|
Featured Event
|
| |
Dec. 7
Annual Meeting and Luncheon
Hilton Orlando
6001 Destination Pkwy.
Orlando, FL 32819
Click here to register now!
|
|
|
|
|
Join the Conversation
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Visit Orlando Events
|
| |
|
Nov. 8
Power Hour Lunch - Last of 2017!
Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
Universal City Walk
6000 Universal Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32819
Time: Noon to 1 p.m.
Power Hour is heading to Universal CityWalk! It's a great opportunity to connect with fellow members over a fun meal from Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. All attendees will have complimentary valet parking.
Cost: $25 for Visit Orlando members
Click here to register.
Dec. 12
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.
• How to take advantage of the value-added services available exclusively to members.
Click here to register.
Dec. 14
Member Meet-Up Happy Hour
Topgolf Orlando
9395 Universal Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32819
Time: 5 - 6:30 p.m.
Cost: Visit Orlando members, $20
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 |
| |
Holiday Inn Club Vacations at Orange Lake Resort is more than a stay - it's 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 to 25 percent off their stay. Call 866-892-5890 to reserve.
Citrus Club is offering Visit Orlando members 10 percent off food and beverage on all new events booked in 2017. Book two or more events together and receive 15 percent off the total. Call Citrus Club to redeem. 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
Balmoral Resort Florida is offering stays starting at $99 for Visit Orlando members. Stay at the fabulous new Balmoral vacation home resort at Haines City, just minutes from Legoland. Contemporary homes with private pools and spacious townhomes, just steps from the clubhouse. $99 for townhome, $125 for a pool home. Use code VOM for redemption by calling 866-6-VILLAS or email bookings@feltrimresorts.com. Subject to availability. Some restrictions may apply.
Roy's Restaurant $20 dining credit! May be redeemed for any dining purchase. Valid in main dining room for dinner only. Cannot be used for tax, gratuity or gift card purchases. No cash value. Not valid with any promotional offers, including Aloha Hour. One redemption per table. Provide the offer code: VOMember2Member, on Open Table or to the host when making reservations.
Orlando Watersports Complex is offering half-price riding every Wednesday from 4 p.m. to close during summer hours, and from 2 p.m. to close during winter hours. Offer code: VOM2M
Do you have an offer you would like to see posted? Submit an offer to Visit Orlando Member Relations here.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Industry Events
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Community Events
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| Connect With Visit Orlando |
| |
|
Follow us for stories on Orlando!
Download the free Visit Orlando App for your personalized Orlando experience. The best way to navigate Orlando.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
| President & CEO's Message |
| |
|
November 3, 2017
Teaming Up to Promote Orlando Sports
Orlando is continually adding new, high-impact conventions that generate millions in economic impact to the destination. This week, for the first time, we proudly welcomed the TEAMS Conference & Expo, the world's leading conference and expo for the sports-event industry.
Visit Orlando and the Central Florida Sports Commission teamed up to host the conference, working together to showcase Orlando's rapid evolution into a respected sports tourism destination. I was privileged to welcome the group and offer opening remarks.
More than 1,000 attendees were able to experience Orlando's unique sports offerings, with tours of the Orange County Convention Center and ESPN Wide World of Sports, as well as breakout sessions at the Golf Channel, WWE Performance Center, USTA National Campus and Amway Center. In addition, TEAMS focused on the explosive growth of e-sports - an area where Orlando has seen some recent success - detailing how digital sports events stand to impact venues, destinations and the travel industry.
Conference organizer Timothy Schneider summed it up best when he described meeting in Orlando as "an unparalleled opportunity to showcase the sports industry in exciting ways in a destination known for innovation." We couldn't agree more!
On a closing note, all of us at Visit Orlando look forward to seeing you Dec. 7 at Hilton Orlando for our Annual Meeting & Luncheon. Make sure to register today, as spots always fill up fast!
