HOME | ARCHIVE
Visit Orlando - Tourism Matters
 
Join the Conversation
 
SeaWorld

Visit Orlando's social media insiders dive into electric new attractions at SeaWorld Orlando this week.

 

 
Visit Orlando Events
 

webinar

July 12
Power Hour Lunch - Taverna Opa
Taverna Opa

Pointe Orlando, 9101 International Drive, #2240
Orlando, FL 32819
We'll be back at Pointe Orlando in July and will hear an update on International Drive from Luann Brooks, executive director of the I-Drive Business Improvement District.
Time: 12-1 p.m.
Cost: Visit Orlando Members - $25
Click here to register.

July 13
Member Orientation

Recommended for both new members and long-time Visit Orlando members to learn:
• How Visit Orlando markets the area as a convention, meetings and visitor destination;
• The benefits of membership; and
• How to take advantage of the value-added services available exclusively to members.
Click here to register.

July 20
Member Meet-Up Happy Hour - STK Orlando

STK Orlando
Time: 5-6:30 p.m.
Cost: Visit Orlando Members - $15
Click here to register.

Member Presents
Members interested in targeting the meetings and convention market can present their products or services during monthly, 30-minute sessions with Destination Services. Click here to schedule a session.

 
 
Member-to-Member Offers
 

Exclusive Sporting Event
Don't miss your chance to see two of the biggest clubs in Europe when French powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain faces off against English super club Tottenham Hotspur on July 22 at Camping World Stadium. Visit Orlando members save 30 percent. Offer code: VISITORLANDO. Buy tickets today!

 Orange Lake Golf

Holiday Inn Club Vacations at Orange Lake Resort is more than a stay-it is a place to play. Enjoy seven swimming pools, including a lazy river-style pool, waterslides, miniature golf courses, arcades, four golf courses, tennis and an 80-acre lake with plenty of watersports, a fun zone and more. Visit Orlando members save 20-25 percent off your stay. Call 866-892-5890 to reserve.

Citrus Club is offering Visit Orlando members 10 percent off the entire food and beverage total on all new events booked taking place in 2017. If you book two or more events together, you receive 15 percent off the total. Call Citrus Club directly to redeem offer. Offer Code: 2017

Orlando Convention Photographers is offering Visit Orlando members 25 percent off photography services for business portraits, services, meetings and marketing materials. Offer code: 012317

Premier Piano Shows is offering a vendor discount to Visit Orlando Members. Offer provides $500 vendor discount off of any Corporate Dueling Piano Entertainment package (retail prices range from $3,275-5,000 for three-hour show). Click here to fill out contact form with information about your event. Enter Promo Code "VO500OFF". Offer not valid after Sept. 1.

Joust

Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament is offering all seats at $35 for Visit Orlando Members. Click here to purchase tickets and enter offer code VISITORL. Offer expires Sept. 30.

Orlando City Soccer Club is offering Visit Orlando Members discounted tickets to upcoming Orlando City and Orlando Pride games. Click here to find tickets and a promotional code!

Apr7_kaka

United World Soccer Florida Mall is offering Visit Orlando members 15 percent off jerseys such as Orlando City, and $20 off footwear. Members also receive $10 off items already on sale. For redemption, use offer code SaveinMay17 at register at the Florida Mall location.

VR Orlando Rentals is offering Visit Orlando members 20 percent off on any Virtual Reality Rental package. To redeem, call or email with the offer code VISITORLVR and the discount will be applied once the booking is confirmed.

Ember is offering $5 off the regular price at Uncorked! Plan to visit Ember every Wednesday through Dec. 31 for unlimited fine wines, select drafts and hors d'oeuvres from 5 - 9 p.m. Text "Visit" to 407-470-9924 and show the message you receive at the door.

Do you have an offer that you would like to see posted? Submit an offer to Visit Orlando Member Relations here!

 
 
Industry Events
 

K1 Speed Orlando Monday Night Hospitality Special! $12 races, plus $3 mini bowling. Industry employees must show valid ID or recent pay stub. Offer valid Mondays only.

