Feb. 19, 2016

Orlando Air Traffic Soars

Orlando International Airport welcomed a record number of domestic and international passengers in 2015 - resulting in air traffic topping out at nearly 39 million guests last year alone. The banner year positions the airport even closer to the construction of a $1.8 billion southern terminal building which will allow the destination to host an even greater number of future leisure, business and convention travelers.

The airport welcomed nearly 17 percent more international passengers in 2015, totaling more than 5 million for the first time ever. Domestic passenger traffic also set a record in 2015, growing 7 percent over 2014 to more than 33.7 million.

The good news is this sky-rocketing growth doesn't appear to be slowing at all with projected domestic seats for 2016 anticipated to increase by 9.6 percent and international seats by 8.2 percent. Based on current airline schedules the total number of direct, non-stop seats to OIA is expected to grow by 9.4 percent this year.

The additional capacity currently scheduled for 2016 can be seen as a vote of confidence by the airlines in the destination. Measured in number of additional seats, the largest increases are expected from the United States, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates and Mexico. The largest percent change over 2015 is in seats from United Arab Emirates, which are scheduled to increase 191 percent over 2015's capacity thanks to new air service from Dubai on Emirates Airlines that began last fall.

All in all, Orlando just posted its best-ever air travel stats and we are delighted to see 2016 taking off in much the same way.

—George Aguel

Hotel Results for January

The average daily rate in Metro Orlando was $123.36 in January, an increase of 7.7 percent from last year and a record for the month of January. The occupancy rate in January was 76.1 percent, the highest January occupancy rate since 1998. While ADR rose significantly compared to January of last year, occupancy rates showed little growth from prior year levels. Orlando's occupancy rate was just 0.4 percent higher than one year ago, yet still outperformed most comparisons. Orlando posted a higher occupancy rate, and better year-over-year growth, than Florida overall (71.5 percent, -0.3 percent), STR's top 25 hotel markets (63.6 percent, unchanged from last year), and the national average (54.0 percent, -0.3 percent).

Visit Orlando President & CEO Honored With
Lifetime Achievement Award

President & CEO George Aguel was honored with the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International's (HSMAI) Albert E. Koehl Award for Lifetime Achievement in Hospitality Marketing at the Adrian Awards Dinner Reception and Gala on Feb. 16 in New York City. The award recognizes individuals who have spent a major portion of their careers in the hospitality and travel profession and have contributed to the betterment of the industry in a significant and lasting way.

Orlando Theme Parks Touted on Mundo Selfie

Mundo Selfie - a social media program broadcast TV Azteca, the second largest mass media company in Mexico - produced three segments about Orlando theme parks resulting from a press fam tour hosted by Visit Orlando last in October. The 30-minute show dedicated 10 minutes to Orlando theme parks including a short description of Walt Disney World parks, Epcot World Showcase and the hostess dining experience in Morocco. At Universal Orlando Resort, the program showcased a few of the classic lands and attractions, including Marvel Super Hero Island^® , Jurassic Park^® and Dr. Seuss in Seuss Landing™ in Islands of Adventure, before highlighting The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™. Click here to view a sampling of the show's Orlando segments.

Soccer Cities to Spotlight Footballer Kaká & Orlando

All next week Visit Orlando will be working with the producers of beIN SPORTS' Soccer Cities, a television show that airs in 45 countries. In each episode, the show's host connects with a soccer superstar in their "new hometown" and then the host sets out to discover the excitement of the city. This episode will feature Orlando City's Kaká and the City Beautiful. The show will air this spring.

"What's New in 2016" Results in Brazilian Coverage

As a result of a Visit Orlando Brazilian media outreach using the "What's New for 2016" press release, a large number of publications highlighted new attractions that Orlando will offer this year, ranging from gastronomic options to new entertainment venues in the theme parks, including claratips Blog, Turismo S/A, Revista Eventos, WOW Magazine, Viajadas Blog; Por Agito SP and Versatille Magazine. To complement the coverage, Correio Popular newspaper, which participated in a group press trip hosted by Visit Orlando last November, published a story highlighting several options for tourists to enjoy outside the theme parks such as I-Drive 360 attractions, Lake Eola, and Winter Park and its gastronomic options, among others.

