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Party at Pointe Orlando

Visit Orlando's 11th Annual Party at Pointe Orlando
Pointe Orlando

Click here to register now.

 

 
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watch game

Visit Orlando's social media post alerted visitors ready for Sunday's Super Bowl with "10 places to Watch the BIG GAME in Orlando."

 

 
Visit Orlando Events
 

webinar

Feb. 14
Visit Orlando Webinar

Topic: Research and Insights
Presenter: Daryl Cronk, Visit Orlando's Senior Director of Market Research & Insights
Time:
12-1 p.m.
Click here to register.

w4009_tm_member_meet-up

Feb. 16
Member Meet-Up Happy Hour
Mama Louise Restaurant

7600 Dr. Phillips Blvd., Suite 132,
Orlando FL 32819
Time: 5-6:30 p.m.
Featured Guests: Visit Orlando Market Research & Insights TeamCost: Visit Orlando Member - $15
Click here to register.

Feb. 22
Power Hour Lunch
Ceviche Tapas Bar & Restaurant

125 W. Church St.
Orlando, FL 32801
Time: 12-1 p.m.
Guest Speaker: Thomas C. Chatmon, Jr., Executive Director of the Downtown Development Board/Community Redevelopment
Cost: Visit Orlando Member - $25
Click here to register.

March 2
Member Orientation

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 is a place to play. Enjoy seven swimming pools, including a lazy river-style pool, waterslides, miniature golf courses, arcades, four golf courses, tennis, an 80-acre lake with plenty of watersports, a fun zone and more. Visit Orlando members save up to 10 percent off your stay. Call 407-477-7029 to reserve.

Jan26_annie-russell-interior

Annie Russell Theatre at Rollins College is offering Visit Orlando members $10 off a season subscription. For $55, you'll receive one ticket to A Piece of My Heart and Urinetown, The Musical. Visit rollins.edu/annie for tickets and use code: VISITORLANDO.

citrus club

Citrus Club is offering Visit Orlando members 10 percent off 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 total. Call Citrus Club directly to redeem offer. Offer Code: 2017

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

Crayola Experience is offering Visit Orlando members $7 off the general admission tickets. Tickets must be purchased online at tickets.crayolaexperience.com Enter Store Code: VOM17

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

 
 
Congratulations Members
 

AAA Diamond Award

Congratulations to the Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort, and Victoria & Albert's on receiving the 2017 AAA Five Diamond Award!

Congratulations to the following Visit Orlando hotel members that have received the 2017 AAA Four Diamond Award:
Castle Hotel Orlando, Autograph Collection
Disney's Beach Club Resort
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Disney's Yacht Club Resort
Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas - Jambo House
Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas - Kidani Village
Disney's BoardWalk Inn
Disney's Contemporary Resort
Disney's Polynesian Village Resort
Disney's Wilderness Lodge
Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center
Hard Rock Hotel® at Universal Orlando
Hilton Orlando
Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek
Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress
Hyatt Regency Orlando
Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport
JW Marriott, Orlando Grande Lakes
Las Palmeras, a Hilton Grand Vacations Club
Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando®
Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando®
Loews Sapphire Falls Resort
Omni-ChampionsGate Resort Hotel LP
Orlando World Center Marriott
Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld
Rosen Shingle Creek
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa
The Alfond Inn
The Grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando, Autograph Collection
The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes
Villas Of Grand Cypress Golf Resort
Waldorf Astoria Orlando
Walt Disney World Swan Resort
Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek

Congratulations to the following Visit Orlando restaurant members that have received the 2017 AAA Four Diamond Award:
A Land Remembered
Bull & Bear Restaurant
Cala Bella
Capa
Christini's Ristorante Italiano
Luma on Park
Primo
The Venetian Chop House
Todd English's bluezoo

 
 
Industry Events
 

Texas De Brazil

Texas de Brazil would like to offer $8 off their regular pricing on Hospitality Mondays! Offer valid for up to four guests. This is available for all people within the hospitality industry. Must show business card, check stub, ID, etc. to receive special discount.

 
 
Community Events
 

Feb. 11
Valentine's Concert
Harry P. Leu Gardens

Feb. 16-26
Romeo and Juliet
UCF School of Performing Arts

Feb. 17
75th Anniversary Public Reception
The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art

Feb. 17-25
A Piece of My Heart
Annie Russell Theatre at Rollins College

Feb. 22-March 24
Love's Labour's Lost
Orlando Shakespeare Theater

Feb. 25
Orlando Ballet - A Tribute to Harriett, Best of Broadway
Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts

Feb. 25
Everything Is Rosie!
The Winter Park Playhouse

Feb. 25
Orlando City Soccer Club - Purple Pride 5K
Orlando City Stadium

March 10
Orlando Jazz Festival
Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts

Through March 26
The Great Gatsby
Orlando Shakespeare Theater

Through April 15
Step in Time: Marching Bands of Osceola County Exhibit
Osceola County Historical Society

April 29
A Gift For Teaching, Back-to-School Blast!
Rosen Shingle Creek

 
 
Connect With Visit Orlando
 

Social Media

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President & CEO's Message
 

Feb. 10, 2017

No Winter Blues Here!

