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Featured Event
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Dec. 7
Annual Meeting and Luncheon
Hilton Orlando
6001 Destination Pkwy.
Orlando, FL 32819
Click here to register now!
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Join the Conversation
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Visit Orlando Events
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Dec. 12
Member Orientation
SOLD OUT
December's Member Orientation is SOLD OUT. Our next orientation is on Tuesday, Jan. 9. Register below.
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 for Jan. 9.
Dec. 14
Member Meet-Up Happy Hour
Topgolf Orlando
9395 Universal Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32819
Connect with fellow members at the all-new Topgolf! Members will get the chance to connect and have their time at the tee. Space is limited, and this event is expected to sell out early, so be sure to register now.
Time: 5 - 6:30 p.m.
Cost: Visit Orlando members, $20
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.
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| Member-to-Member Offers |
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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
Balmoral Resort Florida is offering stays starting at $99 for Visit Orlando members. Stay at the fabulous new Balmoral vacation home resort at Haines City, just minutes from Legoland. Contemporary homes with private pools and spacious townhomes, just steps from the clubhouse. $99 for townhome, $125 for a pool home. Use code VOM for redemption by calling 866-6-VILLAS or email bookings@feltrimresorts.com. Subject to availability. Some restrictions may apply.
Roy's Restaurant $20 dining credit. May be redeemed for any dining purchase. Valid in main dining room for dinner only. Cannot be used for tax, gratuity or gift card purchases. No cash value. Not valid with any promotional offers, including Aloha Hour. One redemption per table. Provide the offer code: VOMember2Member on Open Table or to the host when making reservations.
Orlando Watersports Complex is offering half-price riding every Wednesday from 2 p.m. to close. For redemption, mention offer code VOM2M
AdOnTheBox is offering a $49/month holiday rate (regularly $99) for those who sign up before the end of the year. That rate can also be locked in for all of 2018. For redemption, call 407-926-4055 or email marketing@AdOnTheBox.com and mention offer code ITouchOrlando.
Radisson Hotel Orlando Lake Buena Vista is offering a 17 percent discount off best available rates for the remainder of 2017. Subject to availability and blackout dates. Book by calling 407-597-3400 or email rd_lbfl@radisson.com.
Do you have an offer you would like to see posted? Submit an offer to Visit Orlando Member Relations here.
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Industry Events
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| Community Events
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| Connect With Visit Orlando |
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Follow us for stories on Orlando!
Download the free Visit Orlando App for your personalized Orlando experience. The best way to navigate Orlando.
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| President & CEO's Message |
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December 1, 2017
Big News in Sports-Based Attractions
With many new sporting facilities — and such bragging rights as Home of American Tennis and host of the NFL ProBowl — Orlando has truly been evolving into a premier sports destination. Building even further on that foundation, our destination keeps adding unique new entertainment venues for visitors to engage and have fun with their sport of choice.
Both Topgolf Orlando and Andretti Indoor Karting & Games opened in the I-Drive corridor this fall. In January, another golf-themed complex, Drive Shack, will tee it up in Lake Nona, and next summer the new Nona Adventure Park will feature Central Florida's first floating obstacle course, as well as a wakeboard cable tow and 60-foot climbing tower.
On top of that, Lake Nona Resort — steps away from the new USTA National Campus — will break ground in 2018 on a performance resort and spa that includes a 120,000-square-foot beach volleyball venue and a massive, beach-like "crystal lagoon" for swimming, sailing and paddle boarding.
So, whether you're driving a golf ball off a third-story ledge, racing a go-kart around hair-pin turns or becoming "one with the outdoors," the message is clear: Adventure awaits in Orlando!
Don't forget: Time is running out to sign up for Visit Orlando's Annual Meeting & Luncheon, which takes place Dec. 7 at the Hilton Orlando. With almost 900 members and community leaders expected to attend, it promises to be a great time to network, enjoy a fantastic meal and gain insights from one of the brightest minds in digital marketing: keynote speaker Mitch Joel, president of the global agency Mirum. Reserve your seats today!
—George Aguel
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| From the Research & Insights Desk of Visit Orlando |
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Bookings Suggest Strong Holiday Season
A recent report by TravelClick indicates a robust December, as rooms booked are 13.6 percent ahead of this time last year. Advance bookings for the holiday period between Dec. 24 and Jan. 1 are also shaping up nicely, with rooms booked pacing, on average, 26 percent ahead of this time last year. New Year's weekend is particularly strong due to New Year's Day falling on Monday.
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| Visit Orlando Updates |
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Fun Spot's Arie Wins
Tourism Leader Award
On Thursday, Visit Orlando CEO George Aguel presented Fun Spot founder John Arie Sr. with the 2017 i4 Business Leader of the Year Award in the category of tourism. The awards ceremony, sponsored by i4 Business magazine, took place at the Country Club of Orlando.
