Corporate Report

Tampa Howard Johnson renamed The Barrymore
The Howard Johnson Plaza Tampa Downtown has changed its name to The Barrymore Hotel Tampa Riverwalk. The change follows a multimillion dollar guest-room improvement project to the 14-story hotel.

The hotel's owner, H.I. Development Corp., says “The Barrymore” name is a tribute to the rich artistic history of the Barrymore family, who have been stars of stage and screen for generations.
Founded in 1959, H.I. Development develops and operates franchise and independent hotels in the United States, Caribbean and Europe.

Flameret introducing hemp cream, selling it through Colo. subsidiary
Venice-based Flameret Inc. announced plans to launch Cannasone, a hemp cream containing the cannabis compound cannabidiol.

The skincare cream will be sold in 8-ounce bottles through Flameret's wholly owned Colorado subsidiary Royal Hemp Corp. Each 8-ounce bottle of Cannasone will be infused with 200mg of cannabidiol derived from industrial hemp. The company is currently restricting sales to the United States only.

Flameret previously launched Cannadol, a hemp oil with cannabidiol.

USF Sarasota-Manatee Students studying SRQ Airport travelers
Dean Cihan Cobanoglu, Serdar Ongan and Wan Yang of USF Sarasota-Manatee's College of Hospitality & Technology Leadership are conducting a satisfaction study for Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport with the aid of the 16 students in Yang's fall Research Methods class. The study will investigate customers' perceptions of the airport as well as behavior patterns, reasons for choosing the local airport, how they booked their tickets and travel destinations.

Yang's students are collecting data during a pilot period, devoting 10 hours each to the study as part of a class assignment. Cobanoglu, Ongan and Yang will analyze the students' data and revise the questionnaire. In November, a new group of students will continue with the study.

“Collaborating with SRQ provides a valuable marketing service for our important community partner as well as a great learning opportunity for the students,” Yang says in a press release. “My students are able to go into the field and apply the knowledge in the classroom to a real research project.”

The final report from this satisfaction study is scheduled to be delivered in May.

Back to Nature Foods debuts artisanal soups
Naples-based Back to Nature Foods Co. LLC announced it is expanding its product categories to include a new line of artisanal soups. The new product line also includes gluten-free and non-GMO options and is meant to complement Back to Nature's existing line of whole-grain crackers.

The firm plans to focus on what it describes as family favorites with a twist, such as chicken and wild rice with kamut, gluten-free chicken tortilla with red quinoa, beef and barley, gluten-free Tuscan three bean with kale and millet, and classic minestrone with farro.

Like all Back to Nature products, the soups have no artificial preservatives, flavors, colors, high fructose corn syrup or hydrogenated oils.

The products will be available at Publix, Safeway and Whole Foods this fall.

Back to Nature Foods is a manufacturer primarily of all-natural and organic cookies, crackers, granolas, nuts and trail mixes.

American Fiber Green Products recycling fiberglass for Cayman firm
Tampa-based American Fiber Green Products Inc. announced its subsidiary Amour Fiber Core Inc. reached an agreement to recycle fiberglass products for Cayman Island-based Home Gas Caymen Ltd. The western Caribbean firm has shipped more than 1,400 fiberglass propane tanks to the Amour production facility in Tampa.

“Amour has a unique ability to provide a solution to the growing urgency to find a landfill alternative for waste fiberglass,” Director of Development Abilio Santos says in a press release. “I have seen the problem around the world and I am thrilled to be part of the solution.”

Elder Automotive Group matriarch dies in Michigan
Irma Elder, president and CEO of Troy, Mich.-based Elder Automotive Group, has died. She was 84 years old. Elder Automotive Group owns Jaguar of Tampa and Elder Ford of Tampa, as well as Aston Martin of Troy, Elder Ford of Troy, Signature Ford Lincoln Owosso, Jaguar Land Rover Lakeside, Jaguar of Novi, Jaguar of Troy, Land Rover Jaguar Lakeside and Signature Ford Lincoln Owosso.

Born in Xicotencatl, Mexico, Elder moved with her family to the United States as a teenager; speaking only a few words of English at the time. In 1983, she took over operations of Elder Automotive Group, following the death of her husband, James Elder. That made her the first woman to own a Ford dealership in the greater Detroit area. She grew the company into one of the largest woman-owned businesses in the country.

“It is with a heavy heart that we share the passing of Irma Elder our CEO, a visionary and an inspiring leader,” Terald Hopkins, general manager of Elder Ford of Tampa, says in a press release.
Elder Ford of Tampa is a new and pre-owned car dealership. Jaguar of Tampa sells or leases vehicles from Jaguar, Fisker, Aston Martin, Land Rover, Ford, Range Rover, Lincoln, Mitsubishi or Spyker.