Aug. 18, 2016

Preparing for the Next Big Thing

Seven days after it went live, Pokémon Go had an astounding 10 million downloads. Two weeks later, that number had tripled and it became the first augmented reality game to create this level of unparalleled global buzz.

Visit Orlando knows this is only the beginning. Far from a one-time phenomenon, this type of virtual technology is a sign of things to come. Today's world is changing fast and new innovations are altering the way we learn, plan, engage socially and experience life.

To make sure your business is on the forefront of tomorrow's advances in technology, we invite you to attend the upcoming Business of Travel & Tourism Luncheon to be held on Thursday, August 25 at Hilton Orlando.

At this event, after our economic summit that morning, we'll hear from technology pioneer Terry Jones. As the founder of Travelocity, the founding chairman of Kayak and the current chairman of Wayblazer, Jones will offer an insider's-perspective on the current landscape of technology as well as how innovation will drive the rapid change we can expect to see in the future. Learn how to create a culture of innovation and generate ideas that you can put to work in your business. It's a fast-paced and timely presentation you won't want to miss.

Join your colleagues and other leaders in the travel industry at the event everyone will be talking about. Don't delay - register now to attend.

-George Aguel

U.S. Airlines Anticipate Strong Travel Demand for Labor Day Holiday

U.S. airlines expect a 4% increase in passengers flying during the seven-day Labor Day period versus the comparable period in 2015, according to Airlines for America, the leading industry trade group. Total passenger volume during the period is predicted to reach 15.6 million passengers, about 2.23 million passengers a day on average. Expanded schedules and continuing declines in airfares are driving the projected increase. The trade group noted that fares were down 5.2% in 2015 and are down 6% so far in 2016. To read the full Airlines for America press release, click here.

Visit Orlando Talks Tourism With I-Drive Chamber

Chief Marketing Officer Danielle Hollander talked tourism with more than 100 business leaders at the I-Drive Chamber of Commerce luncheon last week. She discussed the destination's record-breaking 66 million visitors and the global marketing strategies aimed at keeping those visitors coming back.

Pictured, from left, are: I-Drive Chamber President Maria Triscari, Visit Orlando CMO Danielle Hollander and Chamber Chairman David Vallillo.

Local Media Get a Taste of 2016 MDM

This week, more than 30 journalists and bloggers attended media dinners to promote restaurants participating in Magical Dining Month, including Morimoto Asia and STK at Disney Springs, Urbain 40 on Restaurant Row and The Ravenous Pig in Winter Park. Organized by Visit Orlando each year, the dinners spotlight menu offerings of restaurants that are new to the Magical Dining Month program sponsored by American Express. The events generate both print and online coverage, as well as vast social media reach.

Each participating restaurant offers three-course menus for $33 from Aug. 29-Oct. 2, with one dollar from each meal purchased donated to local charity Russell Home for Atypical Children. Last year's program contributed more than $160,000 - the largest donation to date - to Elevate Orlando. Visit OrlandoMagicalDining.com today to view the full list of the 95-plus participating restaurants. Diners can return to the site to make online reservations when the program begins Aug. 29.

Virtuoso Travel Week a Success

Visit Orlando met with more than 400 agents from North and South America, the Caribbean, Australia, Europe and New Zealand during Virtuoso Travel Week, held Aug. 6-12 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The conference boasted a record attendance of 5,270 delegates, including 2,488 travel advisors. The invitation-only organization comprises 384 member companies with 738 locations in 40 countries on six continents. The network's member agencies generate more than $12.5 billion annually in travel sales, making the group the most powerful in the luxury travel segment.

Pictured, from left, are: Elaine Blazys, Visit Orlando; Karen Jones, Lynda Coltrane and Denise Kahound of Worldview Travel.

Visit Orlando Teams Up With Theme Parks in NYC

Visit Orlando's Travel Industry Sales Team was joined by representatives of SeaWorld Parks and Universal Orlando Resort during sales calls to New York City last week. The Orlando team visited the offices of global receptive tour operators GTA Americas and Team America, as well as several European and Asian accounts, including Incredible Vacations India, CTrip and L&L Travel. During the meetings and presentations, the Orlando team provided destination updates and shared resources and tips on selling Orlando to their clients.

