From Microsoft Ignite to Orlando's most pet-friendly hotels, here's your weekly look at what's happening across America's most visited destination.
Microsoft Ignite Returning to Orlando Next Week
On Monday, Microsoft Ignite — the company's largest event for developers and IT professionals — will return to Orlando for the third consecutive year. The conference, which sold out months in advance, is expected to draw more than 26,000 attendees and generate $51 million in economic impact. In partnership with the Orange County Convention Center, Visit Orlando is proud to work with companies like Microsoft to facilitate high-impact events that showcase Orlando as a world-class business destination. Click the video above to see a testimonial about Orlando being the perfect fit.
British Airways Partnership Targets No. 1 Overseas Market
To drive visitation from our leading overseas market, Visit Orlando is partnering with British Airways and the UK's top news brand, Mail Metro Media, on a digital campaign targeting leisure travel for London's Gatwick Airport. Complementing our marketing efforts, we also secured publicity in one of the UK's largest regional newspapers, Manchester Evening News, with a story that encouraged off-peak travel by highlighting Orlando for adults.
Orlando Ranked Best Vacation City for Your Wallet
The value of an Orlando vacation is a key message that resonates with travelers, and a story in USA Today this week shows why. According to GOBankingRates, Orlando is the nation's "most affordable vacation destination" based on a combination of airfare, hotel prices, food costs and drink costs. "There are plenty of inexpensive things to do," the study finds, and "the average cost of a flight is just $246."
Working to Attract Visitors from Argentina
Visitation from Argentina showed strong gains in 2018, and we're working to sustain that growth through key relationships with the country's leading tour operators. Last month, Visit Orlando partnered with several member companies to host destination seminars for over 500 travel professionals in Buenos Aires, Rosario and Mendoza. In addition, our trip included promoting Aerolíneas Argentinas' first direct flights from Buenos Aires, which run three times a week from Dec. 9 to March 21.
OTHER NEWS FROM VISIT ORLANDO
» Make sure to join us Dec. 5 at Hilton Orlando for Visit Orlando's Annual Meeting & Luncheon. More than 1,000 industry and community leaders are expected to attend, and we'd love for you to be among them.
» With help from our publicity team, Forbes recently ran a story featuring "The Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in Orlando." Making the list: Loews Portofino Bay; the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Lakes; Castle Hotel; Grand Bohemian; Hard Rock at Universal Studios; Rosen Shingle Creek and Hyatt Place Across From Universal Orlando Resort.
» Our conventions sales team joined more than 600 meeting planners and industry professionals at the Destination Southeast tradeshow last month at Margaritaville Orlando Resort. The event helped us network with key decision-makers and engage in face-to-face appointments.
