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Visit Orlando - Tourism Matters
 
Featured Event
 
Business Insights Luncheon

Aug. 23
Business Insights Luncheon & Economic Forum

Hilton Orlando
6001 Destination Pkwy.
Orlando, FL 32819
Click here to register now!

 

 
Join the Conversation
 
SeaWorld

Visit Orlando's social team offers suggestions on summer cocktails to enjoy this season. Check out some of the best refreshments across the destination - and let us know your favorite, too!

 

 
Visit Orlando Events
 

webinar

Aug. 31
Member Meet-Up Happy Hour

Ace Café Orlando
Meet with fellow members and enjoy the dueling-piano stylings of Premier Piano Shows while experiencing the newest downtown venue everyone's talking about.
Time: 5 to 6:30 p.m.
Cost: $15 for Visit Orlando members
Click here to register.

Sept. 7
Member Orientation

Recommended for both new members and long-time Visit Orlando members to learn:
• How Visit Orlando markets the area as a convention, meetings and visitor destination.
• The benefits of membership.
• How to take advantage of the value-added services available exclusively to members.
Click here to register.

power hour

Sept. 13
Power Hour Lunch
Tapa Toro

Time: Noon to 1 p.m.
Cost: $25 for Visit Orlando members
Click here to register.

Member Presents
Members interested in targeting the meetings and convention market can present their products or services during monthly, 30-minute sessions with Destination Services. Click here to schedule a session.

 
 
Member-to-Member Offers
 

Holiday Inn Club Vacations at Orange Lake Resort  is more than a stay - it's a place to play. Enjoy seven swimming pools, including a lazy river-style pool, waterslides, miniature golf courses, arcades, four golf courses, tennis and an 80-acre lake with plenty of watersports, a fun zone and more. Visit Orlando members save 20 to 25 percent off their stay. Call 866-892-5890 to reserve.

Citrus Club is offering Visit Orlando members 10 percent off food and beverage on all new events booked in 2017. Book two or more events together and receive 15 percent off the total. Call Citrus Club to redeem. Offer Code: 2017

Orlando Convention Photographers is offering Visit Orlando members 25 percent off photography services for business portraits, services, meetings and marketing materials. Offer code: 012317

Premier Piano Shows is offering a vendor discount to Visit Orlando members. Offer provides $500 vendor discount off any Corporate Dueling Piano Entertainment package (retail prices range from $3,275 to $5,000 for three-hour shows). Click here to fill out contact form with information about your event. Promo Code VO500OFF. Offer not valid after Sept. 1.

Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament is offering all seats at $35 for Visit Orlando members. Click here to purchase tickets. Enter offer code VISITORL. Offer expires Sept. 30.

Orlando City Soccer Club is offering Visit Orlando members discounted tickets to upcoming Orlando City and Orlando Pride games. Click here to find tickets and a promotional code.

VR Orlando Rentals is offering Visit Orlando members 20 percent off any virtual reality rental package. To redeem, call or email with the offer code VISITORLVR. The discount will be applied once the booking is confirmed.

Ember is offering $5 off the regular price at Uncorked! Visit Ember every Wednesday from 5 to 9 p.m. through Dec. 31 for unlimited fine wines, select drafts and hors d'oeuvres. Text "Visit" to 407-470-9924 and show the message you receive at the door.

Do you have an offer you would like to see posted? Submit an offer to Visit Orlando Member Relations here.

 
 
Industry Events
 

iFLY Orlando will be hosting an All Abilities Night Aug. 23 in which people with disabilities can experience flight at a discounted price.

CMAA Charity Golf event benefiting Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children: Sept. 18 at Interlachen Country Club. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Roy Schindele at 407-876-8001.

