Jan. 22, 2016

The Big Business of Meeting

This week 43,000 golf enthusiasts will arrive in Orlando to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the PGA. The organization's annual convention, which has long been hosted in Orlando, is the first of many slated for the destination in 2016. In fact, together with the International Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigerating Expo, next week's attendees are estimated to be more than 100,000 — making this one of the best New Year's starts in recent history.

Recognized as the number one destination for meetings and events in the United States and second for major trade shows, Orlando is positioned to welcome a banner number of conventions in 2016. Some of the shows for the upcoming year include the National Association of Realtors, Microsoft and McDonald's Corporation. Citywide attendance from major conventions is already up 6 percent year over year, and business booked by Visit Orlando for future years has also increased by the same amount.

As we know, conventions equal big business for Orlando, but did you also know that face-to-face meetings result in long-term profit for corporations as well? In fact, nine out of 10 executives say meetings improve their ability to close deals and 97 percent claim they deliver a hefty return on the investment, which is why business leaders are making in-person conventions, trade shows and client events a financial priority for 2016.

The surge in convention and trade show business means more jobs, heightened exposure and nearly $7 billion in economic impact to our community. That's good news for those of us in the tourism industry and all who call Orlando home.

—George Aguel

December Caps Record Year for Lodging

Occupied room nights (aka demand) in December increased 2.5 percent versus the same month last year, setting an all-time high for the month with more than 2.7 occupied room nights. December capped a year in which every single month set a record for occupied room nights. For the year, occupied room nights rose 5.3 percent and exceeded 33 million for the first time. The 2015 average daily rate was $112.00, 4.8 percent higher than 2014 and a record for Orlando. Orlando's occupancy rate averaged 77.0 percent in 2015, up 4.1 percent versus 2014 and the highest annual average since 1997 (79.0 percent).

Visit Orlando Meets With State Legislators During Florida Tourism Day

Visit Orlando's Larry Henrichs was appointed to the FADMO (DMO) Board and participated in Florida Tourism Day at the Capitol on Jan. 20. The event, hosted by Visit Florida, gave industry representatives opportunities to meet with legislators and visit the Capitol. Henrichs met with Senate President Andy Gardiner and Sen. Darren Soto, and Representatives Matt Gaetz, Eric Eisnaugle, Rene Plasencia and Jennifer Sullivan.

Visit Orlando Hosts U.K. Trade Partners at Magic Game in London

The Visit Orlando U.K. team hosted 34 key trade partners at last week's NBA game held at the O2 in London where the Orlando Magic faced the Toronto Raptors. Although the Orlando Magic narrowly lost, it was a big win for Visit Orlando. With two dedicated hospitality suites, attendees ranged from airlines, tour operators, park partners and trade media. The Visit Orlando team was able to network with the industry members in a fun environment showcasing another side of the destination. For many of the guests, it was their first live basketball game so the event was a unique and memorable experience. Outside of this key fixture, the team also carried out an inward mission with dedicated sales calls with top clients BA, Virgin Holidays, Thomas Cook, Merlin Entertainment and the theme parks coalition group to discuss the U.K. market and future opportunities to drive the destination top of mind throughout 2016 and into 2017.

Mexico Travel Agents Visit Destination for First Time, Thanks to Visit Orlando FAM

One of Orlando's Mexican Tour Operators, GTM Operadora partnered with Visit Orlando to host a familiarization (FAM) tour for its top 11 travel agents along with our new trade representative, Ms. Guadalupe Marquez. The FAM group, composed of agents from the regions of Aguascalientes, Leon and Guanajuato, was introduced to the breadth and depth of the destination's offerings. Ninety percent of the participants were visiting Orlando for the first time. Hosted by the Clarion Inn Lake Buena Vista, a Rosen Hotel, the group enjoyed the three main theme parks, I-Drive 360, shopping venues, and some of the unexpected Orlando, including the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum and Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. They even received a special invitation to attend Mango's Tropical Café's Grand Opening.

