On Dec. 4, the county will swear in a new mayor, sheriff and three of six commissioners.
To view past issues of Tourism Matters, click here.
TourismMatters®
Visit Orlando

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 Aquel President & CEO 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

Canada Black Friday

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.
Brazil

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.
Der Touristik

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.
WTM London

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.
Daily Star

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.
2019 Pro Bowl

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.
VIEW MORE STORIES

DID YOU KNOW?

Hotel desk

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

Annual Meeting & Luncheon

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.

EVENTS CALENDAR

AT THE CONVENTION CENTER

These upcoming events at the Orange County Convention Center will generate a combined economic impact of more than $123 million.

Dec. 1-2

Hip Hop Championships
Estimated attendance: 2,000

Dec. 4-6

POWER-GEN International
Estimated attendance: 21,580

Dec. 6-8

FIBO North America
Estimated attendance: 2,000

Dec. 10-12

Marine Dealers Expo
Estimated attendance: 1,300

Dec. 11-16

AKC National Championship
Estimated attendance: 25,000

Dec. 12-15

Jesus Image Conference
Estimated attendance: 6,000

Dec. 15-16

Spirit Cheer
Estimated attendance: 5,000

Connect with Visit Orlando
Official tourism association of the No. 1 destination in the U.S.
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
YouTube

TOURISM AMBASSADORS

 
©2018 Visit Orlando | All Rights Reserved.