 
 
Community Events
 

Through Aug. 20
Florida Prize in Contemporary Art 2017
Orlando Museum of Art

Through Sept. 3
Summer of Love: Reflections on Pulse
Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens

Through Sept. 3
The Beautiful Mysterious: The Extraordinary Gaze of William Eggleston
The Mennello Museum of American Art

Through Sept. 4
Identity: An Exhibition of You
Orlando Science Center

Through Sept. 10
Sea and Sky: Watercolors and Drawings by Paul Signac From the Arkansas Arts Center Collection
Cornell Fine Arts Museum at Rollins College

Through Sept. 10
Exhibition Tour - Patrick Martinez: American Memorial
Cornell Fine Arts Museum

Through Oct. 15
Tin Can Tourism Exhibit
Osceola County Welcome Center and History Museum

Through Aug. 20
Some Enchanted Evening
The Winter Park Playhouse

Aug. 19
CFAMily Day at the Cornell
Cornell Fine Arts Museum

Sept. 23
Haunted Historic 5K Race
Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek

 
 
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President & CEO's Message
 

August 11, 2017

Harness Innovation with Visit Orlando

George Aguel

As you know, the global tourism landscape is constantly evolving, so it's imperative we celebrate fresh thinking and embrace new ideas.

That's why visionaries like Josh Linkner are such a valuable resource as we look to maintain our status as America's most visited destination. A New York Times bestselling author - and one of the tech industry's leading entrepreneurs, executives and venture capitalists - Josh will deliver the keynote address Aug. 23 at Visit Orlando's Business Insights Luncheon.

His presentation, "Harnessing Innovation: Fresh Approaches to Growth, Creativity and Transformation," promises to take us on a journey that shows how unorthodox techniques can be deployed to drive legitimate business outcomes.

With a resume that includes investing in dozens of successful startups, launching the world's largest digital promotions agency and selling four tech companies for a combined value exceeding $200 million, Josh brings a unique blend of energy and experience that you won't want to miss.

I hope you can join us at this year's event. Seating is limited - and there's always a tremendous turnout - so make sure to register soon. See you there!

-George Aguel

 
 
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From the Research & Insights Desk of Visit Orlando
 
Bookings Predict Growth in Second Half of '17

According to a recent report by Travelclick, rooms booked for the second half of 2017 are 2.6 percent ahead of this time last year. Transient bookings are pacing more than 5 percent ahead, while group bookings are trailing the prior year's mark. December is looking notably strong, with bookings 10 percent ahead of this time last year.

 
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Visit Orlando Updates
 

Aug10_AugmentedReality

Setting the Bar for AR
in the Travel Industry

The publicity team worked to secure a piece in Travel Weekly ("Experts see a role for augmented reality in travel") that highlights the role of a new technology similar to virtual reality. The article explained how Visit Orlando is an industry pioneer for using augmented reality in its mobile app.

Aug10_Capital-of-Fun

UK Paper: Discover
'America's Capital of Fun'

The publicity team generated coverage in the UK's
S Magazine and the Daily Express online (19 million combined impressions) with an article that highlighted what's new in "America's capital of fun" - from the theme parks and hotels to bars and restaurants.

Aug10_Meeting-Planner

Meeting Planners
Learn About Orlando

Speaking to more than 60 meeting professionals in Tallahassee - where many key state associations are headquartered, along with various government groups - Visit Orlando teamed up with nearly 20 member organizations to showcase Orlando's unique meeting and event capabilities. The planners - who could potentially bring a multitude of meetings to Orlando - represented corporations, associations and other companies.

 

 

Aug10_TorontoSun

Toronto Sun: Don't Miss
Orlando This Summer

In Canada, the publicity team generated six articles (reaching a combined audience of 2.6 million) across multiple Sun Media publications, including the Toronto Sun, Calgary Sun and Vancouver Sun. "10 U.S. vacation spots to visit before the end of summer," which ran in the Toronto Sun, highlights a variety of hotel and attractions discounts from Visit Orlando's website.

Aug10_Foward-Thinking

Hotel Executives
Think Forward to 2018

Daryl Cronk, Visit Orlando's senior director of market research, presented at the Central Florida Hotel & Lodging Association's Forward Thinking 2018 luncheon. More than 300 hotel and lodging executives heard how the local tourism industry is tracking, and they also received various marketing strategies to ensure our visitors - both leisure and business - keep coming back.

