we can’t pay them.’ Claire is horrified by the pace of life in London and the South-East, and says that she and Nick are just grateful to live in a part of the country that allows them to feel they have a healthy balance in their lives. ‘While work is important to us, it doesn’t dominate our lives,’ she says. ‘It seems that people’s days in the South are full of commuting through traffic, trying to get from one place to the other.

Meanwhile, in the South of England, the Sewells continue to struggle with the day-to-day financial challenges that have changed life for them in so many ways. Earnings of £50,000 a year may sound like the answer to many people’s financial prayers in these strapped times. But, in this particular equation, at least, it’s clear that the geography is just as important as the math’s. Enough said - l think l will stick with being a northerner…. Have a great morning in whatever part of the UK you live, but if you are a commuter on your way into London…..mind the gap!

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New Homes from the $300s**

Great Floorplans Designed Exclusively for Solterra Gated Community, 1 & 2 Story Homes | 2,104 to 3,511 sq. ft.*** SOLTERRA RESORT 4404 Oaktree Dr. Davenport, FL 32064

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**Home and community information, including pricing, included features, terms, availability and amenities are subject to change and prior sale at any time without notice or obligation. Pictures, photographs, features, colors and sizes are approximate for illustration purposes only and will vary from the homes as built. Event subject to change or cancellation without notice. ***Square footage dimensions are approximate.

ORLANDO $189,900 Spacious 3 bedrooms 2 bathrooms vacation home, with a private pool, set in a gated community. Ideally located for easy travel to the theme parks, shopping, restaurants, etc. This property is fully furnished and on an active short term rental program.

Investing in Florida Rental Homes

The Long and the Short of it!

Lower property prices in Florida and a healthy demand for rental properties has led to an increase in demand from investors from other countries. Brazilians have been particularly active in this market sector, buying homes to rent out to both long and short term tenants.

When we work with Brazilian investors, one of the questions we hear a lot is “should I buy a property for long term rental, or to rent as a vacation home, as a short term rental”?

32 | Florida Standard

Florida, particularly Orlando and the coastal areas, is an international vacation destination. A house or condo that can be rented weekly or monthly to visiting tourists may seem a compelling proposition.

Couple that with the buyer’s intention to use it themselves for their own vacations, and it seems like a sure winner.

Here are some of the things buyers should consider before deciding upon the kind of rental that will work best for them. Initial cost and capital outlay. A property that is rented for vacations must be fully furnished to a high standard, and this can add a substantial amount to the cost of the property itself. Ongoing costs. The costs associated with running a short term rental can be considerable. The landlord is responsible for all utility bills, whereas the tenant in a long term rental would normally be responsible for these. Property management. Successful

investing

management of a vacation rental property requires a lot of time and effort, and this is reflected in higher management fees. Personal use of the home. If you intend to use the property yourself for part of the year, then you must buy a property suited to short term rentals. The property must also appeal to you personally and will be more of an emotional decision rather than a purely financial one. Property zoning and community rules.

While most local authorities and home owners associations allow long term leases, many of them do not allow short term rentals. Always check the community rental rules and ensure the kind of rentals you intend to do are allowed. Vacancy rate. This indicates how much of the property is likely to be unoccupied. For a long term rental, this will normally be the time between annual leases. In areas where rental demand for this kind if property is high – in today’s market conditions I would suggest Sarasota, Miami and parts of Orlando , and ine experiencing very high demand - you can expect this to be about 30 days, and many tenants will renew and annual lease if they have a good experience in the property, leading to zero vacancy in future years. For short term rentals, the vacancy rate will depend upon a number of factors such as supply and demand, and economic conditions that impact tourist traffic. Cost of advertising and finding tenants.

For a long term rental, these costs are limited to the time between leases only. To secure vacation rentals, advertising must be done consistently over very long periods of time, and these costs can

be significant.

In my own experience as a landlord and a Realtor®, a long term rental will usually be more profitable than a short term rental, primarily due to lower running costs and vacancy rates. This is illustrated in the table below. The figures shown are based on my own experience at a rental property I personally own.

This table illustrates the differences in running costs and potential income between short and long term rentals. The short term figures used are based on actual costs for a house with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a pool. The long term rental figures are projections for the same home rented, unfurnished, on an annual lease, where the tenant is responsible for pool maintenance, but the landlord maintains the lawn and landscape.

Whether a long term or vacation rental home is best for you will depend entirely upon your own circumstances and any planned personal use of the property. the homes pictured int his article give some examples of properties that may meet your needs.

Remember, always work with a Realtor• who is licensed in the state where you intend to buy property. If you are looking at commercial properties or multi-family investments, a real estate agent who holds the CCIM designation will be invaluable. For investments in residential property, homes and condos, try to work with a Certified International property Specialist (CIPS) – a Realtor• who is familiar with working with international buyers and sellers, and who will be aware of your special needs.

ORLANDO $219,900 Four bedroom vacation home with a pool, situated in gated community that offers offers a clubhouse with community pool, a fitness center, games room, snack room, computer room, miniature golf course and more.

Luxury furnishings included.

Patricia Tan Was born in England, and her career in international sales and marketing led her to live and work in many countries around the world before moving to Sarasota in 1997.

Patricia is a Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS), Graduate Realtor Institute (GRI), and Transnational Referral Certified (TRC).

She is involved in global activities of the Sarasota, Florida and National Association of Realtors (NAR), teaches international real estate on behalf of the Florida and National Associations, and currently serves as NAR President’s Liaison to U.K. Her real estate business operates from Coldwell Banker on St Armands Key, where her focus is to bring international buyers to the local market.

She regularly makes marketing trips to Canada, Asia and Europe, to promote Florida’s Gulf Coast and the Sarasota area in particular.

Florida Standard | 33

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