Andretti Indoor Karting & Games, scheduled to open late summer 2017, will host a three-day job fair on July 5-7. For more information on job listings, click here.

 
 
Community Events
 

Through Sept. 10
Sea and Sky: Watercolors and Drawings by Paul Signac From the Arkansas Arts Center Collection
Cornell Fine Arts Museum at Rollins College

Through Oct. 15
Tin Can Tourism Exhibit
Osceola County Welcome Center and History Museum

May19_AndreSmith

Through July 2
Architects as Artists
Art & History Museums - Maitland, Maitland Art Center

Through Sept. 3
Summer of Love: Reflections on Pulse
Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens

Through Aug. 20
Florida Prize in Contemporary Art 2017
Orlando Museum of Art

Through Sept. 3
The Beautiful Mysterious: The Extraordinary Gaze of William Eggleston
The Mennello Museum of American Art

May19_OSC_Identity

Through Sept. 4
Identity: An Exhibition of You
Orlando Science Center

Through July 9
Skylight
Mad Cow Theatre

July 4
Independence Day Open House
Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art

July 4
2017 All American Kids Parade
Historic Downtown Winter Garden

July 8
An Evening with Bill Maher
Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts

July 22-23
Hairspray - Presented by Encore!
Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts

July 24-28
Art of Calligraphy
Orlando Museum of Art

July 26
Art Night Out: Living Room Graffiti
Orlando Museum of Art

July 28-Aug. 20
Some Enchanted Evening
The Winter Park Playhouse

 
 
Connect With Visit Orlando
 

Social Media

Be sure to follow @VisitOrlando on Instagram and Twitter, fan us at facebook.com/VisitOrlando or watch YouTube.com/VisitOrlando for more insider information about the world's most famous destination!

Sign up for our e-newsletter, click here.

Download the free Visit Orlando App for your personalized Orlando experience. The best way to navigate Orlando.

App-store  Google-play

facebook

google plus

twitter

you tube

instagram

President & CEO's Message
 

June 30, 2017

Record-Breaking Summer Travel

George AguelNext week, more than 44 million Americans will travel for Independence Day - making it the most-traveled Fourth of July ever according to AAA! As the number one summer destination, Orlando is ready to welcome these record numbers for this popular holiday.
 
Strong employment numbers, cheaper gas prices and increasing incomes have all led to these high travel expectations. However, Orlando also offers a number of other reasons to visit, including the debuts of several exciting new attractions and abundance of options for visitors of all ages.
 
The Fourth of July is just part of the busy summer travel season here in Orlando. We also expect a large crowd of visiting soccer fans for the International Champions Cup this July 21-23 at Camping World Stadium. The exciting event brings into town some of the best soccer players in the world. To welcome the visiting fans to this event and show support for the loyal fans in our area, the ICC is offering 30 percent off ticket prices by using offer code VISITORLANDO.
 
Once again, there is much to celebrate in Orlando. Happy Fourth of July!

-George Aguel

 
 
back to top
 
From the Research & Insights Desk of Visit Orlando
 
Outlook for International Travel to U.S., Orlando

International travel to Orlando is likely to outperform the overall international travel to the United States, according to the latest report from ForwardKeys, a research firm that tracks 16 million airline bookings a day. Bookings for international travel to Orlando during the next six months are up 2.4 percent, versus a decline of 2.5 percent for travel to the United States. Travel from Brazil appears to be on the rebound with strong double-digit increases in travel to both the United States and to Orlando. Conversely, it appears the exchange rate, economic concerns and uncertainty surrounding Brexit are starting to impact travel from the United Kingdom. Bookings for U.K. travel to Orlando during the next six months are up just 1.3 percent, while bookings for travel to the United States are down 2.7 percent.

 
back to top
 
Visit Orlando Updates
 

China

Orlando's Outdoor Adventures Air in China

Visit Orlando teamed up with Tudou, China's version of YouTube, to create a series of segments showcasing the destination that aired this week for a two-month run and an estimated reach of 15 million viewers. Hosted by "Edison," the first season winner of China's Master Chef TV show, the segments feature some of Orlando's outdoor adventures including Buena Vista Watersports and the Coca-Cola Orlando Eye.