-George Aguel
|
|
|
|
| |
| back to top |
| |
| From the Research & Insights Desk of Visit Orlando |
| |
Economic Conditions Favorable for Travel
The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index rose 4.4 percent in October to 125.9 - its highest level in almost 17 years (December 2000, 128.6). This news follows the announcement that gross domestic product (GDP) rose 3.0 percent in the third quarter, after growing 3.1 percent in the second quarter - the first time in three years that GDP grew 3.0 percent in consecutive quarters. The unemployment rate fell to 4.2 percent in September, the lowest in nearly 17 years (December 2000, 3.9 percent). In all, the economy remains strong and supportive of continued consumer spending on discretionary items, including travel. |
|
|
| |
| back to top |
| |
| Visit Orlando Updates |
| |
|
UK's Top Family
Blogger Visits Orlando
The public relations team worked with UK influencer, Mummy Daddy Me, to create stories on what's new at the theme parks, value attractions and opportunities to relax. Katie shared her experiences with daily posts on Instagram (39,000 followers), YouTube (14,000 subscribers) and other social channels.
Campaign Entices
Visitors from Northeast
Continuing the successful "Never Ending Story" messaging, Visit Orlando launched its fall campaign in the critical northeast markets. The multifaceted campaign, which includes traditional and digital media, will run through mid-November with the goal of connecting with consumers and creating excitement to visit Orlando. Additionally, Visit Orlando worked with NBC's New York Live morning show to create a series of vignettes that showcase the scope of our destination.
Driving Overnight
Visitation to ZORA!
At the annual meeting of the Association to Preserve the Eatonville Community, Visit Orlando Chief Marketing Officer Danielle Hollander shared an overview of Visit Orlando's continued support of the Zora Neal Hurston Festival of the Arts and Humanities (ZORA!) and tactics being developed to help drive visitation to the annual event. ZORA! will take place Jan. 20-28 in Orlando's historic Eatonville.
Educating Media in
São Paulo, Brazil
The public relations team hosted a thank you lunch for 25 consumer and trade media in São Paulo to drive awareness to Orlando and its continuously evolving dining scene. The event focused on everything Orlando has to offer and even included recreating dishes from Orlando restaurants.
IMEX of the Americas
a Huge Success
In conjunction with members, Visit Orlando exhibited at IMEX, the largest industry show in North America. The three-day tradeshow offers opportunities for networking, education and group presentations to key decision makers, senior buyers and third-party planners. More than 3,200 companies representing 150 countries exhibited this year, enabling Visit Orlando to exceed its presentation and appointment numbers from the year prior.
Destination Orientation
Showcases Orlando
The convention sales team hosted 13 meeting planners who coordinate hundreds of potential meetings that represent thousands of attendees for Orlando. During the destination orientation, planners toured 17 convention hotels, experienced a group event at Epcot, and learned how downtown Orlando can provide a great attendee experience by visiting the Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts and Ace Café.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Canada TV Personality
Spotlights Orlando
Orlando was spotlighted on the hit CHCH-DT Morning Live show in Canada. Show host Annette Hamm broadcast live all week from 6:30 to 8:30 a.m., resulting in more than 80 minutes of exposure in this key international market. Hamm shared all of her Orlando adventures in the sunshine, while most Canadians were starting to see some winter temperatures setting in.
Top Citywide Clients
Learn What's New
Visit Orlando and the Orange County Convention Center hosted our Client Advisory Board (CAB) annual meeting, which was attended by 33 of our top citywide clients representing Orlando's largest shows and millions in economic impact. In addition to updating the group on all that's new at the Convention Center and in the destination, we extended our thanks for their great contributions and continued support of Orlando.
Local Students Explore
Careers in Hospitality
Nearly 200 high school students from Orange County Public Schools' Academy of Hospitality and Tourism converged on the Rosen College of Hospitality Management campus to learn more about careers in Central Florida's tourism industry. The "Passport to Opportunity" conference, produced by event management students at Rosen, educated high schoolers on the hospitality industry and its professional workforce through student panels, guest speakers and a special keynote speaker. Visit Orlando is a long standing partner of the Academy and assisted with the conference event planning and logistics.
