Our tourism industry is working closely with Orange County's new leadership, for the benefit of our entire community.
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TourismMatters®
FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO
Shared Vision Ensures Our Destination’s Success
It’s hard to believe, but Visit Orlando is celebrating our 35th anniversary this year! And while much has changed since our founding, one constant has been the collaborative partnership between our entire industry and Orange County partners.
I am looking forward this year to working with our new mayor, Jerry Demings, and his team, along with the support of our county commissioners, to ensure another successful year in 2019.
Through our county’s leadership and our Visit Orlando members, our team at Visit Orlando is able to aggressively promote our destination on a global scale. In turn, that fuels the economic engine driving our region’s growth, making Orlando a world-class place to live, work and play.
George Aguel
President & CEO
RESEARCH & INSIGHTS
Occupancy Down Slightly as Hotel Inventory Grows
Metro Orlando's average hotel occupancy rate in February was 83.3 percent, down 1.1 percent from February 2018. Demand for hotel rooms matched last year, but occupancy declined due to growth in hotel inventory. The average daily rate for February rose 3 percent to $141.87. Orlando is undergoing its largest hotel expansion in 20 years, adding about 10,000 rooms from January 2019 to December 2020.
VISIT ORLANDO ACTIVITIES
CORPORATE
Introducing the New
VisitOrlando.com
Visit Orlando recently launched a highly visual, mobile-first website that better reflects our destination’s energy, excitement and emotional connections. With more stand-out imagery and compelling video, the redesigned VisitOrlando.com
helps users see and plan their own type of dream vacation, get ideas for a night on the town, or stay up-to-date on the latest tourism happenings. “The new site was designed with today’s viewing trends in mind,” said George Aguel, president & CEO of Visit Orlando, “and it does a great job of conveying all the diverse types of experiences you can have here, whether you’re a family with children or looking for an adult getaway.”
COMMUNITY
Magical Dining Seeks
Charity Applications
Visit Orlando is now accepting applications from local nonprofits for our annual Magical Dining Month in September. Last year, the event raised a record $251,766 for Best Buddies and the Down Syndrome Association of Central Florida. Nonprofits must apply online no later than April 26. Questions can be directed to Kristin Westover at
kristin.westover@visitorlando.com.
MARKETING
Global Radio Stations
Converge on Orlando
Hosting 17 radio stations from key U.S. and international markets, Visit Orlando aired a live broadcast March 25-29 that showcased the breadth and depth of our destination, from the theme parks and I-Drive to downtown and Winter Park. The campaign, which featured monthlong promotions with several member companies, also included live and pre-taped promo spots, a dedicated contest page and social media advertising.
PUBLICITY
Generating Coverage
in Top Canadian Media
Visit Orlando’s publicity team generated coverage in Canada’s top parenting outlet, Today’s Parent, with a story titled “9 fun things to do in Orlando with kids in 2019.” The article positions Orlando as the Theme Park Capital of the World®, covering what’s new at the theme parks, as well as some of the smaller attractions and family-friendly accommodations. Our team also worked with Canada's top newspaper, The Globe & Mail, on
an article encouraging readers to escape winter and book a "sunny getaway" to Orlando.
Looking for something to do in Orlando this April? Visit Orlando’s content team has you covered. In addition to can’t-miss festivals at the theme parks, our destination is hosting Easter festivities, a nationally recognized film festival, art shows, concerts and much more, including the highlights featured on our consumer blog.
CONGRATULATIONS
Visit Orlando board member Thibaut van Marcke, president of Dr. P. Phillips Hospital, will be recognized as a CEO of the Year by the Orlando Business Journal on May 10 at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress.
IN THE NEWS
Universal’s Endless Summer Resort to Open June 27
Surfside Inn and Suites (Phase 1) will be followed by Dockside Inn and Suites in May 2020. Read More
Sesame Street at SeaWorld is Now Open
Guests can explore Abby Cadabby's Garden, Big Bird's Nest, Mr. Hooper's Store and the famous 123 Stoop. Read More
‘Everything Is Awesome’ at New Lego Movie World
Largest expansion in history of Legoland Florida Resort opened Wednesday. Read More
UPCOMING EVENTS
Power Hour Lunch
Wednesday, April 3
Taverna Opa
Noon to 1 p.m.
Enjoy a three-course meal at Pointe Orlando’s Taverna Opa! Be sure to come prepared with your 10-second elevator speech and plenty of business cards.
These upcoming events at the Orange County Convention Center will generate a combined economic impact of more than $153 million.
March 31-April 3
American Chemical Society 257th National Meeting
Estimated Attendance: 15,000
April 7–10
Experimental Biology
Estimated Attendance: 14,000
April 9-11
Digital Dealer 26 Conference & Expo
Estimated Attendance: 1,600
April 9-12
Coverings
Estimated Attendance: 30,000
April 11-13
The JPMA Show: Built for Baby
Estimated Attendance: 2,500
April 13-14
Europa Games Supplement, Nutrition & Apparel Expo
Estimated Attendance: 15,000
DID YOU KNOW?
Orlando International Airport, which had 47.7 million passengers in 2018, is now the nation’s 10th-busiest airport, growing by 6.9 percent last year. Visitors to Orlando account for about 70 percent of passenger traffic at OIA. Read More
Connect with Visit Orlando
Official tourism association of the No. 1 destination in the U.S.
