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Good hands closed to three coastal states

By TIMES WIRES
Published December 12, 2006

Explain to us again just what an insurance company does. We ask because Allstate Insurance Corp. has announced it has decided to stop writing new property insurance policies in all areas of Connecticut, New Jersey and Delaware. This comes after the company said it is letting coverage expire in parts of New York. And it probably comes as no surprise to the 174,000 Allstate Floridian policyholders dropped in May. Why? The hurricane computer models insurance companies use to predict future risk. As the models become more sophisticated, the risk is narrowed even more, leaving the insurance companies with only the safest bets. Which is why state-run Citizens Property Insurance is well on its way to insuring half the homes in Florida.

Spa massages its gift card sales plan

Hoping to nudge annual sales of its gift cards over the $1-million mark, the Safety Harbor Resort and Spa signed up for an unconventional sponsorship as - get this - official spa of International Plaza in Tampa. Rather than rent expensive kiosk space all year, the sponsorship provides the bayfront spa with a fabric-draped cabana by the entrance to Nordstrom for the spa to sell gift cards during the Christmas, Valentine's Day and Mother's Day seasons. The Taubman Centers Inc. mall also wired up a spa hotline phone at the concierge desk so shoppers can book facials, massage and other spa services.

Donation gets you nice view of gulf

The TradeWinds Island Resorts on St. Pete Beach has some empty rooms before the holidays and wants to put them to good use. For a minimum donation of $30 to the Children's Home of Tampa, guests can get a one-night stay at the resort's two properties on the Gulf of Mexico. TradeWinds is committing 100 rooms a night for the promotion, which is running during the traditionally slow period from Dec. 17 to 26. Keith Overton, the resort's general manager, said he hopes to raise money for the local charity while showing off the property to visitors.

[Last modified December 12, 2006, 00:15:42]