Visit Orlando Shares
State of Tourism
More than 100 members of the local tourism community met at Mango's Tropical Café to hear Visit Orlando Chief Marketing Officer Danielle Hollander speak on the state of tourism during the I-Drive Chamber of Commerce meeting this month. She praised industry professionals for their hard work during Hurricane Irma and reviewed the major accomplishments of the year, such as an increase in hotel occupancy and Convention Center attendance, as well as Orlando's strong growth across all key metrics, outpacing both state and national averages.
Popular Brazilian Show
Films in Orlando
Visit Orlando worked with Brazilian TV show Planeta Brasil, hosted by actress and celebrity Fernanda Pontes, to film multiple episodes in Orlando last month. The series airs on TV GLOBO International, the most watched channel in Brazil, with a reach of 33 million households.
Conference to Bring
16K Attendees in 2018
Visit Orlando, along with the Orlando Police Department, attended the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) 2017 in Philadelphia to promote the group's upcoming Orlando conference. IACP 2018 will bring 16,000 attendees to Orlando Oct. 6-9.
|
|
|
|
| |
| back to top |
| |
| News About Orlando |
| |
|
At the Center
| Group |
Meeting |
Start |
End |
Estimated Attendees |
Estimated Economic Impact |
| BSN Sports, LLC |
BSN Sports 2017 |
Nov. 4 |
Nov. 4 |
1,250 |
$2,462,500 |
| Irrigation Association |
Irrigation Show and Education Conference |
Nov. 8 |
Nov. 9 |
5,000 |
$9,850,000 |
| Athletic Business Media Inc. |
Athletic Business Show |
Nov. 9 |
Nov. 10 |
4,200 |
$8,274,000 |
| Florida Association of Christian Colleges and Schools, Inc. |
Florida Association of Christian Colleges & Schools 2017 |
Nov. 9 |
Nov. 10 |
1,900 |
$3,743,000 |
| eFinity Events, LLC |
eFinity Homecoming |
Nov. 10 |
Nov. 12 |
2,000 |
$3,940,000 |
| ROC Exhibitions, Inc. |
NFMT Orlando 2017 |
Nov. 14 |
Nov. 15 |
1,400 |
$2,758,000 |
| International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions/IAAPA |
IAAPA Attractions Expo 2017 |
Nov. 14 |
Nov. 17 |
39,200 |
$77,224,000 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Orlando Best Winter
Family Vacation
U.S. News & World Report released its annual rankings of the Best Winter Vacations, and Orlando is No. 1. The rankings highlight 20 global destinations to explore during the year's coldest months.
SeaWorld Announces
2018 Event Lineup
SeaWorld Orlando announced its 2018 calendar of events, including more festivals, concerts and new opportunities for guests to enjoy every month of the year.
Orlando Appoints
First Poet Laureate
Susan Lilley was appointed as the city of Orlando's first poet laureate. Lilley will serve as a prominent fixture in the city's cultural and literary arts communities, promoting poetry and an appreciation of poetry among residents.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Orlando Named
Up-and-Coming City
Yelp introduced a new way to measure the economic health of cities, showing both the current climate for business at a local level and predicting what the outlook is going forward. Orlando made the list of up-and-coming cities at No. 4.
Campbell-Taylor Joins
I-Drive 360 Team
Cindy Campbell-Taylor has joined the I-Drive 360 team. As vice president of sales and marketing, she will oversee all global sales efforts and focus on growing strategic customer accounts and partner relationships for the Coca-Cola Orlando Eye and $250 million I-Drive 360 complex.
Point Hotel & Suites
Top 10 for Value
The Point Hotel & Suites, a Visit Orlando member, has been recognized as a top 10 Best Value Hotel this fall based on traveler reviews and a TripAdvisor price comparison of 200 booking sites for the lowest seasonal hotel rates.
|
|
|
|
| |
| back to top |
| |
| Industry News |
| |
|
Air Traffic Could
Double in 20 Years
The International Air Transport Association projects that airlines will fly 7.8 billion passengers by 2036, nearly double today's numbers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wall Street Journal
Launches Travel Site
The Wall Street Journal is now offering readers a chance to book flights, hotels, rental cars and Uber rides through a new travel site. Subscribers to the paper will receive extra perks, but a subscription is not required to use the site, which is focused on attracting business travelers.
|
|
|
|
| |
| back to top |
| |
|
