Business
Hard Rock Stadium, STAPLES Center, Orange County Convention Center, & Overland Park Convention Center Celebrate GBAC STAR™ Facility Accreditation
NORTHBROOK, Ill.—July 9, 2020—Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, and Overland Park Convention Center in Overland Park, Kan., are the latest facilities to secure GBAC STAR™ facility accreditation from the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a Division of ISSA. The gold standard of prepared facilities, GBAC STAR provides third-party validation that organizations are undertaking thorough cleaning, disinfection, and infection prevention strategies.
“With many facilities reopening around the world, they are eager to showcase their ongoing dedication to proper cleaning and safety protocols,” said GBAC Executive Director Patricia Olinger. “We designed the GBAC STAR program to accredit facilities in weeks rather than months so that organizations can promote their achievement sooner and instill confidence among their visitors and employees.”
Arenas Make History with Accreditation
Hard Rock Stadium, a global entertainment destination and home to the Miami Dolphins, was the first public facility to commit to earning GBAC STAR accreditation. The stadium successfully completed 20 program elements with specific performance and guidance criteria to earn accreditation.
“As the first NFL stadium to be accredited by GBAC STAR, we are setting a precedent for how large venues should approach cleaning in the wake of the pandemic,” said Miami Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium Vice Chairman and CEO Tom Garfinkel. “By following a credible third-party standard, we are confident that our facility not only meets, but exceeds, the expectations of our spectators and staff.”
STAPLES Center in downtown Los Angeles is home to four professional sports teams (Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Kings, and Los Angeles Sparks), making it the first NBA, NHL, and WNBA arena to receive GBAC STAR accreditation. In the arena’s 20-year history, it hosts over 250 events and welcomes more than 4 million visitors annually.
“We know that when the time is right for our guests, athletes, artists, and our team members to experience the incredible energy within STAPLES Center again that our GBAC STAR accreditation demonstrates that we are taking the proper precautions to protect everyone once it is safe to host events again,” said Lee Zeidman, President, STAPLES Center. “We are honored to be one of the first GBAC STAR accredited arenas leading the way in maintaining cleanliness and continuing to make the safety of everyone our number one priority.”
Convention Centers Showcase Commitment to Cleanliness
Featuring 2.1 million square feet of exhibit space, the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) is the second largest convention facility in North America and brings more than 1.5 million attendees to Central Florida each year. The Overland Park Convention Center, recently named the Best Small Convention Center in North America by EXHIBITOR magazine and a Top 20 convention center of any size, was built in 2002 and is located in Kansas City’s largest suburb.
“We are committed to ensuring the health and safety of our employees, guests, and attendees at the OCCC,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “We are incorporating some of the most stringent protocols of the GBAC STAR program into plan and continue our efforts on implementing our Recovery and Resiliency Guidelines.”
“The health and safety of our guests and employees is our top priority, and we recognize the important role that cleaning plays in reducing the risk of contamination and transmission,” said Brett C. Mitchell, CVE, General Manager, Overland Park Convention Center. “The GBAC STAR program has helped us clearly outline and implement a plan for prevention, response, and recovery that will create a safer space for everyone that walks through our doors.”
Growing Interest in Third-party Validation
To date, more than 2,400 facilities of all types and sizes are in the process of becoming accredited through the GBAC STAR program. Accredited facilities will renew annually to confirm they follow and improve upon the procedures they outlined in their initial applications.
“Formal accreditation speaks volumes about an organization’s commitment to best practices as the pandemic continues,” said ISSA Executive Director John Barrett. “We are thrilled to welcome these four facilities into a prestigious group of accredited facilities that is on pace to continuously grow in the coming weeks and months.”
To apply for GBAC STAR facility accreditation, visit www.gbac.org.
New facilities and supporters commit to GBAC STAR daily. Learn more at https://gbac.issa.com/gbac-star-facilities-and-supporters/.
Business
Getty Images files for Chapter 11. What comes next for Florida photographers and videographers?
