On Dec. 4, the county will swear in a new mayor, sheriff and three of six commissioners.
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TourismMatters®
FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO
A Warm Welcome to Orange County’s New Leaders
On behalf of Visit Orlando and our member companies, congratulations to Orange County's newly elected officials.
Mayor-elect Jerry Demings, three new county commissioners (Christine Moore, District 2; Mayra Uribe, District 3; and Maribel Gomez Cordero, District 4) and Sheriff-elect John Mina will be sworn in Dec. 4 at 10:30 a.m. in the Convention Center’s North Concourse. Tuesday’s oath-of-office ceremony at OCCC is free and open to the public, so I encourage you to join me there.
We have a long, productive partnership with all of our Orange County elected leaders and staff, whose support has helped our organization remain successful representing our industry and this destination to the world. We look forward to the years ahead of our continued collaboration that will reinforce our enviable position as the most-visited destination in the nation.
George Aguel
President & CEO
RESEARCH & INSIGHTS
Positive Outlook for the Holidays
The strong domestic economy and exciting new product in Orlando are contributing to an encouraging outlook for holiday travel to Orlando. Advance hotel bookings for Dec 26-31 are nearly 5 percent ahead of this time last year. The holiday period is one of the busiest times in Orlando, with 2017 holiday occupancy averaging 93 percent.
VISIT ORLANDO ACTIVITIES
PUBLICITY
Spreading the News About
Orlando’s Holiday Events
Visit Orlando’s public relations team secured a five-minute segment on CHCH Morning Live Hamilton, one of Canada’s leading morning shows. Lifestyle and travel expert Angie Campanelli highlighted our destination’s holiday events, directing viewers to find more information at VisitOrlando.ca. Campanelli also mentioned the convenience and accessibility of traveling from Hamilton to Orlando with new airline service from Swoop.
MARKETING
Campaigns Going
Strong in Brazil
Brazilians are being encouraged to book travel to Orlando, thanks to Visit Orlando’s nationwide media campaign, which runs through mid-December. Partnerships with CVC, one of the largest tour operators in South America, and FlyTour MMT are also promoting travel to America’s most-visited destination. In addition, a special widget has been placed on the VisitOrlando.com Brazil landing page to help consumers search for flights on Kayak, one of Brazil’s most popular search engines.
TRAVEL INDUSTRY
Educating Top-Selling
German Travel Agents
Visit Orlando partnered with DER Touristik Nov. 12-15 on a destination orientation that hosted 20 of Germany’s top-selling travel agents. DER Touristik is Germany’s second largest travel company and one of Visit Orlando’s key clients in Europe.
TRAVEL INDUSTRY
Showcasing Orlando
at WTM London
With more than 50,000 attendees, making it one of the world’s largest travel industry tradeshows, WTM London took place Nov. 5-7. Visit Orlando and seven member companies conducted more than 50 one-on-one appointments with existing clients and new leads. In addition, our destination’s exhibitor booth allowed members to showcase their product and conduct business with key decision-makers on a global scale.
PUBLICITY
Top UK Paper: Orlando
a Hit for Teen Travel
Daily Star Sunday, one of the UK’s top media outlets, worked with Visit Orlando's publicity team to publish a story showcasing attractions and activities geared toward families traveling with teenagers. The story, “Umpteen ways Orlando wins with big kids," highlights the fact that Orlando offers fun for children of all ages.
WANT TO HELP?
Volunteers Needed
for 2019 Pro Bowl
Fans, families and NFL all-stars will converge on our destination in the days leading up to the NFL Pro Bowl Jan. 27 at Camping World Stadium. Volunteers are needed to staff pregame activities at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex during Pro Bowl Week, Jan. 23-26. Numerous roles are available, so encourage your colleagues, friends and family to sign up and be a part of the 2019 NFL Pro Bowl. View volunteer opportunities here.
A new study commissioned by the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation shows that more than 50 percent of the Gen Z demographic – the largest generation in the U.S. – is interested in pursuing a career in hospitality. Read More
IN THE NEWS
OIA Receives Global Recognition
Florida’s busiest airport was named “Airport of the Year” for its creative adoption of new technology and rapid growth. Read More
Uber and Mears Forge Historic Partnership
Uber users in Orlando can now hail a Mears vehicle through UberBlack, the first deal of its kind in the U.S. Read More
HomeAway to Collect Tourist Taxes in Orange County
The vacation rental-home company will start collecting from its home-sharing clients in 28 Florida counties. Read More
Circus Execs Exploring Theme Park Opportunities
Ellenton-based Feld Entertainment is looking to enter the theme park and attractions business. Read More
Orlando an ‘Unforgettable’ New Year’s Eve Getaway
TripAdvisor ranks our destination among the nation’s 13 best places to ring in 2019. Read More
VISIT ORLANDO EVENTS
Gain valuable industry insights from TripAdvisor, make new business connections and catch up with long-time industry friends. Also, be the first to hear how much was raised for our local charities, Best Buddies and the Down Syndrome Association, during Magical Dining Month. Cost: $95. Register here.