National hotel chain bets on Gulf Coast: Since the slumping housing market's bite is cutting into just about any industry that gets in its way, this might seem like a strange time to be hyping fractional condo ownership on the Gulf Coast.Bad economic predictions? Kill the messenger: Hank Fishkind's word may be golden among Florida developers and bond investors, but builders in Cape Coral were furious when the Orlando economist recently said it might take as long as four years for the Cape Coral-Fort Myers area to recover from the real estate downturn.John R. Wood trims Fort Myers operation: John R. Wood Realtors, the Naples-based residential real estate brokerage firm, closed its Fort Myers office and most of the 25 agents there will relocate to Bonita Springs.Bradenton Bank's downtown Tampa exposure: Add a new name to the downtown Tampa skyline: M&I.Locally created commercial gets second life: Sometimes the best kinds of publicity can't be bought.Lakewood Ranch grocer leaves field to Publix: Score one for Publix.Homebuilding land gone to the dog: Tampa-based real estate land broker Bill Eshenbaugh, a.k.a. "The Dirt Dog" on his Web site, is a busy man these days.ECONOMIC SNAPSHOT GULF COAST TOURISMBuchanan seeks advice from local executives
