|
Featured Event
|
| |
|
Aug. 20
Visit Orlando's
Business Insights Summit
presented by Emirates
The event will feature keynote speaker Steve Forbes,
chairman and editor-in-chief of Forbes Media,
and will be held at the Orange County Convention Center
in the Valencia Ballroom in the West Building.
9–10 a.m.
Registration & Networking Breakfast
10–10:30 a.m.
General Session #1
Daryl Cronk, Visit Orlando Sr. Director of Market Research and Insights
10:30–11:30 a.m.
General Session #2
Anirban Basu, Chairman and CEO of Sage Policy Group
12–1:30 p.m.
Luncheon and Keynote Speaker
Steve Forbes, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Media
Register Now
PRESENTED BY
|
|
| |
|
Visit Orlando Events
|
| |
|
July 30
Business Referral Group
BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse – International Drive
8103 International Drive
Orlando, FL 32819
Cost: $15, plus $3 gratuity
Click here to RSVP.
Aug. 6
Member Orientation
Click here to register.
Aug. 20
Business Insights Summit, presented by Emirates
Register Now
Member Presents
Members interested in targeting the meetings and convention market can present their products or services during monthly, 30-minute sessions with Destination Meeting Services. Click here to schedule a session.
|
|
| |
| Congratulations Members |
| |
|
Jan T. Vicale, a 25-year hospitality industry veteran, has joined Mission Inn Resort & Club as director of conference services.
|
|
| |
| Member-to-Member Offers |
| |
|
Barnie's CoffeeKitchen has launched a new website! Built to meet the needs of small- and mid-sized businesses that appreciate Barnie's high-quality specialty coffee, the site is tailored for offices seeking quick, easy, cost-efficient solutions. Through July 31, businesses will receive 15 percent off of their first order. Use code: OfficeCoffee15. For more information, click here.
Inspire your employees and staff this summer with Marc Mero's Dream Big Presentation, described as life-changing! Through August 28, Champion of Choices - Marc Mero is offering a 30 percent discount. Click here for more information or call 407-448-9956.
LTC Language Solutions is excited to invite new clients to try its language services! Learn a new language, utilize an interpreter, have a document translated, or just learn more about other cultures. Through October 1, receive 10 percent off of your first-time purchase. Questions? Please click here.
|
|
| |
| Industry Events |
| |
|
|
| |
| Community Events |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
| President & CEO's Message |
| |
| July 24, 2015 |
|
BUSINESS INSIGHTS FROM THE BEST
 Orlando is the most popular destination in the U.S. for Brazilians and soon to be in receipt of daily nonstop service from the Middle East and its connections to India and China. Yet questions surrounding the impact that slower growth in these countries or the rising strength of the U.S. dollar exist. Americans are traveling in force and room night demand across Orlando and Central Florida continues to set new records. That said, will the 2016 presidential election
have an effect on the tourism industry?
I know a couple of guys who have their own perspectives about these kinds of topics. Steve Forbes, chairman and editor-in-chief of Forbes Media, and economist Anirban Basu will headline Visit Orlando's Business Insights Summit, presented by Emirates, on Aug. 20 at the Orange County Convention Center. They'll address critical issues in the global economy and offer their thoughts on how Orlando's business leaders might think about the future.
While keynote speaker Steve Forbes is a household name, Basu delivers a presentation on business outlook that's as entertaining as it is insightful.
Be sure to reserve your seat today. I look forward to seeing you there.
-George Aguel
|
|
|
|
| |
| back to top |
| |
| From the Research & Insights Desk of Visit Orlando |
| |
|
June Occupancy Rates Hit Highest since 2000
Orlando's occupancy rate averaged 78.3 percent in June, 4.3 percent higher than June 2014 and the highest June average since 79.6 percent in June 2000. Occupied room nights were 6.0 percent higher than last year, setting an all-time high for the month of June. Occupied room nights have exceeded prior-year levels for 21 consecutive months. The average daily rate also set a June record at $107.73, up 1.4 percent from last year.
|
|
|
|
| |
| back to top |
| |
| Visit Orlando Updates |
| |
|
Brazilian Movie Films Trailer in Orlando
The promotional trailer for the highly anticipated Brazilian movie, S.O.S Mulheres Ao Mar 2 (Women Overboard 2), filmed partially in Orlando, was released this week in preparation for the movie's upcoming red carpet premiere in Orlando on Oct. 11. Gearing up to the event, Visit Orlando will have access to the celebrities as they experience Orlando for images, personal interviews and video content to showcase the diversity of the destination. To see the trailer, click here.
Ron Keith Joins Visit Orlando Team as National Account Director
Visit Orlando is pleased to announce that we have hired Ron Keith as a national account director. He is based in the Washington, D.C. area and joins Visit Orlando with more than 20 years of sales, client relations and association management experience. Most recently he was Director of Strategic Accounts, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts in Washington, D.C., where he was responsible for booking national association conferences and citywide conventions.
AOL U.K. Highlights Orlando as a Top Destination for October
The publicity team generated coverage on AOL U.K. that showcases why Orlando is one of the top destinations in the world to visit in October.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Visit Orlando and Travel Ace Partner in Educating Argentine Travel Agents
Jimena Cersosimo, Visit Orlando's representative in Argentina, co-hosted an educational seminar together with one of Argentina's top travel insurance providers, Travel Ace, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The educational event took place on July 14, when we trained 35 travel agents from the greater Buenos Aires area on what is new in Orlando.
