Third party operating participants spoke at today's Central Florida Tourism Oversight District meeting, voicing concerns about the potential impacts of the new Ron DeSantis board taking over from Reedy Creek Improvement District.
Steve Schussler, who has spent thirty years as an operating participant at Walt Disney World, creating Rainforest Cafe, T-REX, Yak and Yeti, and The BOATHOUSE, spoke first about his concerns of impacts created by the new district.
Gibsons Restaurant Group, a partner with Schussler, said during the meeting that The BOATHOUSE at Disney Springs paid $3.9 million in taxes last year. The group has voiced concerns that talk of raising taxes on business within the district could drastically impact third-party operating participants at Walt Disney World.
Schussler volunteered to act as part of an advisory group to present the viewpoints of businesses operating within the district.
Also speaking at today's meeting was George Miliotes of Wine Bar George. He expressed concerns about the welfare of his 90 employees that depend on his business's success.
Representatives from Splitsville, Homecoming, Everglazed, Basin and EPCOT's Mexico pavilion restaurants also spoke, voicing the same concerns as Schussler and Gibsons, including tax rises and more regulation.
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