Pictured, from left, are: Lydia Chen, Universal Orlando Resort; Mike McGaffigan, Universal Orlando Resort; Vanessa Clarke, Team America; Nancy Hahn Bono, Visit Orlando; Gabriel Martinez, SeaWorld Parks; Pasquina DeCarlo, Team America.

Brazilian Stars Film in Orlando for Fall Campaign

Two of Brazil's most recognized TV personalities were in town this week filming a series of fun destination vignettes that will air on Sony Channel later this fall as part of Visit Orlando's fully integrated marketing campaign. Popular TV and movie comedic actress Carla Fioroni along with light-hearted chef and TV personality Maurício Schuartz explored all that Orlando has to offer.

Pictured, from left, at Epcot: Mauricio Schuartz takes a group selfie with Carla Fioroni and Frozen Ever After's Anna and Elsa.

"Evening With the Astronauts" Out of This World

Visit Orlando, in partnership with the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and Keppler Speakers, hosted more 40 select CEOs and high-level planners for an exclusive evening with astronauts Mark and Scott Kelly on Sunday, Aug. 14, during the ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition in Salt Lake City, Utah. The VIP event created an inspiring once-in-a-lifetime experience that wowed attendees.

In addition, Visit Orlando and participating members connected with association professionals during ASAE's Annual Meeting & Exposition held Aug. 13-16. Members in attendance included American Audio Visual, Centerplate, Hyatt Regency Orlando, LMG, Orange County Convention Center, SeaWorld Orlando, SmartCity Telecom, Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort, and Westgate Lakes Resort & Spa.

Pictured, from left, during the "Evening With the Astronauts" event are: Bryan Silbermann, Produce Marketing; Scott Kelly, Astronaut; Lois Schoenbrun CAE, FAAO (American Academy of Optometry); Fred Shea, Visit Orlando; Mark Kelly, Astronaut; and Vickie Keliher, Visit Orlando.

Client Advisory Board Meeting Brings Together
Top Meeting & Convention Clients

Visit Orlando, in partnership with the Orange County Convention Center, hosted the annual Client Advisory Board (CAB) meeting last week, Aug. 10-12. The multi-day forum brings together our top meeting and convention clients to consult on the advancement of operations and services offered by Visit Orlando and the Orange County Convention Center to enhance the overall meeting and convention experience in Orlando. During the event, CAB members had the opportunity to experience a "What's New" tour of International Drive and Sand Lake Road, SeaWorld Orlando or Universal Orlando Resort.

Pictured: Visit Orlando and Orange County Convention Center team members accompanied five CAB members on a behind-the-scenes tour of SeaWorld Orlando on Friday, Aug. 12. Back Row, from left: Jennifer Hoff, Taffy Event Strategies; Linda Adams, Florida Nursery Growers & Landscape Association; Diane Vidoni, National Trade Productions, with guest; and Carolyn Martin, Visit Orlando. Front Row, from left: Ashley Sanchez, SeaWorld Orlando; Ronda Schoeneberg, Visit Orlando; and Shelly Spear, Orange County Convention Center.

ShermansTravel Highlights Orlando for Adults

ShermansTravel, a leading publisher of top travel deals and vacation destination advice with an audience of 1.3 million, published feature story, "Orlando for Cool Kids of All Ages," online earlier this week. The article highlights various neighborhoods downtown and showcases Orlando's authentic dining and drink options, best resorts and unique entertainment offerings. Visit Orlando hosted the writer for an individual press trip in June.

Brazil TV Show Featuring Celeb YouTuber's Visit to Orlando Reaches 64 Million Viewers

Brazilian TV Record's "Hora do Faro" show broadcasted on Aug. 14 featuring famous YouTuber Camilla Uckers' visit to Orlando resulted in 64.3 million viewers. Camilla visited Orlando with the show's host Rodrigo Faro and Brazilian socialite Cozete Gomes. The 80-minute broadcast features Camilla in a variety of exciting and fun situations while experiencing area theme parks including SeaWorld Orlando, Discovery Cove and Gatorland. In addition, Orlando was mentioned and showcased throughout the broadcast with general footage of the destination. The R7 Portal, hosted by Visit Orlando the previous week, also featured the full story as well as one about Gatorland online.