NYT

The NYT Highlights Avatar-Inspired Hotel Packages

Visit Orlando's Public Relations Team assisted with a story appearing in The New York Times (combined reach for print/online 1.2 million) about Avatar-inspired hotel packages in Orlando ranging from value-oriented packages to luxury.

shopping

The Six Best Places to Shop in Orlando

The Visit Orlando Public Relations Team worked with U.S. News & World Report (13 million impressions) on an article highlighting "The 6 Best Places to Shop in Orlando." This story is the first of several articles focusing on the "Best of Orlando" in various categories, including theme parks and dining, that will be out during the summer months.

HFMA

Celebrating HFMA at ANI 2017

Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) held its Annual National Institute 2017 at the Orange County Convention Center June 25-28, with 4,500 people in attendance. HFMA rotates the ANI show between Las Vegas and Orlando and will return to Orlando in 2019.

Pictured: During the show, team members from Orange County Convention Center and Visit Orlando celebrated HFMA Director of Conferences Angela Orlando's 10th anniversary with the association, including the presentation of a cake

 

Brazil

Brazilian Media Outlet Spotlights Destination

Visit Orlando's Public Relations Team worked with Brazilian daily O Estado de Sao Paulo (circ. 268,241) on a 10-page cover story about Orlando. The outlet also published a feature article and released six videos on the Estadão TV website (43.6 million UMV) that highlighted the destination's new theme park attractions as well as shopping, services and accommodations. Additionally, Estado de Sao Paulo journalists posted videos and pictures on their social media channels.

balloons

Blog Features Long Summer Day Activities

One of Visit Orlando's latest blogs highlights a few ways visitors can enjoy the extra hours of sunlight in Orlando this summer, including outdoor activities and attractions as well as ways to experience the City Beautiful like a local.

PBP

Palm Beach Post: New Must-Sees at Theme Parks

Visit Orlando's Public Relations Team assisted with a story appearing in the Palm Beach Post online (867,000 UMV) about what's new in Orlando this summer, ranging from the theme parks to dining and accommodations.

Cvent

Showcasing Orlando at Cvent

In conjunction with members, Visit Orlando's Business Development Team recently attended the Cvent CONNECT 2017 users conference and trade show, conducting more than 200 one-on-one appointments with meeting professionals. In addition, the team networked with the more than 2,200 meeting and event planners in attendance to showcase Orlando's meeting capabilities. These meeting professionals represent corporations and intermediaries that hold thousands of meetings throughout the United States.

 
back to top
 
News About Orlando
 

OCCC

At the Center

Group Meeting Start End Estimated Attendees Estimated Economic Impact
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Inc. 2017 Convocation of Catholic Leaders July 1 July 4 3,500 $6,895,000
Youth Basketball of America, Inc. Youth Basketball of America July 2 July 15 10,000 $9,850,000
Mennonite Church USA, Inc. Mennonite Church USA National Convention July 4 July 8 6,200 $12,214,000
Florida United Numismatists, Inc. Summer FUN 2017 July 6 July 8 5,000 $9,850,000
Solution Tree Inc. PLC Institutes 2017 July 10 July 12 2,500 $2,955,000
American Sportfishing Association American Sportfishing Association ICAST 2017 July 12 July 14 11,000 $21,670,000
International Reading Association, Inc. DBA International Literacy Association ILA 2017 Conference & Exhibits July 15 July 17 6,500 $12,805,000
 

July4

WalletHub: Orlando Among Top 10 for July 4th

WalletHub ranked Orlando No. 9 out of 100 cities as among the best places to celebrate July 4th. In "2017's Best & Worst Places to Celebrate 4th of July," it compared the 100 largest U.S. cities based on how well they balance holiday cost and fun.

