August 11, 2023

Hello,

One of Visit Orlando's essential roles is to promote the entirety of our destination and its diverse offerings to audiences from around the world. To showcase our region's array of talented artists and cultural experiences, Visit Orlando launched a new arts & culture series.

Through this new series, we aim to showcase diverse art groups, talents and businesses, providing a global platform to tell Orlando's complete story.

We engaged local small business, the Memoir Agency, to capture video footage and photography of more than 50 arts organizations throughout Orange County ranging from Hannibal Square Heritage Center and Sak Comedy Lab to Rollins Museum, Maitland Arts Center and so many more.

This new content creates a valuable library of diverse arts and cultural assets for ongoing promotion of our region's many experiences. Plus, each organization taking part in the photo and video shoot now has new assets to use for their own promotional efforts.

You can find the new series on Visit Orlando's various platforms, including an Orlando Arts Playlist on YouTube, which will continue to be updated with fresh video and social media channels, such as Facebook which recently featured CityArts, a not-for-profit art gallery showcasing local and regional artists. With a combined following of over 2.2 million followers across various channels, including Instagram, Pinterest and TikTok, Orlando's arts scene is set to receive extensive exposure.

In addition, throughout Visit Orlando's blog, there are dedicated sections for Arts & Entertainment as well as Museums & Galleries—pages that spotlight incredible art experiences in Orlando for residents and travelers alike.

Orlando's arts scene is a vital brushstroke on our region's canvas and one of the many aspects that make Orlando, Unbelievably Real.

New Global Representatives Visit Orlando

Visit Orlando's travel industry sales team welcomed newly appointed trade representatives, spanning the UK, Germany, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia and Canada for training. This initiative was crafted to provide representatives with a greater understanding of Orlando and included meeting with more than 30 local partners. Our representatives, now equipped with more in-depth knowledge and personal experiences, are better positioned to deliver impactful presentations and guidance to travel agents to sell our destination.

Make Reservations for Visit Orlando's Magical Dining!

Ahead of the Aug. 18 start to Visit Orlando's Magical Dining, the public relations team hosted media preview dinners at AVA MediterrAegean and North Italia—two restaurants new to this year's program. Attendees included over 20 influencers and journalists representing Orlando Date Night Guide, Tasty Chomps, Bungalower and Attractions Magazine.

An important aspect of Visit Orlando's Magical Dining is the benefit it provides to local nonprofits. In addition to offering outstanding meals at great value prices, it provides the opportunity to support some of Central Florida's great causes. This year's Magical Dining charity beneficiary is The Lifeboat Project. Stay tuned for a video coming soon highlighting how this organization raises awareness and supports victims of human trafficking. Stay tuned for a video coming that will highlight how this organization raises awareness and supports victims of human trafficking.

Go ahead and start making your reservations now at OrlandoMagicalDining.com today.

Attend Visit Orlando's Signature Luncheon

Join us on Thursday, August 24, at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort for Visit Orlando's Insights Luncheon & General Session. During the morning session, Visit Orlando's leadership team, Chief Sales Officer Mike Waterman, Chief Marketing Officer Danielle Hollander and Senior Corporate Counsel Stan Rubins will give key updates and insights to help with your 2024 business plan. President of The Center for Generational Kinetics Jason Dorsey will deliver an interactive presentation with new insights into Gen Z and working across generations during the luncheon. Corporate tables are available for purchase by contacting Kelly.Kinney@visitorlando.com.

Hotel Metrics

For the week ending August 5, 2023, Metro Orlando occupancy was 67.8%, down from last week's 71.9% rate and down 7.7% from the same week last year. Average Daily Rate was $166.33, down 0.4% from the same week last year.

Across the Industry

2023 Prevue Visionary Awards: Visit Orlando has been nominated for a prestigious Visionary Award by Prevue Meetings & Incentives magazine. This recognition reflects the satisfaction and trust meeting & incentive planners have placed in Visit Orlando for their event hosting needs. Please take a moment to support us with a vote by using the following link: 2023 Visionary Awards - Prevue Meetings & Incentives. Voting is open now until Aug. 24.

Around the Destination

I-Drive Chamber Luncheon: This week, the International Drive Resort Area Chamber of Commerce held their monthly luncheon series. The focus this month was on an update from Universal Orlando Resort.

Global Cynergies FAM: Global Cynergies, an organization that assists with sourcing hotels and venues to plan offsite meetings in hotels, resorts and convention centers, recently visited for a Visit Orlando familiarization trip (FAM). They explored the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando and its accommodations geared towards groups, including 750 guest rooms and 42,000 square feet of meeting space. Our FAMs are important to connect top meeting planners with Visit Orlando members and learn about the many products and services available to them.

Visit Orlando Engaged!

ASAE Annual Meeting: This week, Visit Orlando and the Orange County Convention Center attended the 2023 ASAE Annual Meeting in Atlanta, GA, to promote Orlando as a top meeting destination to more than 5,200 members. We connected with key decision-makers from trade associations and membership societies, resulting in over 200 opportunities to host citywide and in-house groups around our destination.

FPRA Conference: The Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA) hosted its annual conference in Orlando across four days. The event included keynote speakers, breakout sessions, networking and social opportunities, and its annual Golden Image Awards Banquet. Visit Orlando's VP of Communications Denise Spiegel shared about the Orlando region's global brand "Unbelievably Real" with Orlando Economic Partnership's VP, Marketing & Brand Management Laureen Martinez, APR, during a "Cultivating an Iconic Brand Through Partnership" presentation.

Epcot Media Preview: Our social media team attended a media preview for Epcot International Food & Wine Festival at Walt Disney World Resort. During the event, the team visited Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker Brew-Wing Labs and tasted the brand-new pickle milkshake, the Unnecessarily Spicy, Yet Extremely Tasty Scotch Bonnet Pepper-Curry wings and other offerings. This year's Food & Wine Festival runs until Nov. 18 with more than 25 global marketplace food booths.

In the News

Tasty Chomps: Michelin starred Knife & Spoon debuts new "Green Menu" highlighting sustainable Florida at Grand Lakes Orlando

FamilyVacationist: 8 grandparent-grandkid vacations for active seniors (2023)

USA Today: Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida opens doors to Minion Land Friday

Orlando Sentinel: Orlando pitches its autonomous Swan Shuttle, which starts Aug. 20