AAU Girls Nationals to Remain in Orlando

Visit Orlando, along with the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) and Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), announced Thursday that the annual AAU Girls' Junior National Volleyball Championships will be held at the OCCC through 2020. The event's economic impact to Orlando is estimated to be more than $52 million per year with participants and their families visiting local hotels, shops, restaurants and other Orlando-area businesses. Shown above, from left: George Aguel, Visit Orlando; Kathy Canning, OCCC; Dr. Roger Goudy, AAU; Peter Kacheris, Waldorf Astoria Orlando and Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek; Donald Engfer, Tishman Hotel Corporation; and Adrian Jones, Merlin Entertainments.

Colombia's RCN Television Highlights I-Drive

Colombia's RCN Television featured a segment of "Traveling Around the World with Criss Hurtado" during its prime-time noon and evening news this past week, with an audience reach of more than 2.2 million viewers. The segment, the third one resulting from Cristina's visit to Orlando in early December, was also posted on RCN's website and social media channels. Click here to view the segment featuring I-Drive 360 attractions as an additional option after the theme parks.

Visit Orlando Captures Unveiling of Mako's Ride Car

Visit Orlando's Content & Social Media team captured the unveiling of the lead ride car for SeaWorld Orlando's new hypercoaster, Mako. Orlando's newest coaster is set to open this summer. Watch here or learn more about it (including fun Mako factoids) on the Visit Orlando blog. Also check out our popular Facebook video post.

Orlando Article Syndicated Across Canada

Freelancer Jim Byers, who Visit Orlando hosted on a press trip Jan. 21-22, wrote an article highlighting Orlando's thriving downtown, which was syndicated across the entire Post/Sun Network (115 outlets). Coverage included top outlets like the National Post, Toronto Sun, Canoe, Montreal Gazette, Ottawa Sun and London Free Press.

Weather Network to Broadcast Live From Orlando

Next week, while most of the nation is wrapped in a "Polar Vortex," Canada's Weather Network will broadcast their morning TV show live from Orlando in what we hope will convey a "Solar Vortex". The show, with an estimated reach of 8.2 million viewers, will broadcast Monday through Friday, 7-11 a.m., from a series of destination locations including Disney, Universal, SeaWorld, Lake Buena Vista Water Sports and the Orlando Eye. By featuring the breadth and depth of the destination - the warm Orlando weather - Canadians will be reminded about what they are missing.

Next Week at the Convention Center

Area Chefs Nominated for James Beard Award

The James Beard Foundation on Wednesday announced the semifinalists for the prestigious Restaurant and Chef Award that recognizes culinary professionals for excellence and achievement. Four Central Florida chefs are among 20 semifinalists vying for Best Chef: South category: Kathleen Blake of The Rusty Spoon in Orlando, Scott Hunnel of Victoria & Albert's at Walt Disney World's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, and James and Julie Petrakis of The Ravenous Pig in Winter Park. Finalists in all categories will be named March 15. Above: Chef Scott Hunnel

WalletHub: Orlando No. 4 for Valentine's Day

Orlando ranked No. 4 among WalletHub's list of 100 largest cities that were not only the most romantic, but also the easiest on the finances this Valentines Day.

Google Street View Coming to Disney?

While social media might be abuzz with sightings of possible Google Street View mappers in the Orlando theme park, Disney or Google have not confirmed such.

"Rockitman" Hits 10,000 Rides on Universal Orlando Coaster

A Tampa-area resident, a.k.a "Rockitman", recently completed his 10,000th ride on Universal Orlando's Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit coaster.

Area Restaurants Receive AAA Five and
Four Diamond Ratings

Victoria & Albert's at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Lake Buena Vista, is one of three Florida restaurants that recently received AAA/CAA's 2016 Five Diamond Rating. Three area restaurants received the 2016 Four Diamond Rating: Lake Buena Vista restaurants Bull & Bear and Capa, and Winter Park's Luma on Park.

Domestic Airlines Increase Airfare

U.S. carriers have matched a $6 round-trip fare hike that JetBlue initiated last week, according to FareCompare. It's the third such attempt this year and second successful one.

The Challenge Behind Adding U.S. Precheck & Global Entry Members

According to a recent Skift article, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) faces a challenge in finding ways to increase TSA Precheck and Global Entry membership from five million to its goal of combined 25 million in coming years.

U.S. Mobile Payment Up 54 Percent

The U.S. market for mobile payments made at the retailer point of sale will increase to $23 billion in 2016, up 54 percent from 2015, with robust growth projected through 2019, according to Packed Facts' recently released report Mobile Payments in the U.S.