Top UK Outlets Praise
Orlando's Dining Scene
The public relations team generated coverage in two of the UK's top national outlets: The London Evening Standard (5.7 million reach) and The Independent (32 million monthly visitors). The stories called out "sophisticated dining and drinking options in Florida's theme park capital" and "downtown's ascension into coolness."
Sold-out Member
Meet-Up at Andretti
Andretti Indoor Karting & Games recently hosted a sold-out meet-up for Visit Orlando members. More than 100 attendees enjoyed networking and making relevant professional connections while exploring one of the area's newest attractions, featuring a scratch kitchen, bowling, games and a multi-level karting track.
McDonald's is
Lovin' Orlando
Representatives from McDonald's recently visited Orlando for the first of their Worldwide Convention 2018 planning meetings. The convention will be held at the Orange County Convention Center in April, with an anticipated attendance of 16,000. SeaWorld welcomed the group by hosting a dinner, along with a special dolphin experience.
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N.Y. Times Highlights
Orlando Attraction Tickets
The public relations team secured a placement with the New York Times (56.5 million reach) to highlight the Black Friday/Cyber Monday ticket deals Visit Orlando offered for local attractions. The article, "Hotels, tours, travel agencies promising Cyber Monday deals," was the result of an Associated Press pick-up and was featured in numerous other outlets.
Showcasing Orlando
Meetings in Nashville
Convention sales, along with 15 participating members, showcased Orlando's unique meeting and event capabilities to more than 25 meeting professionals from various corporations, associations and specialty organizations representing hundreds of potential meetings for Orlando. Planners included Chi Psi Fraternity, Servpro Industries, Envision Healthcare, Lifeway, Gibson Brands, General Commission on Ummen, Baker Donelson Law Firm, Event Logistics, SkillsUSA, Butler Snow, Parthenon Management Group, Ramsey Event Productions, Conference Direct and Evolution Event Solutions.
Brazilian Travel Show
Films in Orlando
The nationally syndicated television show Tô de Férias filmed several episodes highlighting Orlando's shopping, dining, theme parks and attractions. Two of the episodes, which are hosted by Brazilian celebrity Mario Frias, have aired (Episode 1, Episode 2) with more expected in the coming weeks.
UK Newspaper Names
Orlando a Top Bargain
The public relations team generated coverage in the UK's Mirror Online (18 million monthly visitors), which named Orlando a top spot for a bargain this December. The article citied great weather and shorter lines as key reasons to visit.
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| News About Orlando |
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At the Center
| Group |
Meeting |
Start |
End |
Estimated Attendees |
Estimated Economic Impact |
| American Society of Health-System Pharmacists |
ASHP Midyear 2017 Clinical Meeting & Exhibition |
Dec. 4 |
Dec. 7 |
22,500 |
$44,325,000 |
| EPG Media, LLC a Division of AGI Productions, LLC |
Marine Dealer Conference & Expo 2017 |
Dec. 11 |
Dec. 13 |
1,000 |
$1,970,000 |
| Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering (SAMPE) |
CAMX (The Composites and Advanced Materials Expo) |
Dec. 12 |
Dec. 14 |
7,100 |
$13,987,000 |
| American Kennel Club |
AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin |
Dec. 12 |
Dec. 17 |
25,000 |
$49,250,000 |
| Varsity Brands, LLC |
Spirit Cheer 2017 |
Dec. 16 |
Dec. 17 |
5,000 |
$4,925,000 |
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 Lake Nona Resort
Details Announced
Anticipated to open in 2020, Lake Nona Resort will feature 20,000 square feet of meeting space, a major fitness and spa campus, a 120,000-square-foot beach volleyball venue, one the nation's largest manmade crystal clear lagoons, and 250 custom-designed guestrooms and 80 condominium units.
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 Orlando Eye Debuts
3D Tourism App
The Coca-Cola Orlando Eye, Google and Samsung teamed up with B2b Virtual Guide.com to launch the first virtual reality, e-Commerce, 3D tourism app. Online and mobile users now have the ability to virtually walk into any participating venue, make reservations, and purchase goods and services.
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| Industry News |
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 Online Sales Up 17.9%
During Thanksgiving
The 100 largest U.S. web retailers sold more than $7.9 billion of goods online on Thanksgiving and the day after, up 17.9 percent from last year.
Report: Millennials Are
Vacation Deprived
According to the Expedia.com 2017 Vacation Deprivation report, 62 percent of Millennials feel vacation deprived and 53 percent are more likely to shorten their trips due to impending workload.
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 CVBs, Event Planners
Working Together
A new study shows that 78 percent of convention attendees cite the destination as a top driver for whether they will attend. Because of this, CVBs are increasingly helping planners promote the destination to their audiences.
Business Travelers Mix
Leisure into Trips
A recent study by Expedia Media Solutions and Luth Research finds that the length of stay for a business versus "bleisure" traveler jumps from two nights to six nights or longer. Roughly 43 percent of business trips now combine business and leisure, and 70 percent involve people who travel at least every two to three months.
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