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Visit Orlando - Tourism Matters
 
Signature Event
 

Celebrating Travel and Tourism Luncheon

Click here to register. 

 
Join the Conversation
 
Stompin Gator

Visit Orlando's social media insiders give fans a peek at the upcoming attraction at Gatorland, the Stompin' Gator Off-Road Adventure!

 

 
Visit Orlando Events
 

webinar

May 24
Power Hour Lunch - Canvas Restaurant & Market
Canvas Restaurant & Market

13615 Sachs Ave.
Orlando, FL 32827
Time: 12-1 p.m.
Make and strengthen connections during your lunch hour and enjoy the cuisine from local chef Bryan Thoman, influenced by Florida's Southern and Latin American roots at Canvas. This is a great opportunity to experience the growing Lake Nona community and network with fellow members. (The lunch at Canvas will focus on networking - there will not be a formal presentation.)
Cost: Visit Orlando Members - $25
Click here to register.

June 1
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; and
• How to take advantage of the value-added services available exclusively to 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 is a place to play. Enjoy seven swimming pools, including a lazy river-style pool, waterslides, miniature golf courses, arcades, four golf courses, tennis, an 80-acre lake with plenty of watersports, a fun zone and more. Visit Orlando Members save 20-25 percent off your stay. Call 866-892-5890 to reserve.

Jan26_annie-russell-interior

Annie Russell Theatre at Rollins College is offering Visit Orlando members $10 off a season subscription. For $55, you'll receive one ticket to A Piece of My Heart and Urinetown, The Musical. Visit rollins.edu/annie for tickets and use code: VISITORLANDO.

Citrus Club is offering Visit Orlando members 10 percent off the entire food and beverage total on all new events booked taking place in 2017. If you book two or more events together, you receive 15 percent off total. Call Citrus Club directly to redeem offer. Offer Code: 2017

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

Kaka

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!

United World Soccer Florida Mall would like to offer Visit Orlando members 15 percent off jerseys such as Orlando City, and $20 off footwear. Members also receive $10 off items already on sale. For redemption, use offer code SaveinMay17 at register at the Florida Mall location.

Florida HIA (Hospitality Industry Association) is offering a $5 discount individual membership (normally $25) for Visit Orlando members and their employees through May 31. Company memberships are 50 percent off. Florida HIA provides members with more than 50 free attractions and hundreds of exclusive discounts around the state. Be a tourism advocate for your employees and encourage them to experience Florida. Click here for offer redemption.

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

 
 
Industry Events
 

I-Drive 360 Live Join Orlando's top businesses, vendors, and local artists for an evening of fun, food and live music on May 25 and experience Orlando from new heights atop the Coca-Cola Orlando Eye. Company Coca-Cola Orlando Eye capsule sponsorships available.

K1 Speed Orlando Monday Night Hospitality Special! $12 races, plus $3 mini bowling. Industry employees must show valid ID or recent pay stub. Offer valid Mondays only.

Texas de Brazil would like to offer $8 off their regular pricing on Hospitality Mondays! Offer valid for up to four guests. This is available for all people within the hospitality industry. Must show business card, check stub, ID, etc. to receive special discount.

 
 
Community Events
 

Pinkalicious

Through May 6
Pinkalicious: The Musical!
Orlando Shakespeare Theater

Through May 5
Bo Bartlett: American Artist
The Mennello Museum of American Art

Through May 7
A Cinderella Story - Orlando Ballet
Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts

Through May 7
Once I Laughed
Central Florida Community Arts

May 9-14
Fairwinds Broadway in Orlando: Matilda
Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts

May 11-12
Wish Upon a Star: A Disney Revue
Central Florida Community Arts, Northland Church

May 11-21 & June 1-11
Murder for Two
Winter Park Playhouse

Through May 14
The Black Figure in the European Imaginary
Cornell Fine Arts Museum

Through May 14
Astronaut
Orlando Science Center

Through May 15
Springtime at the Waterhouse
Art & History Museums - Maitland, Waterhouse Residence

May 25
Throwback Thursday Tour
Cornell Fine Arts Museum at Rollins College

May 25-Sept. 10
Sea and Sky: Watercolors and Drawings by Paul Signac From the Arkansas Arts Center Collection
Cornell Fine Arts Museum at Rollins College

June 2-3
Wine Quest Annual Wine Tasting and Auction
Loews Royal Pacific Resort

 
 
Connect With Visit Orlando
 

Social Media

Be sure to follow @VisitOrlando on Instagram and Twitter, fan us at facebook.com/VisitOrlando or watch YouTube.com/VisitOrlando for more insider information about the world's most famous destination!

