To view past issues of Tourism Matters, click here.
Tourism Matters - Visit Orlando

October 1, 2021

The World's Most Magical Celebration starts today at Walt Disney World.

Hello,

Today kicks off the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary Celebration, an 18-month event that will draw millions of visitors and boost Orlando's ongoing economic recovery.  

"The World's Most Magical Celebration" promises to be a fantastic extravaganza, and with the return of international travel in November, it couldn't have come at a better time.  

At Visit Orlando, we're building on this momentum with campaigns that inspire consumers in key domestic and global markets to choose our destination for their next trip.  

Research shows that people are ready to travel, but competition is fierce from other cities looking to replicate Orlando's success. That's why targeted marketing, combined with exciting new developments from our theme parks and industry partners, is so important to the future of our destination. 

Thank you, Walt Disney World, for an amazing half-century in Orlando. Here's to another magical 50 years!    

Visit Orlando has launched a dedicated multicultural campaign targeting consumers in three key segments: U.S. Hispanic, African American and LGBTQ+.


Multicultural Marketing Plan

Aiming to drive incremental travel demand and ensure we offer the most welcoming, inclusive destination possible, Visit Orlando has launched a dedicated multicultural campaign targeting consumers in three key segments: U.S. Hispanic, African American and LGBTQ+. 

This integrated campaign — which features a mix of TV, radio, digital and social media — uses custom content to ensure authenticity, create emotional connections and inspire future travel. It runs through November and will earn an estimated 47.6 million impressions in key markets along the East Coast, in addition to Florida, Texas and the Midwest. 

Content creator Michelle Torres took over our Instagram as she tried out Visit Orlando's Magical Dining.


Visit Orlando's Magical Dining  

Only Weeks Left: Time is running out to take advantage of one of the best deals in Orlando. More than 70 restaurants have opted to extend their menus for Visit Orlando's Magical Dining, serving three-course meals for $37, now through Oct. 17. Check out OrlandoMagicalDining.com to view options and book your reservations before it's too late. 
 
Social Media Takeover: Don't take our word for it — local influencers continue to share their recommendations and showcase what you can expect at various participating restaurants across town. Last week, content creator Michelle Torres took over our Instagram as she tried out Visit Orlando's Magical Dining at Cuba Libre in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. Que delicioso! 

Orlando has been ranked the most LGBTQ-friendly travel destination in the U.S.


Orlando is Filled with PRIDE 

Orlando has been ranked the most LGBTQ-friendly travel destination in the U.S., according to a survey by parksleepfly.com. The rankings were based on factors covering LGBTQ+ friendliness, anti-discrimination scores, number of LGBTQ+ events, safety and accommodation options, to name a few. Learn more about upcoming LGBTQ+ events, including Orlando's Come Out with Pride Festival, in our newly published blog post.

Casandra Matej and other Visit Orlando staff attended events across Central Florida this week.


In the Community 

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of speaking to the board of directors at CareerSource Central Florida, an organization that curates local talent for high-demand industries. With labor shortages continuing to impact leisure and hospitality companies across the U.S., this was certainly a timely discussion. I look forward to furthering our partnership for the good of our destination.  
 
Our team also attended CFHLA's Pineapple Awards last night, honoring front-line lodging employees who best embody quality service in our region. It's so important to recognize their hard work, which continues to serve Orlando's economic recovery in invaluable ways. 
 
Finally, I joined Mayor Demings, Mark Tester and many others at the premiere of Disney's all-new nighttime extravaganza, Disney Enchantment, at Magic Kingdom. I must say, this show is incredible! I hope you get an opportunity to see it, along with the many other new and exciting additions coming over the next 18 months.  

Visit Orlando was named 2020 Major Market CVB of the Year by ConferenceDirect


Visit Orlando Named Major Market CVB of the Year

I'm honored to share that Visit Orlando was recently named 2020 Major Market CVB of the Year by ConferenceDirect, as voted on by over 400 of the organization's associates. This is the seventh time in the past eight years that we've won this award, and we're grateful to our member companies whose support makes this type of recognition possible. 

Hotel Occupancy Jumps Above 50% 

For the week ending Sept. 25, Metro Orlando hotel occupancy rose 5.7 percentage points to 52.2%. It appears that after stalling for a couple of weeks, occupancy is resuming its normal seasonal pattern. If the trend holds (barring any new COVID spikes), we can expect to see a steady rise through October. Average daily rate also rose by $5.76 to $114.79.

Across the Industry

Travel Press: Orlando builds anticipation For IPW gathering in 2022 

WUCF NewsNight: Will easing travel restrictions boost Central Florida's economy? 
 
WESH: Officials note highest decrease in cases from previous week to this week

Mercado & Eventos (Brazil): Searches for flights to the US rise as much as 353%  

Northstar: How CVBs are welcoming back events
 
TravelPulse: New study reveals holiday travel trends 
 
Travel Industry Today: COVID cases dropping globally, says WHO   

Casandra Matej
In your service,
Casandra Matej
Casandra Matej | President & CEO
Visit Orlando
Tourism Matters ®
Connect with Visit Orlando
The Official Tourism Association® of the No. 1 destination in the U.S.
Facebook  
Twitter  
Instagram  
YouTube  
Pinterest  
Linkedin  
     
©2021 Visit Orlando | All Rights Reserved.