Aug10_Brazil-Travel-Agents

Saying "Thank You" to
Brazilian Travel Agents

Visit Orlando reached more than 700 travel agents through an educational series that took place in the Brazilian cities of Rio de Janeiro, Curitiba, Porto Alegre, Caxias do Sul and Vitória. Continuing the year-long "Thank You" campaign message, a result of the series was exposure in two top trade media newspapers, Panrotas and M&E (combined reach of 3.8 million viewers).

 
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News About Orlando
 

OCCC

At the Center

Group Meeting Start End Estimated Attendees Estimated Economic Impact
American Trucking Associations, Inc. ATA National Truck Driving Championships 2017 Aug. 9 Aug. 12 3,000 $5,910,000
AMW Productions, LLC America's Miss World Aug. 11 Aug. 13 600 $1,182,000
 

Aug10_Norwegian-Paris

Bonjour! Direct Flight
Now Available to Paris

The inaugural Norwegian Airlines flight from Paris to Orlando landed at Orlando International Airport July 31. The new service between the two world-class destinations marks the 18th international route and fifth transatlantic route added in the last three years at MCO.

Read More

Wyndham to Spin Off
Timeshare Company

Wyndham Worldwide's timeshare company is set to spin off from the parent company, giving Orlando a new publicly traded corporate headquarters, as reported by the Orlando Sentinel. The move will create the world's largest publicly traded timeshare company.

Read More

Passenger Traffic Climbs
to 43 Million at MCO

Orlando International Airport earlier this week announced that international traffic continued to push new passenger records in June. For the past 12 months, 43 million passengers have used the airport.

Read More

 

Aug10_JW-Bonnet

JW Marriott Hotel
Coming to Bonnet Creek

A 516-room, 80-suite JW Marriott hotel - the second in Orlando - is coming to the Bonnet Creek resort development. Construction will begin later this year, with an anticipated opening the first quarter of 2020.

Read More

TownePlace Suites
Opens near Sea World

TownePlace Suites by Marriott Orlando at SeaWorld officially opened Aug. 10. Combined with the Holiday Inn Express and Suites, both properties - located on International Drive - add more than 125 local jobs and 350 new guest rooms.

Read More

Orlando No. 5 City for
Pet-Friendliness

From dog parks to pet-friendly restaurants, WalletHub ranked the 100 largest cities in the U.S. to determine which are the most and least accommodating for furry friends - and Orlando ranked No. 5.

Read More

 
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Industry News
 

Aug10_Millenials

How to Reach
Millennial Travelers

Millennials are expected to spend more money on travel next year than any other age group. Read what Travel Industry Wire is saying about crafting a "full-funnel" mobile strategy to market to millennials.

TSA Institutes New
Screening Rules

CNN Money reports that passengers traveling through U.S. airports must now put any electronic device larger than a cell phone in a separate bin when going through security. The new screening applies to devices like e-readers, iPads and tablets.

 

Aug10_Boarding-Pass

New Tech Links ID
and Boarding Pass

TravelPulse reports that TSA will debut technology that links a traveler's ID and boarding pass. The software matches the name on a passenger's ID to TSA's Secure Flight vetting system, eliminating the need for passengers to take out their boarding pass.

The New (Virtual)
Reality of Marketing

There has been a significant increase in consumer interest for virtual reality, according to a report by online retailer Mobiles. Destination marketers are responding by exploring ways VR can "transport" consumers and spark their imagination.

 
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Tourism Ambassadors
 
Academy Sports ARDA Bags Balmoral Resort BB&T
British Airways Clear Channel Outdoor Darden Florida Distributing Company Florida Hospital
The Florida Mall IOA The Mall at Millenia Orlando Economic Partnership Orlando Health
Orlando International Airport Orlando Magic Orlando Premium Outlets OUC Orlando Sanford Airport
Smart City Tupperware Brands
 
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