Feb. 3, 2017

International Travel Resources

This week's news has seen an extraordinary amount of coverage regarding the administration's new executive order on immigration and refugees.

We recognize that it is important to find a balance that protects both the safety of the United States and ensures a healthy and welcoming travel industry. Visit Orlando supports our leaders in the administration and within our industry, including the U.S. Travel Association, as they proceed to clarify this process.

In the meantime, we want to ensure that you, our members, are aware of the most appropriate resource for travelers who may have questions. The Customs and Border Protection website is currently the primary centralized source for traveler information. Those international visitors with questions may also be able to find details on their respective country's U.S. embassy page - as certain embassies also have posted their own information.

Among our roles at Visit Orlando is to actively monitor and assess any potential implications for the destination and respond accordingly. We will continue to watch this closely, as well as share the latest informational resources with our members and visitors.

-George Aguel

Year-End Hotel Metrics

More than 32.97 million hotel room nights were filled in 2016, the second most ever and missing 2015's record of 33.06 million room nights by less than one-half of one percent. The occupancy rate averaged 75.5 percent in 2016, down from 76.7 percent due to the room inventory rising from 117,371 to 119,904. The average daily rate (ADR) set a record in 2016, up 3.5 percent to $116.00, and revenue per available room (RevPAR) rose 1.9 percent to also set a record at $87.62.

Orlando Takes Over Toronto Raptors Stadium

Sunday marked the finale of a two-month Visit Orlando promotion with the Toronto Raptors, wrapping up with a massive takeover of the stadium as well as an in-game promotional event. In the fan engagement area, winter-weary fans took photos in a Visit Orlando-branded roller coaster and entered to win a trip to the destination. Our presence was undeniable for the 20,000 attending fans who braved the 24-degree-Fahrenheit temperature to attend the game between the Orlando Magic and the Toronto Raptors. Visit Orlando App download cards were also distributed.

"5 Unforgettable Orlando Sights"

Colombia's Carrusel, a lifestyle magazine with an average national readership of 231,000, recently published an article about "5 Unforgettable Orlando Sights." It highlighted attractions outside the theme parks by focusing on nightlife activities found in downtown Orlando's Church Street and the diverse culinary selections at Disney Springs. The article also recognized the aesthetically pleasing atmosphere of Park Avenue and the diverse I-Drive 360 attractions. The article is a result of an individual press trip with Carrusel's editor.

Icelandair Mid-Atlantic Workshop a Success

Visit Orlando attended Icelandair´s Mid-Atlantic Workshop in Reykjavik, Iceland, Jan. 26-29. Approximately 850 trade contacts attend this annual event, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2017. The event not only gave the Travel Industry Sales Team the opportunity to meet with key Scandinavian tour operator and travel agent partners during the one-day workshop, but it also allowed for networking with the various Icelandair offices located throughout Scandinavia. 

FAM Welcomes dnata Travel

Visit Orlando's Travel Industry Sales Team hosted the dnata Travel Fam Jan. 20-26, including 12 travel agents from United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Oman. Part of the Emirates Group, dnata Travel is the leading tour operator across the Middle East offering a broad range of travel product. The participants stayed at Waldorf Astoria Orlando, Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort and The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grade Lakes. Activities included the opportunity to experience Walt Disney World Resort theme parks, Universal Orlando Resort, Kennedy Space Center, outlet shopping and dining, as well as attending hotel site inspections. 

Mexico Travel Trade Experience Orlando

Last week, 13 travel agents with GTM Operadora de Viajes experienced many of the destination's popular attractions including I-Drive 360, Universal Orlando Resort and Walt Disney World Resort. GTM Operadora brought their top agents from regions of Aguascalientes, Durango, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Michoacon and San Luis Portosi, who, combined, are responsible for bringing more than 1,200 visitors annually to Orlando. While staying at Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort and CoCo Key Hotel and Water Resort-Orlando, the group conducted hotel site visits at Universal Orlando Resort's Loews Royal Pacific Resort and Hard Rock Hotel; Disney's Port Orleans Resort Riverside, Art of Animation Resort and Contemporary Resort; and Wyndham Lake Buena Vista. Other great activities included dining experiences such as Itta Bena Restaurant at Point Orlando, shopping at Orlando International Premium Outlets, Disney Springs and an Orlando Magic Game. 