Sign up for our e-newsletter, click here.

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President & CEO's Message
 

May 5, 2017

Join Us for News & Insights on Orlando Tourism

George AguelNext week is National Travel and Tourism Week and Visit Orlando is marking the occasion with our annual Celebrating Travel & Tourism Luncheon full of news, expert insight and announcements.
 
Join close to 1,000 industry and community leaders for an exciting tourism announcement and a very special "thank you" to those visitors who made 2016 an unprecedented year for our destination.
 
It's also a chance for you to hear from industry visionary Gerard J. Inzerillo, CEO of Forbes Travel Guide. With more than five decades at the helm of some of the world's leading hospitality and entertainment companies, this trend-maker has helped brand icons from celebrities to legendary hotel chains. Throughout his illustrious career, he has championed the success of luxury brands and excelled at creating innovative new market opportunities across the globe.
 
Prior to the luncheon, we'll have an open-dialogue Learning Lab where we will discuss the top meeting trends for 2017. Led by Vincent Alonzo, editor-in-chief of Northstar Meetings Group, the informative session will cover emerging technologies, safety and security, the power of data collection and much more.
 
It's an event you won't want to miss. Make your plans to join us on Thursday, May 11 at the Hilton Orlando, register today!

-George Aguel

 
 
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From the Research & Insights Desk of Visit Orlando
 

Orlando Tourism Sees Widespread Growth in Q1 2017

The first quarter of 2017 was a period of moderate but widespread growth in Orlando's tourism industry. The hotel industry experienced growth across all key metrics: the occupancy rate rose nearly 1 percent to 81.4 percent, occupied room nights also rose nearly 1 percent, and the average daily rate rose 3 percent. Growth in the lodging industry pushed up collections of the Orange County Tourist Development Tax by 3.9 percent. Overall attendance at the Orange County Convention Center was up 2.6 percent in Q1, and total passenger traffic at Orlando International Airport was up 2.9 percent. Growth in the industry translates to job growth; Leisure and Hospitality employment in the Orlando MSA was 4.8 percent higher in March versus prior year, following a 6.1 percent increase in February.
 
Early indications suggest the second quarter started very strongly. Due to the later date of Easter relative to 2016, hotel occupancy rates posted strong year-over-year growth in the first two weeks of April, exceeding 90 percent both weeks. And the Orange County Convention Center more than doubled the attendance from last April.

 
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Visit Orlando Updates
 

May4_UKCampaign

U.K. Campaigns to Drive Summer Bookings

Visit Orlando is participating in destination campaigns in the United Kingdom with an estimated reach of more than 25 million to further drive bookings for this summer as well as forward bookings for 2018. Co-op partners for this summer's push include Thomson, Ocean Florida and My America Holidays.

blog

Blogs Now Available in Portuguese & Spanish

Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking consumers can now search and share the latest Orlando news and highlights in their respective languages on the new Visit Orlando blogs. The blogs are easily accessed through VisitOrlando.com's dedicated country landing pages under the "Novidades"/ "Novedades" navigator.

May4_radioDJ

Radio Stations Tune Into Orlando

Radio stations from around the globe descended upon Orlando this week, participating in Visit Orlando's radio-broadcast event. The initiative is projected to generate more than 50 million impressions and encourage destination summer visitation. Stations from the United Kingdom, Brazil, New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Miami, Jacksonville, Tampa and West Palm Beach broadcast their entire morning shows each day from the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek while showcasing the breadth and depth of the destination along with all that is new this summer. 

Viagem

Brazilian Media Focus on Orlando's Family Fun

As a result of Visit Orlando publicity, Brazilian media outlets with a combined circulation of more than 9 million (O Globo, Qual Viagem, Viagem Livre  and Crescer Magazine) published multiple articles highlighting Orlando's family-friendly attractions and activities.

 

blog

Visit Orlando Receives 2017 Award of Excellence

Corporate & Incentive Travel magazine has recognized Visit Orlando for the 22nd time with its 2017 Award of Excellence. The annual award recognizes those hotels, resorts, conference centers and convention and visitors bureaus (CVB) that have demonstrated their overall commitment to excellence. 