George AguelWith this time of year's ideal weather, fewer crowds and many events, February is known by insiders as one of the best times to visit Orlando. I am thrilled to share that we recently received national recognition for this very fact from the well-respected Travel & Leisure magazine, as Orlando was named as a "Best Place to Travel in February" this month!
 
As if our 80-degree temperatures and sunshine weren't enough, our destination also continues to grow the number of special events we offer visitors this time of year. These celebrations take place all over, from the theme parks to downtown, and include activities from food festivals and colorful parades to performances by famous musical artists. This year, we welcome two exciting newcomers, the Epcot International Festival of the Arts and SeaWorld's Seven Seas Food Festival, as they join annual favorites such as Universal Orlando's Mardi Gras and the Downtown Food & Wine Fest.
 
As you will see in this issue, your Visit Orlando team is busy taking advantage of the season and all we have to offer, promoting the attributes of a winter escape to Orlando through creative marketing, public relations, social media and direct-to-consumer campaigns. 
 
Looking ahead, it appears that enthusiasm for Orlando remains strong. Hotel bookings already are pacing ahead for the first half of the year, and the destination is preparing for many new attractions and events throughout the year.

-George Aguel

 
 
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From the Research & Insights Desk of Visit Orlando
 

Advance Booking Outlook for First Half of 2017

Hotel bookings for the first six months of 2017 are ahead of this time last year according to recent data from Travelclick. Overall bookings for the period are up 0.7 percent versus same time last year, with a notable shift between March and April. March bookings are down while April bookings are up; combined bookings for the two-month period are up nearly 4 percent. This shift in bookings is tied to Easter occurring much later this year (April 16) versus last year (March 27).

 
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Visit Orlando Updates
 

Iron Chef

Facebook Live Demo Features Iron Chef Morimoto

This week, Visit Orlando hosted a Facebook Live demonstration featuring Iron Chef Morimoto at Morimoto Asia in Disney Springs, reaching 42K fans at this writing. During the 20-minute demo, Chef Morimoto showed fans how to properly create (including knife techniques for slicing fish) and eat sushi. Fans were also encouraged to post questions to ask the Chef during the demonstration.

hotels

Blog Promotes Spring Break Hotel Deals

Visit Orlando's recent "5 Spring Break Deals for Orlando Hotels & Resorts" blog offers visitors a variety of ways to plan their accommodations such as using VisitOrlando.com's Places to Stay search option, downloading the Visit Orlando app and exploring five spring break accommodations deals. Hotel and resort deals highlighted include The Grove Resort & Spa, Reunion Resort, Hilton Orlando, CoCo Key Hotel, and B Resort and Spa.

Canada

Canadians Wake Up to Orlando Sunshine This Week

All this week, Canadians had the opportunity to start their morning off with a little taste of Orlando as Visit Orlando partnered with Canada's national morning show "Your Morning." The show is the crown jewel of CTV Network's new morning lineup with more than 1.3 million Canadian viewers each morning. The week began with a live broadcast from Orlando on Monday and was followed by daily taped segments each day of the week. Show host and popular TV celebrity Melissa Grelo showcased the Orlando destination beyond the theme parks as she explored dining, shopping, eco adventures and so much more. Visits included K's Restaurant, The Mall at Millenia, Tranquilo Golf Club at Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort, Wild Florida Airboat Rides and Winter Park's Scenic Boat Tour.

Legrow

Canadian Travel Trade Receives Destination Update

The Visit Orlando Travel Industry Sales Team participated in the Maritime Travel/LeGrow's Travel Super Show on Jan. 21-22 in St. John's, Canada. LeGrow's is a leading retail agency with a total of 110 locations in Canada generating annual sales of more than $300 million. Orlando material and information was shared with 850 consumers attending the show. In addition, the team hosted a client event and conducted several destination training sessions, meetings and sales calls with TPI, CAA and LeGrow's, training 40 agents on Orlando's diverse product.

 

airboat

BBC Radio Highlights Unexpected Orlando

The Public Relations Team worked with Andy Mossack, the host of popular BBC Radio nighttime travel talk show "Where in the World is Andy?", on a press trip showcasing Orlando outside the theme parks. Andy experienced nature adventures such as Wild Florida Airboat Rides and Forever Florida as well as smaller attractions including I-Drive NASCAR and The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art. Listen here.

UK Roadshow

Top UK Trade Outlet Publicizes Orlando Roadshow

The Visit Orlando Public Relations Team generated a full-page feature in Travel Weekly UK about the upcoming Orlando Roadshow following proactive media pitching. The Roadshow is a Visit Orlando-led initiative in partnership with Walt Disney World Resort, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment and Universal Orlando Resort and will take place in 10 cities across the United Kingdom, kicking off on March 6 in Manchester and concluding in Dublin on March 30.