Weather Network Broadcasts Destination's Sun, Fun

All this week, Canada's Weather Network broadcasted throughout the entire morning TV show live from sunny Orlando while most Canadians were experiencing some extremely cold winter temperatures. The show, with an estimated 8.2 million viewers, broadcasted from a series of locations including Kennedy Space Center, SeaWorld Orlando, the Coca-Cola Orlando Eye, Buena Vista Watersports and the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress resulting in more than 90 minutes of exposure across Canada. Host Krissy Vann enjoyed a fun-filled week in Orlando's warm and sunny weather, reminding Canadians nationwide what they're missing

Visit Orlando Meets With 40 Media Outlets in NYC

The Public Relations Team attended the inaugural TravMedia International Media Marketplace in New York City Jan. 26, meeting with more than 40 media outlets including CNN, The New York Post, National Geographic Traveler and Toronto Star. Topics ranged from what's new in Orlando to lesser known attractions, dining and sports.

Visit Orlando Roadshow Heads to UK/Ireland

Visit Orlando, in association with Walt Disney World Resort, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment and Universal Orlando Resort, will take to the road once again this year for a host of travel agent training events throughout the month of March. With the addition of Dublin for the first time ever, the Roadshow will now visit 10 cities in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The Roadshow will include updates on its world-famous theme parks, new attractions, accommodations, shopping, dining and more.

Maritz Training Committee Fam Showcases Area

Visit Orlando hosted eight members of the Maritz Peer-to-Peer Training Committee in January. Through site visits at several hotels, event venues and park attractions, participants saw firsthand Orlando's offerings for meetings and events. A panel focusing on citywide convention topics provided information to the group that showcased why the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) is one of the top centers in the country.

Pictured at the OCCC's West Concourse vertical garden are the Maritz representatives, OCCC staff and Visit Orlando staff.

NAVC Moves to the Convention Center

The North American Veterinary Community hosts their annual NAVC Conference at the Orange County Convention Center for the first time this February. The NAVC Conference brings in around 16,000 attendees annually and is considered the largest education conference and trade show for the veterinary profession. NAVC is scheduled to host their annual NAVC Conference in Orlando through 2028. The move to the Orange County Convention Center allows the conference to focus on bringing more scientific sessions, exhibits and breakout sessions to one centralized location, giving attendees more time and flexibility to experience all that the NAVC Conference has to offer. 

This Week at the Convention Center

Spring Festivals Arrive at Theme Parks

From tried-and-true favorites to artful and exciting new offerings, fans of the festival circuit are going to have a blast park-hopping this spring. Two new events, SeaWorld's Seven Seas Festival and Epcot International Festival of the Arts, join longtime favorites, Epcot's International Flower & Garden Festival and Universal Orlando Resort's Mardi Gras.

Blog Promotes Orlando as The New "MVP" of Sports

Sports fans, rejoice! This is your year for an Orlando visit, with an exciting line-up of new sports venues and events for fans, spectators and athletes. Plan around one of the major-league events in Orlando, and hit your trip out of the park.

SFB Readers' Choice for Airport Experience

Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) was named No. 1 Readers' Choice for "Airport Experience" in the February 2017 issue of Orlando Style Magazine. The No. 1 Readers' Choice recipients are selected based on survey, referrals and feedback.

Orlando, Universal Receive 2017 Travvy Awards

At the 2017 Travvy Awards, held Jan. 25 at New York City's Gotham Hall, more than 150 brands were honored, including Orlando receiving Gold for Best Family Destination, Domestic, and Universal Orlando Resort receiving Gold for Best Theme Park Hotels, Overall.

Planet Hollywood Observatory Opens

Planet Hollywood Observatory has opened its flagship location in the heart of Disney Springs, transforming its iconic globe into a four-story stargazing observatory with new spaces including an outdoor terrace, a new menu and an exciting new look and feel.

Orlando’s Weekend Events a Sellout

Orlando celebrates a triumphant weekend with a trifecta of event sellouts. Combined, the Billy Joel and Florida Georgia Line concerts at the Amway Center, and the 2017 NFL Pro Bowl all-star game at Camping World Stadium attracted nearly 88,000 in total attendance.

Are Millennials Moving Toward Lux Travel?

The image of millennials within the hotel industry often hasn't kept up with the reality of that generation. Speakers at the 2017 Americas Lodging Investment Summit said hoteliers can no longer expect millennials to confine themselves to lower-end product.

Americans Expect Hotel Fitness Offerings

According to the 2017 Expedia Fitness Breaks Study, the most active travelers are Australians, with a full 55 percent believing it is important to exercise while traveling. Americans come in a close second, at 53 percent.

TSA Expands PreCheck to 11 Airlines

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has expanded its TSA PreCheck to 11 new airlines, bringing the total number of airlines participating in the program to 30. The expansion includes both foreign and domestic airlines operating within the United States.

CDC Zika Information

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), its most current data available at the time of this publishing (Feb. 1, 2017) indicate that 220 locally acquired cases have been reported in the United States, while 4,752 travel-associated cases have been reported. For the most current information about the Zika virus, visit the CDC's Zika page.