A LA CARTE
Tijuana Flats Partners with RIP Medical Debt to Eliminate $1 Million of Medical Debt for Florida Families Donation from Tex-Mex Brand Provides Need-Based Debt Relief for Over 1,000 Floridians
24 North Hotel, Key West
Tijuana Flats is clearing more than $1 million in medical debt for more than 1,000 individuals and families in the greater Orlando area. Tijuana Flats, backed by AUA Private Equity, worked with RIP Medical Debt, a national debt-buying nonprofit organization to make a significant donation to eliminate medical debt for individuals and families living in poverty or facing financial hardship. Tijuana Flats is directly responsible for forgiving $1,764,146.60 of face-value medical debt for 1,196 individuals and families in Central Florida. RIP Medical Debt will utilize the donation to buy and forgive medical debt for individuals and families meeting certain qualifications.
Peter Kacheris Retiring The Gates, Key West
Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2019 Thirteen of the top 15 Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards for Florida hotels are FRLA member properties! In addition, The Four Seasons Hotel at the Surf Club was named as the fifth Best Hotel in the World, and The Pearl was named as the 37th Best Hotel in the World. We are proud of our members that were recognized by Conde Nast. Several other properties were mentioned as well. Congratulations! #1: Four Seasons Hotel at the Surf Club, Surfside #2: The Pearl, Rosemary Beach #3: The Brazilian Court, Palm Beach #4: The Epicurean Hotel, Tampa #5: The Alfond Inn, Winter Park #7: The Chesterfield, Palm Beach #8: The Perry Hotel, Key West #10: The Gates, Key West #11: 24 North Hotel, Key West #12: Edgewater Beach Hotel, Naples #13: W Fort Lauderdale #14: Ritz Carlton, Fort Lauderdale #15: Postcard Inn on the Beach, St. Pete Beach 48
W I N T ER 2019
Peter Kacheris, Managing Director for Waldorf-Astoria Orlando and the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek, is retiring after more than 40 years in the industry. Prior to his tenure at WaldorfAstoria, he worked with Marriott Hotels and Resorts and Starwood Hotels. In 2006, he was tapped as Hotel Manager for the Orlando World Center Marriott in Orlando and soon thereafter named General Manager of the JW Marriott Grande Lakes hotel complex comprising a 1,000-room JW Marriott hotel and a 582-room Ritz Carlton, one of the first luxury hotels in the Orlando market. Also in 2006, he joined Starwood Hotels as Complex General Manager of the 2,265-room Walt Disney World® Swan and Dolphin Resort. And, in 2008, he joined Hilton Hotels as Managing Director of Waldorf Astoria Orlando & Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek. More recently, Kacheris has been responsible for daily operations of the 498-room Waldorf Astoria Orlando (the first new-build Waldorf Astoria outside of New York City) and the 1,001-room Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek. He’s also responsible for the awardwinning Waldorf Astoria Golf Club, the Waldorf Astoria Spa and more than a dozen dining and lounge experiences, including the acclaimed Bull & Bear® restaurant. In a 2017 interview with FR&L Editor Susie McKinley, he noted “The single greatest factor in the success of my career are the incredible people I have surrounded myself with. I have been very fortunate to work with high performing individuals at all levels — superiors, peers and support teams.” Congratulations and enjoy your retirement, Peter! F LO R I DA R ESTAU R A N T & LO D G I N G A S SO CI AT I O N