Restaurant, lodging group names Broward director
A former Oakland Park mayor has been tapped by the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association to represent Broward County’s hotels and restaurants.
Anne Sallee, who left public office in Oakland Park last year, is now Broward chapter director for the association, which has more than 10,000 members statewide and about 500 in Broward. It’s a newly created position driven by the region’s growing number of hotel and restaurants, according to the association. Sallee is tasked with increasing group membership, promoting and representing the industries’ interests in city and county commission meetings and securing marketing and advertising funding for them, among other duties.
Sallee worked as a paralegal in corporate law before serving in public office as commissioner and mayor of Oakland Park. She’s also served as executive director of The Girl Choir of South Florida.
She believes experience fromher years of public service will play well in her new role.
“When I served as an elected official, I was able to create a great network of business partners and elected officials— all of the people I’ll be contacting in my new position,” Sallee said. “I know all the players.”
A South Florida regional director responsible for Palm Beach, Broward, MiamiDade and Monroe counties will help Sallee get acclimated in the new role, said Carol Dover, association president and chief executive officer. Eventually, Sallee will be solely in charge of Broward and the regional director will assist as needed.
There’s talk of adding a Palm Beach chapter director, Dover said.
“We have way too many hotels and restaurants in those counties and too many issues,” she said.
Ongoing issues range from noise ordinances to school start- date issues, according to Dover. Short summer vacations negatively impact hotels and restaurants, she said.
“Every time they cut summer shorter and shorter, it reduces family vacation times. That’s a huge decline in bed tax revenue, restaurant revenue,” Dover said. “The state pays a huge price for that.”
Sallee will serve as a liaison between local businesses and the group’s offices in Tallahassee. She’ll report on progress, including recruiting efforts.
“A lot of things are happening all the time in our industry that if you’re not a member, you’re not on board,” Dover said. “As we say, if you are not at the table, you’re on the menu. Wewant them to be at the table.”