Destination Services Represents Orlando
A Visit Orlando ambassador recently represented the destination in Kansas City at the National Council of La Raza (NCLA). The comments from the group about meeting in Orlando in 2016 were very positive, and attendees had a lot of fun with the step-and-repeat in the Visit Orlando booth, where two "celebrities" appeared for photo opps. In July of 2016, NCLA will have approximately 20,000 attendees at its meeting at the Orange County Convention Center.
Visit Orlando Teams Up with Air France, KLM, and Delta Air Lines for a November Familiarization Trip
Visit Orlando is hosting an individual FAM trip to Orlando for four lucky winners who will complete a series of questions and the Orlando Travel Academy via Air France, KLM, Delta Air Lines team and AER travel agencies from November 2-7, 2015. We are targeting 900 AER travel agencies with the competition. Click here to learn how you can take part in the take part in Air France, KLM, Delta Air Lines FAM.
Visit Orlando's Magical Dining Month Media Coverage
The publicity team is off to a strong start generating local media coverage surrounding Magical Dining Month. Highlights include articles in the Orlando Sentinel, Orlando Business Journal, Orlando Weekly and The Daily City, among others. There has also been growing buzz on the social media front, which will continue to increase as the program gets closer.
|
|
|
|
| |
| back to top |
| |
| News About Orlando |
| |
|
Next Week at the Convention Center
| Group |
Meeting |
Start |
End |
Estimate Attendees |
Estimate Economic Impact |
| Global Business Travel Association |
Annual Summer North American Convention |
July 27 |
July 29 |
6,500 |
$12,350,000 |
| GeekyCon |
Annual Event |
July 30 |
Aug. 2 |
2,500 |
$4,925,000 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Comcast's Universal Theme Parks Revenue Skyrockets
Philadelphia-based Comcast Corp. reported second-quarter revenue for its theme parks—including Universal Studios Florida and Universal's Islands of Adventure in Orlando—increased 25.7 percent to $773 million, compared to $615 million for the same quarter last year.
Orlando Airport Gets Vancouver Air Service
Orlando International Airport Is Getting New Air Service to Canada. WestJet, the Calgary-based airline, will start a new seasonal service between Orlando and Vancouver in 2016, according to the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority.
Three Orlando Hotels Sell at Auction; Doubletree Goes for $30.05M
The online auction for Nik Patel's former hotels concluded Wednesday afternoon with the highest bid at $30.05 million for a Doubletree by Hilton near UCF.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Work starts on new $28M I-Drive Hyatt hotel near Universal
Shovels are hitting the dirt this week on a new $28 million hotel near Universal Orlando Resort.
Universal Orlando Accepting Reservations for New Loews Sapphire Falls Resort
Want to be one of the first to stay at Universal Orlando Resort's newest on-site hotel, the Loews Sapphire Falls Resort? Now is your chance.
Bookings Begin July 30 for Premium Events for Epcot Food & Wine Festival
The Epcot Food & Wine Festival is two months away, and most activities are included in park admission. Some special events, however, require a separate ticket.
Universal Orlando Has Starring Role in
'Sharknado 3'
The opening credits of the Syfy movie "Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No" might as well read "and starring Universal Orlando Resort as itself." Lots of attractions get screen time in the production, which debuted Wednesday evening.
|
|
|
|
| |
| back to top |
| |
| Industry News |
| |
|
Landmark Entertainment to Launch World's First Virtual Reality Theme Park by 2018
The Landmark Entertainment Group, perhaps best known for creating some of Universal Studios' most beloved attractions including Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man and Terminator 2 3D, is looking to take the theme park experience up a notch.
U.S. Hoteliers Celebrate Summer with Sizzling RevPAR and Leisure Booking Performance
Hotels in major North American markets are continuing to experience strong growth driven by increases in average daily rate according to data from the July 2015 TravelClick North American Hospitality Review. Strong rates and steady bookings are leading to a significant uptick in revenue per available room (RevPAR).
Florida Among Top States with Fastest Job Growth
The Sunshine State is ripe with opportunity when it comes to the job market, according to Kiplinger magazine.
|
|
|
|
|
|
What's Holding Back Your Mobile Bookings?
As mobile device adoption continues to skyrocket, challenges remain in providing a seamless hotel booking process via smartphone and tablet, sources said.
How Millennials, and Airbnb, are Transforming Travel for the Rest of Us
It's not a shocker that millennial travelers embrace the sharing economy more than any other age group, but just how much more? Sixty percent of American travelers 18 to 34 years old say they put their faith in services such as Airbnb, Home Away, Uber and Lyft, compared with 37% of all other travelers. How much do travelers use shared economy services? Not so much.
Americans are Taking Less Vacation Time than Ever - and It's Hurting Their Relationships
Thinking about skipping vacation to catch up at work? Postponing because of money? You're not alone. Americans are taking less vacation time than ever-but ditching that vacation can lead to problems.
|
|
|
|
| |
| back to top |
| |
|
