STEVE FORBES HEADLINES VISIT ORLANDO BUSINESS INSIGHTS SUMMIT

Mark your calendars for Aug. 20, when Visit Orlando will hold its first-ever Business Insights Summit. We know that our members and local community leaders won't want to miss our special keynote speaker Steve Forbes, chairman and editor-in-chief of Forbes Media.

A widely respected economic prognosticator, Forbes is the only writer to have won the highly prestigious Crystal Owl Award four times. The prize was given to the financial journalist whose economic forecasts for the coming year proved most accurate.

Earlier in the day, renowned national economist Anirban Basu will present his global economic forecast and participate in Q&A with Visit Orlando's invited guests. Basu is chairman and CEO of Sage Policy Group, Inc., an economic and policy consulting firm in Baltimore, Maryland, where he also lectures at Johns Hopkins University. Our resident economist, Daryl Cronk, will also share Visit Orlando's outlook on our local tourism industry.

We're excited to bring this very special event and extraordinary lineup of speakers to our Central Florida membership and community in less than six weeks. I look forward to seeing you there!

-George Aguel

Seat Capacity Up Nearly 10% Rest of Year

Seat capacity into Orlando's two international airports is scheduled to increase 9.7 percent during the second half of 2015, versus the same time last year. Domestic seats, which account for 85 percent of all seats, are scheduled to increase nearly 8 percent, while international seat capacity is scheduled to increase 23 percent. Seat capacity from Brazil is scheduled to increase a remarkable 116 percent versus the second half of last year. Seats from Mexico and Germany are each expected to increase approximately 35 percent, and capacity from the United Kingdom is scheduled to rise 17 percent. It should be noted that flight schedules and seat capacity are subject to change.

Visit Orlando Talks Tourism with I-Drive Chamber

Visit Orlando President & CEO George Aguel talked tourism with more than 100 business leaders at the
I-Drive Chamber of Commerce luncheon this week. He touted the destination's record breaking 62 million visitors announcement in New York City and the community-wide effort in hosting this year's U.S. Travel Association's IPW event. During his presentation, Aguel highlighted that the I-Drive corridor is home to approximately 40,000 hotel rooms-that's similar to the number of rooms in Virginia Beach/Norfolk, New Orleans, Seattle, Detroit, or Minneapolis/St. Paul, to name a few. He also noted that if Orange County's lodging industry was its own county, it would generate more state sales tax than 52 counties-$304.8 million to be exact.

2015 Magical Dining Website Launched

Visit Orlando's Magical Dining Month will take place from August 24-31 (preview week) and all of September in 2015. Diners can now take a look at what is on the special $33 menus of all 70+ restaurants to start planning their culinary adventures at OrlandoMagicalDining.com. One dollar from each meal will benefit Elevate Orlando.

Major U.K. Newspaper Highlights What's New in Orlando

As a result of hosting local writers Simon and Susan Veness during IPW, the publicity team secured an article in The Daily Telegraph, one of the U.K.'s largest newspapers, highlighting what's new and upcoming in Orlando.

GOAA hosts Federal Reserve Economic Roundtable Discussion

On July 9, Visit Orlando COO Larry Henrichs joined other community leaders at an exclusive economic roundtable discussion hosted by Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) Chairman Frank Kruppenbacher and the GOAA board and held at the Hyatt Regency at Orlando International Airport. Arranged by Carolyn Fennell, board member and former chair of the Jacksonville branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, the discussion was led by Dr. David E. Altig - senior vice president and director of research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta - with an introduction by Chris Oakley, vice president and regional executive of the Jacksonville branch of the Atlanta Fed. Topics centered on changes in the economy, their impact on Central Florida and the region's economic challenges and opportunities. Other attendees included Bill Davis, president and COO of Universal Orlando. Above, from left: Phillip Brown, GOAA executive director; Dr. David Altig; Frank Kruppenbacher; and Rick Weddle, president & CEO, Orlando Economic Development Commission

Destination Services Team Creates Excitement for 2017 Convention

As part of our marketing initiatives, a representative from Visit Orlando attended the Mennonite Church USA's National Convention in Kansas City, June 30-
July 5. Attendees who stopped by the booth were encouraged to take pictures with a fun Visit Orlando frame and post it via social media to create excitement for the 2017 convention, which will be held in Orlando over the week of 4th of July, and is expected to attract more than 6,000 attendees.

Visit Orlando Keeps Destination Top of Mind with ITA Group

Visit Orlando's Convention Sales team traveled to Des Moines to visit the ITA group, a third party that sources and plans all meetings for Sanofi Aventis pharmaceutical company. Orlando has already been selected for its cardiovascular meeting, which will be held at Hilton Bonnet Creek this year, and for more programs for 2016. Above, from left: Billy Walsh, Orlando World Center Marriott; Cynthia Morrell, Universal Parks and Events; Susan Zeiri, Visit Orlando; Tricia Tampir, Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld; and Eliana Key, Rosen Hotels

Next Week at the Convention Center

Disney, Universal Nab Theme Park Insider Awards

Save the Date: Visit Orlando's Magical Dining Month is Aug. 24-Sept. 30

Del Frisco's to Hire 200 for I-Drive Restaurant Opening Next Month

Iconic I-Drive McDonald's Revamp to Break Ground this Month

I-4 Ultimate Overpass Build Closes City Road Near
I-Drive

Post Indicates Chef Art Restaurant Set for Disney Springs

Business Travel Spending to Rise Nearly 5 Percent in 2015, but "Erratic" Economic Drivers Limit Growth

U.S. business travel spending will increase by 4.9 percent in 2015 to $302.7 billion, yet ongoing concerns about the U.S. economy will rein-in what could be even sharper growth, according to new research from the GBTA Foundation and Visa.

DOJ Subpoenas Airlines over Keeping Ticket Prices High

The Justice Department has sent subpoenas to several major airlines as part of an investigation into "possible unlawful coordination" to limit capacity increases, and thereby keeping ticket prices high, a department spokeswoman said Wednesday.

US Travel to Get Economic Boost from LGBT Travelers

Out Now Global, a well-established Australian research consultancy on the subject of LGBT travel, is predicting enormous growth in LGBT travel to the United States due to the recent Supreme Court decision that established gay marriage as a fully legal right in the United States.

Undercover Tourist Launches New Amusement Park App

Travel Industry Urges Inclusion of Brazil in Visa Waiver, Global Entry Programs