Getty expects licensing and contributor payments to continue as it seeks court approval for a restructuring. The case comes as AI puts pressure on generic stock imagery and verified coverage remains valuable to newsrooms.
Florida National News | Nov. 9, 2026
Getty Images is asking a federal bankruptcy court to approve a restructuring that would cut its debt and take the company private while it continues licensing photographs and video. For Florida photographers and videographers who sell work through Getty, the immediate question is whether royalties and assignment payments keep arriving on schedule. The longer-term question is which images and footage buyers will still pay to license as generative artificial intelligence makes some stock visuals easier to produce.
Getty Images Holdings Inc. and six subsidiaries filed for Chapter 11 protection Oct. 21 in Delaware. The company entered the case with support from major financial stakeholders and says it expects to continue serving customers and paying contributors in the ordinary course. The court is scheduled to hear several initial motions Nov. 17 and consider confirmation of the restructuring plan Dec. 15. Getty Images Chapter 11 filing and financing disclosure · Bankruptcy docket and Nov. 17 hearing notice · BankruptcyData on the Dec. 15 confirmation hearing
What drove Getty into bankruptcy?
The proposed plan includes up to $533 million in equity commitments from Getty family and Koch Equity Development affiliates. That amount includes financing and conversion of some existing debt into equity. The plan would cancel existing shares and put the reorganized company under the ownership of those investors. Getty Images restructuring agreement
Getty reported $2.1 billion in debt at the end of June. Its second-quarter results also showed $110.9 million in payments related to a warrant litigation judgment and interest, as well as higher interest costs tied in part to financing for the proposed Shutterstock acquisition. Getty abandoned that deal in July after Britain’s competition regulator conditioned clearance on the sale of Shutterstock’s editorial business. Getty Images second-quarter results · U.K. Competition and Markets Authority on the abandoned merger
Getty’s results show why the bankruptcy matters differently across the industry. Second-quarter creative revenue fell 2.6% from a year earlier to $127.4 million, while editorial revenue rose 9.2% to $96.5 million. The company did not quantify how much of the creative decline was attributable to AI. Getty Images second-quarter results
What Florida contributors should watch
Getty says it expects to maintain normal operations through the restructuring. For freelancers, the next royalty statement and deposit will give them a more direct view of whether the process is affecting their income. A contributor who licenses archive photos, a freelance crew that invoices for assignments and a production company that supplies footage may each have different payment terms. Getty Images restructuring announcement
Contributors can reconcile deposits against statements and keep copies of agreements, invoices and notices. An overdue balance or a notice naming a specific contract warrants a closer look at the applicable court documents and deadlines. After the case, the terms that could affect earnings include royalty rates, exclusivity, subscription payouts and how a distributor packages photos and video.
An AI-generated illustration for Florida National News’ coverage of Getty Images’ Chapter 11 restructuring and competition from generative AI.
Which Florida assignments are most exposed to AI?
Generic office scenes, beach-themed backgrounds and short lifestyle clips face more direct competition from generative tools. A buyer who needs a mood or setting can generate several options without scheduling a shoot. A buyer who needs footage of a specific launch from Florida’s Space Coast, storm damage in a particular neighborhood or a decisive play at a Tampa Bay Buccaneers game still needs a verifiable record of that event.
Florida’s news, sports and entertainment calendar gives local crews opportunities to supply that record. A videographer covering a major convention in Orlando might have an interview or clean footage that a national outlet missed. A photographer covering a local election might have the only usable image of a concession speech. For archive sales, accurate dates, locations, names and captions help buyers find the material and establish what it shows. Event credentials, assignment agreements and existing licenses can limit which uses a contributor can offer.
