A La Carte Polpo, Versailles, In Passing

Polpo Palm Beach Coming Soon!

Ron and Dominque Rosa are opening Polpo Palm Beach at the Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa this winter. The restaurant will be the Rosas’ second restaurant; the highly acclaimed original establishment is located in Greenwich, Connecticut. With a menu that offers authentic Italian food and seafood, it is sure to be a popular destination for the hotel’s guests and the local community. Polpo is going to be an anchor for the resort’s extensive “reimagination.”

Congrats to Versailles, the World’s Most Famous Cuban Restaurant!

FRLA Please Be Kind Campaign

A50th anniversary is always cause for celebration! During its 50th anniversary, Versailles is working with the HistoryMiami Museum to create a Versailles Anniversary Project to compile photos and memories for research and educational purposes, as well as being a part of the Versailles legacy.

Be sure to check out the exhibit to learn more about this historic business. Versailles is the political gathering spot for the Cuban exile community in Miami on Calle Ocho and is always a campaign spot for local, state and presidential campaigns. The food is authentic and fantastic! Congratulations Versailles!

FRLA has launched a “Please Be Kind Campaign” to remind guests of the impacts COVID-19 has had on our workforce and encouraging patience and kindness. We know how hard you and your staff are working amid the most challenging circumstances our industry has ever seen. Below is a sample of our “Please Be Kind” messaging, which you can download and use to print and post at your establishment, share on social media and more. The tool kit is available at https://frla.org/please-be-kind-toolkit/.

In Passing: Austin Mott

It is with a heavy heart that we share that Austin Leonard Mott III, the first CEO of Visit Florida, passed away on Nov. 27, 2021. Austin was a pivotal member of our organization and the tourism community as a whole. In his career, which spanned 30 years of service to the industry, he directed major resort properties throughout the U.S., Bermuda and Puerto Rico. During Austin’s tenure, VISIT FLORIDA grew exponentially, becoming recognized throughout the world as the model of a successful tourism marketing corporation. He was President of the Florida Hotel and Lodging Association, served on the Board of Directors for both the National Council of State Tourism Directors (NCSTD) and Travel Industry Association (TIA), and was inducted into the Florida Tourism Hall of Fame in 2003.

In Passing: Bill Buskell

Bill Buskell, owner of the iconic Pineapple Willy’s and Wicked Wheel restaurants in Panama City Beach, passed away in late 2021. He was known as a generous entrepreneur who spent much of his time raising money for charitable causes including Beach Care Services, which he founded to assist local residents in need. He will be missed. Rest in peace, Bill.