Viagem

Press Trip Results in Brazilian Travel Site Coverage

As a result of a Visit Orlando Public Relations Team press trip last summer, Brazilian travel website Viaje Na Viagem (1.6 million unique monthly visitors) recently published an article highlighting some of the most well-known attractions found in Orlando and Central Florida. Those mentioned include Walt Disney World Resort theme parks, Universal Studios Florida/Islands of Adventure, LEGOLAND, SeaWorld Orlando and Discovery Cove as well as the attractions that go beyond the theme parks. "Orlando: O que Fazer" categorizes each attraction under specific themes and gives a comprehensive look into the area attractions. Readers also get the inside scoop on unique tips, tricks and guides to keep every member of the family entertained in the City Beautiful, with each activity categorized by age and personal preferences.

Switzerland

Orlando Seminar Presented at Visit USA Switzerland

Visit Orlando attended the Visit USA Switzerland Seminar held in Zürich last week. This is a key event for U.S. travel from Switzerland, with some 400 Swiss travel agents in attendance annually. During the course of the day-long seminar, the Travel Industry Sales Team updated the agents on Orlando news and sales tools.

 
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News About Orlando
 

OCCC

This Week at the Convention Center

Group Meeting Start End Estimated Attendees Estimated Economic Impact
Tampa Bay Volleyball Academy, LLC MLK Volleyball Tournament 2017 Feb. 11 Feb. 12 10,000 $650,000
International Gymnastics Association, Inc. Magical Classic 2017 Feb. 17 Feb. 18 1,500 $2,955,000
Florida Pool and Spa Association, Inc. dba Florida Swimming Pool Association Everything Under the Sun Expo 2017 Feb. 17 Feb. 18 5,000 $9,850,000
 

Pandora blog

Disney's Pandora to Open in May

Walt Disney World Resort has announced that Pandora - The World of Avatar will open at Disney's Animal Kingdom May 27. Guests will be transported to the world of Pandora, which features floating mountains and bioluminescent plants, and the Na'vi River Journey. Disney also said its Star Wars lands will open in 2019.

Read More

Feb9_US-news-gold

Five Hotels Earn U.S. News Best Hotels Gold Badge

Out of 53 luxury Orlando-Walt Disney World hotels named in the 2017 U.S. News Best Hotels in USA Rankings, five earned a Gold badge by scoring in the top 10 percent of the Best Hotels in the USA.

Read More

Hemisphere Now Open at MCO's Hyatt Regency

Following a $3 million re-design and soft opening, the newly re-imagined Hemisphere restaurant at the Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport is open daily for breakfast and dinner, serving up neo-contemporary world cuisine.

Read More

 

Spring festivals

Orlando Area Festivals Spring Into Action

This city has a host of spring festivals and events to entertain the entire family, including this weekend's Lakeridge Winery Festival and the upcoming Downtown Food & Wine Fest, Orlando Jazz Festival, and March's Mighty St. Patty's Day Festival and Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival.

Read More

Feb9_MardiGras

Universal's Mardi Gras in Full Swing

Mardi Gras at Universal Orlando Resort is in full swing through March 25. In addition to the nightly parade, on 12 select nights, headliners ranging from Fifth Harmony to NE-YO will perform on the Music Plaza Stage in Universal Studios Florida.

Read More

airberlin to Add Service to Orlando

airberlin has announced it will expand its number of flights to all eight U.S. destinations to a total of 58 non-stop flights per week beginning in October, with five weekly flights from Dusseldorf to Orlando.

Read More

 
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Industry News
 

vacation

Family Vacations Remain a Priority

According to a recent AAA survey, more than one-third of Americans (35 percent) are planning to take a vacation of 50 miles or more away from home involving two or more immediate family members this year. The overall volume of travelers remains unchanged from last year, indicating that family travel remains a priority.

Read More

Feb9_jet-on-gate

Air Travel Demand Strong in 2016

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced full-year global passenger traffic results for 2016 showing demand rose 6.3 percent compared to 2015.

Read More

Latest TTI: Domestic Travel Grows in 2016

Travel weathered an abundance of challenges and continued to grow throughout 2016, according to the U.S. Travel Association's latest Travel Trends Index (TTI). The final TTI based on 2016 data shows that travel to and within the U.S. grew 2.4 percent from December 2015, while the forecast component shows that travel will continue to expand at a moderate pace in the near term.

Read More

 

boomers

AARP: Most Baby Boomers to Travel in 2017

Top 2017 Boomer travel trends show that almost all will travel for leisure with about half traveling internationally, according to recent AARP travel research. Most Boomers (99%) will take at least one leisure trip in 2017, with an average of five or more trips expected throughout the year.

Read More

Feb9_airport-customs

International Travel to U.S. Rises to 2000 Levels

International travel's share of total U.S. exports reached 11.2 percent in 2016, according to U.S. Travel Association analysis of the latest Department of Commerce data.

Read More

CDC Zika Information

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), its most current data available at the time of this publishing (Feb. 8, 2017) indicate that 220 locally acquired cases have been reported in the United States, while 4,780 travel-associated cases have been reported. For the most current information about the Zika virus, visit the CDC's Zika page.

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