Orlando Dubbed "Florida's Culinary Capital"

The Visit Orlando Publicity team worked with a freelance writer on a U.K. piece highlighting the best restaurants in Orlando featured on Skyscanner.net.

Join the Conversation on SeaWorld Orlando's Wild Days Weekend #2

Check out this @VisitOrlando Instagram #wilddays post and let us know what you think! Who doesn't love owls - or penguins - for that matter? This weekend (Jan. 23-24), the second one of the three-weekend event, SeaWorld Orlando's Wild Days Weekends is devoted to Penguin Lovers.

Surf Expo Riding the Wave, Celebrates 40 Years

This year Surf Expo celebrates its 40th anniversary as the multi-billion dollar surfing industry's largest and longest running tradeshow. The launch of the tradeshow in 1976 coincided with the establishment of pro surfing and a lifestyle that has captured the imagination of the world. Surf Expo & Emerald Exposition has produced their January & September shows in Orlando for 30 years, starting in 1986 at the Orlando Orange County Convention Center and will continue through 2026. Trade Show News Network has also named Surf Expo one of the top 25 fastest growing shows in attendance. Above, from left to right: Roy Turner, senior vp at Emerald Expositions; Jody Mosley, operations director at Emerald Expositions; Lori Jenks, senior vp of Operations at Emerald Expositions; and Sandra LaFrance, operations manager at Emerald Expositions

Social Media Team Launches New Video Series Spotlighting Destination's Outdoor Offerings

From airboating along the headwaters to the Everglades, ziplining among the treetops to waterskiing on the doorstep of the Magic Kingdom, Orlando's outdoors has a lot going for it. Visit Orlando's social media team has launched a new video and blog series hosted by national travel correspondent Sarah Sekula promoting the outdoor thrills visitors can enjoy in Orlando.

Corporate & Incentive Travel Mag Readers Honor Visit Orlando With Award of Excellence

Corporate & Incentive Travel magazine has honored Visit Orlando with an Award of Excellence for "Outstanding Service to the Meetings and Incentive Travel Industry". The Award of Excellence recognizes those hotels, resorts, conference centers and convention and visitors bureaus that have demonstrated their overall commitment to excellence. The 40,000-plus subscribers are offered the opportunity to vote for hotels, resorts, conference centers and CVBs that effectively hosted their meetings and incentive travel programs based on service and support, and a high level of supplier facilities, attractions, transportation and other criteria. Visit Orlando is a 20-time winner of this prestigious award.

Next Week at the Convention Center

Orlando Hotel Garners AAA Five-Diamond Rating

Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort was one of 10 Florida hotels named among AAA's Five Diamond Hotels list. Out of 28,000 hotels only a select few (.04 percent) make the prestigious list.

Travel Weekly Highlights Local Resort's Take on Farm-to-Table Trend

In a recent Travel Weekly news article, Whisper Creek Farm: The Kitchen's Chef Jason Shapiro speaks about the value of farm-to-table produce and Grande Lakes Orlando's 7,000-acre garden that provides fresh produce to the complex's restaurants, including Whisper Creek.

International Travel Reached Record 1.2 Billion

According to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, 2015 saw an increase in international tourist arrivals by 4.4 percent.

DHS Releases Entry/Exit Overstay Report

On Tuesday, Jan. 19, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security released the Entry/Exit Overstay Report for Fiscal Year (FY) 2015.

Orbitz: "Bleisure" Travel Key Trend in 2016

According to the Orbitz^® Insider Index, one of the key trends to watch for in 2016 will likely include a rise in "Bleisure" travel, or mixing business with leisure, among millennial business travelers.

Survey: Face-to-Face Meetings Priority in 2016

According to a Meetings Mean Business survey of business leaders revealed at the recent PCMA Convening Leaders Conference, "in-person meetings are important to their companies, beneficial to operations and critical to career development."

Why Some Americans Did Not Vacation in 2015

A Skift survey taken in the beginning of 2016 asked Americans about how much vacation they took last year. Nearly 41 percent of Americans said they didn't take a single vacation day during 2015, similar to the 2014 survey.