Read More

AAU

Orlando Hosts World's Largest Volleyball Event

More than 35,000 athletes on 2,438 teams participated in the 44th annual AAU Girls' Junior National Volleyball Championships June 15-26 at the Orange County Convention Center and ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, attracting some 80,000 spectators.

Read More

Frozen Ever After Dessert Party Reservations Open

Reservations for Walt Disney World Resort's debut of The Frozen Ever After Dessert Party on July 17 at Epcot are now available. Guests will get reserved seating for the "IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth" and enjoy "Frozen" inspired desserts and more.

Read More

Passenger Traffic Up for 2017 July 4th

Orlando International Airport's passenger traffic activity for the July 4th travel season (June 27-July 9) is projected to be 5.6 percent higher than the 2016 holiday season, with the busiest travel days being July 1 and July 8.

Read More

GOAA Approves Ride Sharing Services

At the June board meeting of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, the board acted on a number of issues, including approval of a plan to allow ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft to begin service at Orlando International Airport starting July 1.

Read More

 

UOR

TripAdvisor: Orlando's Theme Parks Among Best

TripAdvisor's Top 25 Amusement Parks ranks Universal's Island of Adventure as the top theme park in the U.S. and world. Discovery Cove is No. 2 in the U.S. and world, Disney's Magic Kingdom is No. 3 and 4, and Universal Studios Orlando is No. 5 and 8, respectively.

Read More

mineblower

Fun Spot's Mine Blower Coaster Now Open

Fun Spot America in Kissimmee opened a new wooden rollercoaster, Mine Blower, last week. The new ride reaches a maximum speed of more than 48 mph and has a rare 360-degree barrel roll, which turns passengers upside down over the loading station.

Read More

Four Seasons Offers New "Daycation Experience"

Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort is offering local residents and non-resort guests a new "Daycation Experience" package that includes a pampering treatment at The Spa, plus access to the resort's pools for the day, a healthy lunch and more.

Read More

Summer Travel Trends Include Orlando

According to travel marketing site Sojern, its latest Global Travel Insights report reveals that Orlando ranks highly for sightseeing among North Americans and Latin Americans. With all of its amusement parks, the city is gearing up for a long summer tourist season.

Read More

Allegiant Announces SFB New Service

Allegiant has announced new year-round nonstop service to Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) from four cities, including: Gulfport, Mississippi; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Newburgh, New York; and Norfolk, Virginia.

Read More

 
back to top
 
Industry News
 

SCOTUS

SCOTUS Unanimously Reinstates Travel Ban

The U.S. Supreme Court gave the Trump administration the go-ahead Monday to begin enforcing part of the president's executive order restricting travel from six predominately Muslim countries. Photo by Daderot

Read More

U.S. Travelers See Airport Security Improve

U.S. airport security wait times and screening measures have seemingly improved for travelers. According to a survey by Travel Leaders Group, overall airport security satisfaction hit 67.5 percent this year, up 3.9 percent from last year.

Read More

 

mobile

Mobile Travel Bookings Surging

Mobile travel booking continues to grow, with 40 percent of all digital travel sales expected to come from smartphones and tablets this year, according to a forecast by market research company eMarketer. That's a 16.7 percent increase.

Read More

CDC Zika Information

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), its most current data available at the time of this writing (for the period of Jan. 1 - June 28, 2017) indicate that 1 locally acquired case has been reported in the United States, while 142 travel-associated cases have been reported. For the most current information about the Zika virus, visit the CDC's Zika page.

 
back to top
 
 
Tourism Ambassadors
 
Academy Sports ARDA Bags BB&T British Airways
Clear Channel Outdoor Darden Florida Distributing Company Florida Hospital The Florida Mall
IOA The Mall at Millenia Orlando Economic Development Commission Orlando Health Orlando International Airport
Orlando Magic Orlando Premium Outlets OUC Orlando Sanford Airport Smart City
    Tupperware Brands    
 
back to top