AIA Site Visit Preps for 2017 Convention

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) conducted a three-day site visit with Visit Orlando last week in preparation for AIA Convention 2017. The conference will be held for the first time in Orlando at the Orange County Convention Center next April, bringing an estimated 17,000 attendees over three days with an estimated $18 million in economic impact to the destination. During the site visit, AIA focused on selecting off-site venues for a variety of receptions and dinners it hosts during the conference.

Pictured, from left, at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts are: Tiffany Roe, Informa; Lori Feinman, AIA Meetings; Christopher Gribbs, AIA; Klaus Pichler, Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts; Kristen McKercher, Informa; and Duane Zepeda, AIA.

This Week at the Convention Center

Walt Disney World Welcomes New Princess

Now, for a limited time, a new princess has arrived at Walt Disney World, Elena of Avalor. The Latin-inspired princess is being featured several times a day in a new stage show at the Magic Kingdom.

Last Reveal Announced for HHN26

Universal Orlando Resort announced Tuesday the last reveal for Halloween Horror Nights 26: "American Horror Story," an all-new horror house based on FX's popular TV series of the same name. The announcement comes on the heels of last week's reveal of "The Repository," a paranormal virtual reality experience that blends custom virtual reality technology with immersive real-life storytelling.

Delta to Add Third Daily Boston Flight to MCO

Delta has announced plans for an expansion in Boston over the next 10 months. As part of the expansion, Delta will add a third daily flight from Boston to Orlando beginning in mid-December.

MCO Mid-Year Passenger Traffic Up 10 Percent

Orlando International Airport (MCO) has seen an overall increase of 10 percent in passenger traffic through the first half of 2016, pushing overall traffic volume to a new record.

LEGO Star Wars Day Coming in September

Legoland Florida Resort has announced it will host the weekend-long LEGO Star Wars Day Sept. 10-11. The event will feature the LEGO Star Wars™ Miniland Model Display - seven of the most famous scenes from the six live-action Star Wars™ movies, as well as a scene from the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars™ - all made out of 1.5 million LEGO bricks.

Frontier Adds Service Between Orlando & Madison

Frontier Airlines is adding new seasonal service between Orlando and Madison, Wisconsin, starting Jan. 5, 2017.

Florida Visitor Numbers All Time High

Gov. Rick Scott recently announced there were 57.4 million visitors who came to the Sunshine State in the first six months of this year. It's an all-time record for visitation and is a 4.3 percent increase over the same time a year ago.

U.S. Consumers Spending More on Travel

U.S. retail sales barely budged in July according to data released last week, capping a week of tepid earnings results from department stores and underlining a seismic shift in consumer spending. Americans are splurging less on goods such as apparel and electronics and more on entertainment, travel and health care.

Airline Consumer Complaints Down

Airline consumer complaints filed with DOT's Aviation Consumer Protection Division during the first six months of this year were down 12.2 percent from the first six months of 2015, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Air Travel Consumer Report released Aug. 17.

Most Travelers Are Women

According to recent a Boston Globe article, nearly two-thirds of travelers today are women. Women also comprise 54 percent of coveted affluent travelers with annual incomes of $250,000 or more, up from 42 percent in 2010.

Senators Press Airlines About IT Systems

Two U.S. senators fired off a letter to U.S. airlines Tuesday asking them about efforts to ensure that their IT systems are reliable. Their inquiry comes in the wake of system outages at Southwest and Delta over the past month that led to the combined cancellation of about 4,400 flights. 

CDC Zika Information

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), its most current data available (Aug. 17, 2016) indicate that fourteen (14) locally acquired cases have been reported in the United States, while 2,245 travel-associated cases have been reported. For the most current information about the Zika virus, visit the CDC's Zika page.