Editor's Picks: Things to Know, Including Continued Housing Market Upside and a Promotion for an Economic Development Vet

Alexis Muellner - Editor, Tampa Bay Business Journal | Mar 4, 2022, 5:00 am EST

First, the talker:

Travel trends: Airbnb says remote and hybrid work, untethering many people in an office every day, is driving the biggest change to travel since the advent of commercial flying. The "live anywhere" trend is a thing. Trends on its platform back it up. One out of every five gross nights booked in Q3 were for stays of 28 days or longer. Nearly half of the nights booked in Q3 were for stays of at least seven days, up from 44 percent in 2019. In the 12 months through September, more than 100,000 guests booked stays of 90 days or longer.

Next, the big number: 3.25%

The wage increase approved by Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority board members last August now faces new criticism from the authority's drivers.

And now, five things that happened while you pondered your college basketball viewing plans:

Housing picture: Higher mortgage rates have yet to cool overheated housing markets across the country as prices continue a steady climb in each of the nation's 100 largest metropolitan areas, Florida Atlantic University and Florida International University found. Lakeland ranked No. 12 at a 44.9% premium, Tampa was No. 13 at 43.9%, Northport-Sarasota was No. 27 at 37% and St. Petersburg/Clearwater did not make the list.

Academic access: Helios Education Foundation has awarded a Community Investment Grant of $1.6 million to St. Petersburg College in support of the Florida African American Male Experience. The FAAME initiative will provide support for students at each stage of their academic progression. This initiative will create a robust ecosystem of support that empowers African American male students in their journey from grade school to postsecondary degree completion, a release said.

New opportunity: Ken Jones, a veteran economic development executive, has been promoted to director of the Hillsborough County expanded Minority/Small Business Enterprise Division. He will be responsible for managing the division's efforts to increase participation of minority-owned, women-owned and small firms doing business with Hillsborough County. The county has entered into contracts worth more than $220 million with minority- and women-owned and small businesses over the last four fiscal years, it said.

Clams for clams: Sarasota Bay Watch said its annual fundraiser on Feb. 12 exceeded expectations as nearly 400 people showed up to raise funds for the release of an additional 1 million clams into Sarasota and Manatee waters. The nonprofit has already released 875,000 clams. A healthy bay is good for business. Clams filter excess nutrients that contribute to red tide blooms, water clarity, and seagrass growth.

Land use boost: Janice "Jan" McLean has joined GrayRobinson's Land Use Team as counsel in Tampa. The former city of Tampa's senior assistant city attorney and assistant general counsel for three of the five water management districts represented the city before numerous industry and department meetings and legislative committees. She will counsel clients on the planning, management, maintenance, and regulation of the state's ground, surface, and coastal waters, a release said.