ORLANDO NAMED NO. 1 MEETING DESTINATION

This week, Cvent-the leader in cloud-based enterprise event management solutions-named Orlando the No. 1 destination for meetings and events in the United States for 2015.

It's important to note that this wasn't a subjective decision, but rather an official ranking developed and based on meeting-and-event booking activity in Cvent's national supplier network of more than 200,000 hotels and special event venues.

We are honored to be named No. 1 and ahead of strong competitors such as Las Vegas and Chicago. This recognition is truly another testament to the investment that Visit Orlando and our Central Florida tourism partners make in marketing and selling Orlando as the ideal location for meetings and conventions at all levels.

Ranking at the top of one of the world's largest, most accurate databases of detailed venue information is something our community can be proud of, as countless meeting planners will rely on this endorsement when considering our destination as the site for their next successful meeting or convention.

-George Aguel

Exchange Rates and International Visitors

As a result of the U.S. dollar's strength relative to most foreign currencies, international visitors are receiving fewer U.S. dollars in exchange for their foreign currency. For example, Canadians received an average of $0.78 USD in July, down 16.5 percent from $0.93 USD In July 2014, and the lowest exchange rate since September 2004. Take into account rising average daily rates for hotels, and Canadians are paying over 20 percent more for a hotel room than at the same time last year.

USD per Foreign Currency

Visit Orlando Partners with Sobeys Grocery Stores in Ontario

Visit Orlando has partnered with one of the leading grocery stores in Ontario, Canada, to launch a month-long promotion across 89 stores. The popular grocery chain Sobeys has 1 million customers per week and the four-week promotion will include 10 signs per store, including posters, t-stands and countersigns, as well as flyers distributed in 1.7 million newspapers. The in-store promotion launches Aug. 21 and four lucky families will win a vacation to Orlando.

Visit Orlando Hosts Top Clients at ASAE

On Sunday, Aug. 9, during the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), Visit Orlando and its members hosted a journey back to the Motown era. Our clients listened to the music of The Supremes, Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson and more, while enjoying the spectacular panoramic views of the Detroit River and Windsor, Canada.

President & CEO Engages with King Management Group

Meeting professionals including Steven King and his wife Jackie King of King Management Group, Inc. joined George Aguel for the Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox game before the start of the American Society of Association Executives annual meeting in Detroit.

Brazil's Biggest Travel Mag Showcases Orlando

Viagem e Turismo, the largest travel magazine in Brazil, published an Orlando cover story in the August edition following a trip here by the journalist. The 18-page story, titled "Life Beyond the Theme Parks," covered new openings across Orlando, including I-Drive 360, Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, La Nouba by Cirque du Soleil, and more. The story also highlighted the theme parks' new attractions and offered tips to maximize visitors' experiences while at the parks, restaurants, hotels and shopping venues.

Brazilian Luxury Travel Magazine Publishes Orlando Feature

Revista TOP Destinos, the first and only Brazilian magazine specializing in luxury tourism, published an Orlando cover story in its August edition as a result of a luxury press trip hosted last year. The story, titled "Becoming a Child Again," covered the theme parks' newest attractions and VIP packages, as well as the Four Seasons Orlando Resort at Walt Disney World Resort. To read the online version, click here.

The New MyVisitOrlando.com Set to Launch Soon!

The Member Relations & Development team is excited to announce that the new member website will launch soon! On the new site, members can respond to their E-LEADS and marketing opportunities, manage their account profile, publication and web listings and images, access Market Research & Insights' reports, register for member events, submit member news/offers, and more. (Please note that there will be a brief period of time that members will not be able to access the website during the transition and all members will receive a new username and password when the site is launched.) Check your inbox and future editions of Tourism Matters for additional details on the launch date for the new website.

Next Week at the Convention Center

Orlando Airport Sees Record-Breaking Travel Numbers in July

Get a Taste of Visit Orlando's 2015 Magical Dining Month

If you're looking for an excuse to try new local restaurants, here's your chance.

Orlando Ranks No. 1 in Destination Meeting Traffic

Orlando was named the country's top ranked meeting destination between July 2014 and June, according to Cvent, Inc., a cloud-based event management company.

Downtown Disney's New Name Will Start Springing Up More

Expect the name Downtown Disney to start fading away. Walt Disney World's shopping and entertainment complex is in the midst of a renovation and retheming, which includes a name change to Disney Springs.

Disney Springs to Be Home to First UNIQLO Store in Southeastern U.S.

The global apparel retailer and creator of LifeWear, UNIQLO, will add its 43rd U.S. store to Disney Springs in 2016.

Inside Orlando's new Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House

A new restaurant is raising the bar on fine dining along Orlando's popular tourism corridor.

U.S. Airlines Expect Summer Travel to Reach All-Time High

U.S. airlines expect summer 2015 air travel to rise to the highest level ever, according to a forecast released early Monday by Airlines for America (A4A), the industry's leading trade group.

4 ways to engage the fastest-growing group of millennials

The Hispanic market is growing so fast in America that it is altering the economy and changing the way we do business. But there's another group that can make or break your business: Hispanic millennials.

Survey: Half of Americans Worry About Work While on Vacation, then Return Stressed

More than one-third of U.S. employees (39 percent) don't believe their bosses encourage them to take allotted vacation days, and almost half (45 percent) say their bosses don't help them disconnect from work while on vacation, according to a Randstad US Employee Engagement Study released this week.

Travel Industry Added More Jobs in July

Travel industry employment reached an all-time record high in July, according to the U.S. Travel Association, which last week published an analysis of the U.S. Department of Labor's latest jobs report.

CIC Announces the Recipients of the Top #CMP30 Influencer Awards

The Convention Industry Council (CIC) is proud to announce the recipients of its first peer-nominated influencers campaign, launched in honor of the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) Program's 30th anniversary.

Homeland Security Plans Security Enhancements to Visa Waiver Program

Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson announced yesterday that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will begin implementing a number of security changes to the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), which enables international travelers from approved countries to enter the United States without a visa.