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Tourism Matters - Visit Orlando

October 22, 2021

Visit Orlando’s Most Magical Gathering Contest, which runs through Nov. 29, has already produced over 3,000 entries.

Hello,

Last week’s announcement about Visit Orlando’s Most Magical Gathering Contest has made a big splash, receiving publicity in media outlets such as Forbes, TravelPulse and multiple theme park blogs. 
 
Contestants submit a brief essay on why they and their family need a Magical Gathering, and what milestones they would celebrate during Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary. A group of up to 50 family and friends will win the trip of a lifetime, March 4-7, 2022. 
 
This incredible promotion, which runs through Nov. 29, has already produced over 3,000 entries, expanding our database of loyal fans. More importantly, it is generating fresh excitement about visiting Orlando, keeping our destination top of mind in a highly competitive travel landscape.  
 
We are thrilled to share such a unique opportunity with our partners at Disney — and one lucky group of winners! The real victor, of course, is Orlando, as we continue to implement creative strategies that increase visitation and generate positive economic impact.  

A production team spent four weeks filming guest rooms, meeting spaces and other key features of our convention hotels, covering over 45 locations.


Orlando in 3D: The Ultimate Virtual Tour  

Our Orlando Virtual Tours website tool continues growing in popularity, especially with the increasing demand for virtual site visits

We recently decided to expand on this library of interactive virtual experiences, providing an immersive look at even more locations across our destination. A production team spent four weeks filming guest rooms, meeting spaces and other key features of our convention hotels, covering over 45 locations in all. Content gathered from this shoot will serve as a great tool for our convention sales team. 

There may be no replacement for an in-person look, but Orlando’s virtual tours — just like the destination itself — are unlike anything else.  

Volleyball’s Outsized Economic Impact on Orlando

We’re proud to share that the 48th AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships has been named a 2020-2021 Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism by Sports Destination Management. The event welcomed 135,000 attendees and created $173 million in economic impact. 
 
Putting this award in context, in June 2020 the 47th AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships was the first post-COVID event at the Orange County Convention Center. Since then, the facility has hosted more than 130 events — by far the most in America.
 

Atlanta blogger @adrianalately took over our Instagram showcasing SeaWorld Orlando’s Spooktacular.


A Spooky Instagram Takeover 

Last week we hosted Atlanta blogger @adrianalately for an Instagram takeover showcasing SeaWorld Orlando’s Spooktacular. This family-friendly Halloween event was a perfect fit for Adriana to explore, as she and her son experienced one of the most popular seasonal activities in Orlando. 
 
The takeover resulted in over 63,000 impressions and was reshared — or should we say, reanimated? — by SeaWorld Orlando on its Instagram channel. We love when our partners get into the spirit of things! 

Orlando has been voted North America's Leading City Break Destination in the 2021 World Travel Awards


One Award Down, Two to Go 

Orlando has been voted North America's Leading City Break Destination in the 2021 World Travel Awards — and we are still up for two more awards in the “Global” category: World's Leading Theme Park Destination and World's Leading City Break Destination. Want to push us over the top? Voting is open through Oct. 24.

Clockwise from top left: Casandra Matej appeared on “In Conversation with … NKBA’s Suzie Williford"; Casandra speaking to local Orlando Chamber presidents; Visit Orlando's Milestone lunch; Casandra and her son John join Steve Hogan at Feast on the 50.


Around the Destination

NKBA Podcast: In advance of the National Kitchen & Bath Association holding its convention in Orlando in February, this week I appeared on the talk series “In Conversation with … NKBA’s Suzie Williford.” We discussed Orlando’s leadership in safe meetings and a variety of other topics about our destination. Watch the episode here
 
Chamber Connections: I was honored to share Visit Orlando updates with local business leaders Monday as part of the monthly Chamber Meet & Greet. On Tuesday, I also had the pleasure of dining with several leaders of Orlando’s Hispanic community, including Visit Orlando board member Diana Font, a wonderful ambassador for the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando.  
 
Congratulations to all Visit Orlando team members who recently celebrated anniversary milestones. We enjoyed a lunch this week to honor their service and dedication to the organization, be it five years or 30. We see you and appreciate you! 
 
Feast on the 50: Finally, I want to thank Steve Hogan and Florida Citrus Sports for putting on a very fun Feast on the 50 last week at Camping World Stadium. My son John and I really enjoyed the food, games, fireworks and meeting other families in our community.  
 

Weekly Hotel Occupancy Rises to Nearly 60% 

For the week ending Oct. 16, Metro Orlando hotel occupancy rose 3.9 percentage points to just under 60%, the highest since the first week of August. Average daily rate rose 66 cents to $130.18. 

Across the Industry

OBJ: Orange County's summer resort tax regain some, but not all, ground due to COVID surge
 
WFTV: Orlando City officials break ground on new 28-acre interactive park
 
Attractions Magazine: Aquatica Orlando announces Reef Plunge water slide for 2022 

Orlando Weekly: Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort to open four new restaurants  

Orlando Sentinel: International travel back next month; hope for Orlando's tourism industry 
 
WFTV: Orlando announces pledge for businesses to operate on 100% solar energy by 2030 
 
MeetingMentor: What's new for destinations, hotels and convention centers  

Northstar: How CVBs are welcoming back events 

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.
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Visit Orlando



About Visit Orlando
6277 Sea Harbor Drive, Suite 400, Orlando, FL 32821, US

Visit Orlando is The Official Tourism Association® for Orlando, the most visited destination in the United States and Theme Park Capital of the World®. A not-for-profit trade association that brands, markets and sells the Orlando destination globally, Visit Orlando represents 1,100 member companies comprising every segment of Central Florida’s tourism community.


