Trains, Block Parties, & 3D Tech

June 28, 2024

It’s Friday, Orlando. Similar to yesterday, we’ll likely see partly cloudy skies transition into potential t-storms in the afternoon ⛈️ The high will be around 92. Here’s what’s on deck:

  • Brightline’s revenue surges with new focus on long-distance travel

  • Winter Garden-based Allen & Co. launches new 3D tech vertical

Let’s dive in.

TRANSPORTATION

Brightline’s Revenue Surges with New Focus on Long-Distance Travel

Image: Brightline

Driving the News: Brightline Trains Florida reported a significant increase in ridership and revenue in May, aligning its strategy to prioritize long-distance travel.

Key Metrics:

  • Ridership: 231,883 passengers in May, up 38% from 168,137 last year.

  • Revenue: $15.4 million in May, a 200% jump from $5.2 million in May 2023.

  • Average Fare: Increased by 117%, reaching $66.58 per passenger.

What's Happening:

  • Over half of May's passengers (135,918) traveled long-distance routes to Orlando, marking a record for the company. Since launching its long-distance service in September 2023, Brightline has seen 931,934 long-haul customers.

  • Short-distance ridership declined by 43%, with only 95,965 South Florida commuters in May compared to 168,137 the previous year.

Special Events Impact: Events like the Formula 1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix have boosted ridership, especially to stations like Aventura, near Hard Rock Stadium, which saw a fivefold increase during the event.

Future Plans: Brightline plans to add extra passenger cars to its trains, increasing monthly seat capacity by approximately 75,000 for Smart cars and 60,000 for Premium cars by late 2024 and summer 2025.

The Bottom Line: Brightline’s strategic pivot to long-distance travel is driving impressive growth in ridership and revenue, setting the stage for the company’s continued expansion and success.

ON THE DOCKET

What’s Happening this Weekend?

Image: Lake Nona

  1. Chile takes on Canada in the 2024 CONMEBOL Copa América on Saturday at 8 PM at Inter&Co.

  2. The Great American Block Party is back at Lake Nona on Saturday from 3-11 PM. Admission is free.

  3. Orlando City and the Pride are both away this weekend. Orlando City takes on NYC FC at Yankee Stadium tonight at 7:30, and the Pride face Angel City FC on Sunday at 7:30.

  4. The Orlando Farmers’ Market is back on Sunday at Lake Eola Park from 10 AM to 3 PM.

BUSINESS

Winter Garden-Based Allen & Co. Launches New 3D Tech Vertical

Image: Allen & Co.

Driving the news: Winter Garden-based Allen & Co. has launched Allen 3D LLC, a new vertical centered on reality capture and 3D modeling. This comes six months after acquiring Nexus 3D Consulting of Bakersfield, California.

Hiring surge: With 24 employees already on board, Allen 3D is actively recruiting field technicians and leadership roles. Executive Director of Operations Marc Marion anticipates significant hiring over the next few years.

Beyond traditional surveying: The acquisition and new vertical aim to elevate Allen & Co.'s capabilities beyond traditional surveying and mapping. The focus includes digital-twin technology, augmented and mixed reality, and gamification tech. "It’s going to open up new markets across the country — and potentially globally," says President Butch Allen.

Office expansion: Allen & Co. operates from multiple locations in Winter Garden, DeBary, Idaho, and California. With 110 employees in Winter Garden, the firm is exploring consolidation options to streamline its presence downtown.

Leadership team: Butch Allen will lead both Allen & Co. and Allen 3D. Matthew Byrd joins as chief innovation officer for Allen 3D.

Industry context: California and Florida rank second and third for surveyor employment, following only Texas.

QUICK HITS

In Other News…

Former NFL QB Tim Tebow. Image: Kyle Terada, USA TODAY Sports

  1. Tim Tebow partnered with GOVO Venture Partners, a Winter Park-based venture capital firm.

  2. Orlando-area nurses are rallying for a new union contract as the current contract is set to expire in July.

  3. UCF will host 5 tourney teams in their second year in the Big 12.

  4. A military investigation led to several site raids, including one at a local Orlando location.

  5. M’ama Napoli, an authentic Italian bakery and deli, has officially opened its doors in Winter Park.

Thanks for tuning in to today’s edition of the newsletter. See you back here on Monday.

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