Dujour

Luxury Magazine Highlights Healthy Orlando

Visit Orlando's Public Relations Team assisted DuJour Magazine online, a luxury publication (50,000 UMV), with a story about wellness and relaxation. The article showcases Orlando's "patchwork of historic neighborhoods, each more charming than the next and all surprisingly full of independent shops and restaurants," alongside outdoor activities for visitors looking to further their physical fitness, such as lessons at USTA or paddleboarding.

OSC

Blog Promotes Activities for Toddlers

A recent Visit Orlando blog highlights some of the destination's fun and educational activities designed especially for toddlers, promoting May as a great time for families to visit Orlando to take advantage of lighter crowds while the older kids are in school. 

brazil video

Brazilian Campaign Keeps Orlando Top of Mind

To keep Orlando top of mind and connect with Brazilian consumers during their travel planning, Visit Orlando has launched its Brazilian campaign, which is estimated to generate approximately 200 million impressions. In a recent study conducted by Visit Orlando, Brazilian families continue to be fascinated with Orlando as a vacation destination. The integrated campaign elements include national paid TV, print, online videos, digital display, social media advertising and search engine marketing.

 
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News About Orlando
 

OCCC

At the Center

Group Meeting Start End Estimated Attendees Estimated Economic Impact
ServiceNow, Inc. Knowledge 2017 May 9 May 13 20,000 $39,400,000
SAP Global Marketing, Inc. SAPPHIRE NOW and ASUG Annual Conference May 16 May 18 19,280 $37,981,600
Vision Star Entertainment, Inc. Europa Games & Get Fit Expo 2017 May 20 May 21 15,000 $14,775,000
 

Epcot food

This Year's Epcot Food & Wine Fest to Expand

The 22nd annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, Aug. 31-Nov. 13, is expanding to 75 days, 13 more than last year. And to celebrate the park's opening 35 years ago, there will be a record 35 Marketplaces.

Read More

Universal jobs

Universal to Hire 2,000 More

On the heels of hiring more than 1,700 new team members to support the opening of its new water theme park, Volcano Bay, Universal Orlando Resort has announced it will hire more than 2,000 new employees for full-time, part-time and seasonal positions.

Read More

Ace Café Orlando Announces Opening

Ace Cafe Orlando has announced that it will open on May 19 at 7 a.m. The 35,000-square-foot motor-themed entertainment complex features multiple restaurant and bar spaces, a gift shop, a motorcycle dealership, a gallery and more.

Read More

 

May4_Gatorland-Stompin

Gatorland Announces New Attraction

Gatorland officially broke ground for a $2.5 million park expansion, the largest since opening in 1949. The brand-new Stompin' Gator Off-Road Adventure and Gator Joe's Adventure Outpost are slated to open fall 2017.

Read More

ever after

"Happily Ever After" Announces Debut May 12

Walt Disney World Resort is set to debut its new evening fireworks and castle projection show "Happily Ever After" at Magic Kingdom on May 12. The show, which replaces "Wishes" after its more-than-13-year run, encourages guests to pursue their dreams.

Read More

Air Canada's Rouge Adds Orlando Service

Air Canada has announced that its low-cost carrier Rouge will begin seasonal service between Vancouver and Orlando twice weekly beginning Dec. 20 through April 8.

Read More

 
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Industry News
 

culinary travel

Americans Indulging in Culinary Vacations

Food and dining are becoming a more central part of many travelers' vacation experiences. In fact, AAA's latest travel survey found that an estimated 22 million Americans expect to take a culinary-focused vacation in the next 12 months.

Read More

Biz Travel to Grow Thanks to New Tech

Business Travel sector is projected to grow by 3.7 percent per year over the next decade, according to a new report by Travelport and the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

Read More

 

air travel

Air Travel Defies Global Challenges

The latest global overview of air travel has shown that passengers from Europe, the Americas and the Far East are making more bookings and taking more flights, despite recent terrorist attacks and on-going geo-political wrangles.

Read More

CDC Zika Information

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), its most current data available at the time of this writing (for the period of Jan. 1, 2015-May 3, 2017) indicate that 224 locally acquired cases have been reported in the United States, while 4,973 travel-associated cases have been reported. For the most current information about the Zika virus, visit the CDC's Zika page.

 
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Tourism Ambassadors
 
ARDA Bags 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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