Getty is also selling generative AI tools. The company says its image generator is trained on licensed creative content and proprietary data and that licenses carry indemnification under the applicable agreement. That gives Getty a way to sell generated visuals to commercial buyers while continuing to license photographs and footage of real events. Getty Images generative AI terms and training FAQ
Where AP and Reuters fit
The Associated Press and Reuters overlap most directly with Getty in editorial coverage. Both can serve publishers that want additional sources of news photographs and video. Reuters Connect also offers live video and individual picture licensing. AP says its standards prohibit the use of generative AI to create, alter or enhance news photography. Associated Press AI standards · Reuters Connect licensing
AP and Reuters could gain business if publishers add a second supplier or Getty changes its prices, packages or service. Getty’s plan also leaves open a different outcome. If the company emerges with less debt and can invest more in editorial coverage, the two agencies could face a stronger competitor.
What comes next
The December hearing will determine whether Getty can move forward with the proposed plan, subject to the court’s ruling and remaining conditions. Getty has said it expects to complete the restructuring by year-end. For Florida contributors, the near-term measures are whether payments arrive, assignments continue and licensing terms change. The longer-term test is whether distributors and newsrooms will pay enough for distinctive, verified Florida coverage to sustain the people who produce it. Getty Images restructuring announcement · BankruptcyData on the Dec. 15 confirmation hearing
Business
New AdventHealth Middleton Clinic Brings Pediatric Specialists, Urogynecology Near The Villages
Terminal upgrades, parking projects and international connections mark the authority’s fiscal year review.
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) — The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority highlighted terminal improvements, expanded international connections and parking projects during its fiscal 2026 review, while its board adopted changes to a local business program and announced a new statewide small business initiative.
The updates affect Orlando International Airport and Orlando Executive Airport, which GOAA operates.
“We are undertaking an ambitious effort to redefine what it means to deliver a world-class airport experience,” GOAA CEO Lance Lyttle said in the authority’s announcement.
“As we welcome more visitors, more airlines, more routes, and new programs, our responsibility is to elevate every part of the journey — making it more welcoming, intuitive, and connected.”
A Gate Link train travels along an elevated guideway at Orlando International Airport, with the airport’s control tower in the background. Photo courtesy of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority.
Terminal Improvements Focus on Connections and Families
Among the completed projects was an enclosed pedestrian bridge with moving walkways connecting Orlando International Airport’s train station and Terminal C.
Terminal C also opened a new wing serving gates 250–254, providing additional capacity and becoming the new home for Virgin Atlantic’s airport operations.
Three new Family Zones — one in each terminal — offer spaces for children and families to play, read and recharge. GOAA also highlighted improvements to directional signs along airport roads, in parking areas and throughout the terminals.
Parking Expansion and $40 Million Improvement Program
GOAA reported progress on a parking guidance system at Terminal C, with phased activation across all garages planned through mid-2027.
Dedicated employee parking areas are intended to free additional spaces for travelers. Planning is also underway for two new garages expected to add 8,000 public parking spaces over the next few years.
Separately, the authority’s $40 million Beautiful Airports Program targets safety, functionality and appearance across garages, terminals and other airport areas.
Aviation Investments and International Service
The fiscal year review highlighted a $50 million investment by dnata, a $26 million redevelopment by Signature Aviation at Orlando International Airport and groundbreaking for Sky Harbour’s $40 million campus at Orlando Executive Airport.
International service developments included ZIPAIR’s nonstop passenger charter flights between Orlando and Tokyo and Iberia’s launch of nonstop service to Madrid.
GOAA described ZIPAIR’s service as the first passenger charter connection between Florida and the Asia-Pacific region.
Business Policy Changes Broaden Eligibility
The board adopted revisions to GOAA’s Local Developing Business program following research, town halls and discussions with internal experts.
The changes increase the allowable personal net worth threshold and clarify how assets are excluded from that calculation, including primary residence equity, business equity, retirement assets and certain nonliquid holdings.
Business size standards were also revised to account for inflation and increased operating costs. The announcement did not specify the updated financial thresholds.
A new Small Business program will complement the local program and extend eligibility to qualifying businesses throughout Florida. Under the announced framework, participating businesses must fall within 50% of the applicable U.S. Small Business Administration size standard.
GOAA said detailed guidelines for both programs would be posted on its website. Those guidelines will provide businesses with the information needed to assess eligibility.
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