2021 Visit Orlando. All rights reserved.
Tourism Matters - Visit Orlando

October 22, 2021

Visit Orlando’s Most Magical Gathering Contest, which runs through Nov. 29, has already produced over 3,000 entries.

Hello Michele,

Last week’s announcement about Visit Orlando’s Most Magical Gathering Contest has made a big splash, receiving publicity in media outlets such as Forbes, TravelPulse and multiple theme park blogs. 
 
Contestants submit a brief essay on why they and their family need a Magical Gathering, and what milestones they would celebrate during Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary. A group of up to 50 family and friends will win the trip of a lifetime, March 4-7, 2022. 
 
This incredible promotion, which runs through Nov. 29, has already produced over 3,000 entries, expanding our database of loyal fans. More importantly, it is generating fresh excitement about visiting Orlando, keeping our destination top of mind in a highly competitive travel landscape.  
 
We are thrilled to share such a unique opportunity with our partners at Disney — and one lucky group of winners! The real victor, of course, is Orlando, as we continue to implement creative strategies that increase visitation and generate positive economic impact.  

A production team spent four weeks filming guest rooms, meeting spaces and other key features of our convention hotels, covering over 45 locations.


Orlando in 3D: The Ultimate Virtual Tour  

Our Orlando Virtual Tours website tool continues growing in popularity, especially with the increasing demand for virtual site visits

We recently decided to expand on this library of interactive virtual experiences, providing an immersive look at even more locations across our destination. A production team spent four weeks filming guest rooms, meeting spaces and other key features of our convention hotels, covering over 45 locations in all. Content gathered from this shoot will serve as a great tool for our convention sales team. 

There may be no replacement for an in-person look, but Orlando’s virtual tours — just like the destination itself — are unlike anything else.  

Volleyball’s Outsized Economic Impact on Orlando

We’re proud to share that the 48th AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships has been named a 2020-2021 Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism by Sports Destination Management. The event welcomed 135,000 attendees and created $173 million in economic impact. 
 
Putting this award in context, in June 2020 the 47th AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships was the first post-COVID event at the Orange County Convention Center. Since then, the facility has hosted more than 130 events — by far the most in America.
 

Atlanta blogger @adrianalately took over our Instagram showcasing SeaWorld Orlando’s Spooktacular.


A Spooky Instagram Takeover 

Last week we hosted Atlanta blogger @adrianalately for an Instagram takeover showcasing SeaWorld Orlando’s Spooktacular. This family-friendly Halloween event was a perfect fit for Adriana to explore, as she and her son experienced one of the most popular seasonal activities in Orlando. 
 
The takeover resulted in over 63,000 impressions and was reshared — or should we say, reanimated? — by SeaWorld Orlando on its Instagram channel. We love when our partners get into the spirit of things! 

Orlando has been voted North America's Leading City Break Destination in the 2021 World Travel Awards


One Award Down, Two to Go 

Orlando has been voted North America's Leading City Break Destination in the 2021 World Travel Awards — and we are still up for two more awards in the “Global” category: World's Leading Theme Park Destination and World's Leading City Break Destination. Want to push us over the top? Voting is open through Oct. 24.

Clockwise from top left: Casandra Matej appeared on “In Conversation with … NKBA’s Suzie Williford"; Casandra speaking to local Orlando Chamber presidents; Visit Orlando's Milestone lunch; Casandra and her son John join Steve Hogan at Feast on the 50.


Around the Destination

NKBA Podcast: In advance of the National Kitchen & Bath Association holding its convention in Orlando in February, this week I appeared on the talk series “In Conversation with … NKBA’s Suzie Williford.” We discussed Orlando’s leadership in safe meetings and a variety of other topics about our destination. Watch the episode here
 
Chamber Connections: I was honored to share Visit Orlando updates with local business leaders Monday as part of the monthly Chamber Meet & Greet. On Tuesday, I also had the pleasure of dining with several leaders of Orlando’s Hispanic community, including Visit Orlando board member Diana Font, a wonderful ambassador for the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando.  
 
Congratulations to all Visit Orlando team members who recently celebrated anniversary milestones. We enjoyed a lunch this week to honor their service and dedication to the organization, be it five years or 30. We see you and appreciate you! 
 
Feast on the 50: Finally, I want to thank Steve Hogan and Florida Citrus Sports for putting on a very fun Feast on the 50 last week at Camping World Stadium. My son John and I really enjoyed the food, games, fireworks and meeting other families in our community.  
 

Weekly Hotel Occupancy Rises to Nearly 60% 

For the week ending Oct. 16, Metro Orlando hotel occupancy rose 3.9 percentage points to just under 60%, the highest since the first week of August. Average daily rate rose 66 cents to $130.18. 

Across the Industry

OBJ: Orange County's summer resort tax regain some, but not all, ground due to COVID surge
 
WFTV: Orlando City officials break ground on new 28-acre interactive park
 
Attractions Magazine: Aquatica Orlando announces Reef Plunge water slide for 2022 

Orlando Weekly: Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort to open four new restaurants  

Orlando Sentinel: International travel back next month; hope for Orlando's tourism industry 
 
WFTV: Orlando announces pledge for businesses to operate on 100% solar energy by 2030 
 
MeetingMentor: What's new for destinations, hotels and convention centers  

Northstar: How CVBs are welcoming back events 

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.