April 19, 2018

Landwirth's Legacy: Giving Kids the World

-George Aguel

Metro Orlando's hotel occupancy rate for March rose 2.0 percent over the same time last year to 89.2 percent -- the highest since 1996 (also 89.2 percent, incidentally). Occupancy levels were generally flat through the first half of March before rising 11.7 percent the last week of the month due to Easter falling on April 1. The average daily rate for March rose 9.2 percent to $152.05, making it the first time Orlando's ADR exceeded $150 and setting an all-time high for the market.

Growing Orlando's
Culinary Reputation

Visit Orlando's publicity team continues to work to increase the awareness of our region as a foodie hotspot. The latest story, which ran last week in the Chicago Tribune, takes readers on a culinary journey from the Mills 50 District ... to Winter Park ... to Disney Springs and beyond. In all, 18 local restaurants and businesses were featured in "Away from the theme parks, Orlando area offers dining thrills." The article was also picked up by other Tribune publications, including the Hartford Court, South Florida Sun-Sentinel and even our own Orlando Sentinel.

UK Campaign Drives
Summer Visitation

Visit Orlando's consumer marketing team has launched a spring campaign in the United Kingdom and Ireland to drive summer visitation. The integrated campaign is expected to generate more than 60 million impressions, ensuring Orlando is top of mind during the key April/May booking period. The advertising UK consumer landing page and Ireland consumer landing pages encourage residents to Book Your Unforgettable 2018 Summer Holiday! In addition, Bauer Radio will feature an on-air promotion across five stations in Scotland, providing listeners the chance to win one of 30 trips to Orlando, in partnership with Barrhead Travel.

OBJ Gets Up Close
with George Aguel

George Aguel, president and CEO of Visit Orlando, recently sat down with the Orlando Business Journal to talk about goals, his best advice, lessons learned and more. Read more here. Note: Story requires paid subscription.

Visit Orlando Roadshow
Heading to U.K., Ireland

Visit Orlando and several member companies will take to the road for a series of travel agent trainings in 10 cities across the U.K. and Ireland. The 2018 Visit Orlando Roadshow will provide significant information about the destination, present agents the opportunity to complete the Orlando Travel Academy course and share tips on how to become an "Orlando Travel Expert."

Millenial Influencers
Showcase Orlando

Two top-tier Canadian lifestyle and travel influencers Kerina Mango and Audrey-Anne Jean published a series of social posts across Instagram, reaching more than 600,000 followers combined. The ladies also posted a video on Kerina's YouTube channel, as well as a blog on Kerina's website about their Orlando adventures. The coverage was a result of a destination orientation led by the Visit Orlando public relations team to target the Canadian millennial audience.

Record Orlando
Attendance at ISA Expo

The International Sign Association held its annual expo at the Orange County Convention Center March 22-24, boasting record attendance. With more than 20,000 attendees and 600 exhibitors, it is the largest tradeshow in the sign, graphics and visual communications industry. The expo will return to Orlando in 2020.

Visit Orlando Attends
EnVision Conference

Visit Orlando, in conjunction with the Orange County Convention Center, attended the EnVision Conference in Detroit. Hosted by event management company Experient, the conference brings together meeting professionals, destinations and hotel partners from around the world. One-on-one appointments, educational sessions and key networking events took place during the three-day event.

Nearly 12K Attendees at
WTM Latin America

Visit Orlando recently attended WTM Latin America, the leading global business-to-business tradeshow that reinforces Latin America's position in the travel and tourism industry. The event, which took place at the Expo Center Norte in Sao Paulo, included exhibitors from more than 50 countries. Nearly 12,000 industry professionals attended, representing a 7 percent increase in participation over last year. Visit Orlando partners included Universal Parks & Resorts, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Wonderworks, North America Destinations, Personal RGE, Pegasus Transportation and Balmoral Resort Florida.

Brazil Campaign
Generating Engagement

Visit Orlando's Brazil marketing campaign continues to engage consumers during key planning and booking timeframes. The campaign, which is expected to generate 200 million impressions, includes TV, print, online video, digital display, social media and search engine marketing until mid-June.

Best Int'l Destination,
2nd Consecutive Year

Visit Orlando was awarded "Best International Destination" for the second consecutive year during the AVIESP EXPO 2018 Show in Brazil. More than 3,000 industry professionals attended the expo.

At the Center

Bids for WrestleMania,
Special Olympics OK'd

Orange County's newest group that helps attract sporting events is angling for the Special Olympics and WrestleMania. The county's Tourist Development Sports Incentive Committee approved two of its first proposals that could result in more than $242 million in economic impact. Note: Story requires paid subscription.

UCF Students Pitch
Theme Park Ideas

As an end-of-semester assignment, University of Central Florida students were asked to dream up their own miniature theme park. Rosen College hospitality management students detailed everything from ticket prices to security to what merchandise is sold as part of the popular hands-on project in their Theme Park and Attraction Management class.

Justice League Coming
to Madame Tussauds

Madame Tussauds Orlando announced a first-of-its-kind attraction experience that will combine an all-star cast of DC's Justice League with blockbuster thrills, authentic replica props and costumes that bring each character to life.

Rosen Profiled in
Smart Meetings

Harris Rosen, founder, COO and president of Rosen Hotels & Resorts, is profiled in the April issue of Smart Meetings magazine. "The Art of Raising an Extended Family" explores Rosen's effects on Orlando, the city's transformation into a top destination for conventions, and the hotelier's philanthropic efforts.

Universal Reveals
New Hotel Names

Universal Orlando Resort's new coastal beach-themed hotels off International Drive and Universal Boulevard now officially have names: Universal's Endless Summer Resort - Surfside Inn & Suites and Dockside Inn & Suites. The 750-room Surfside resort is slated to open in 2019, with the 2,050-room Dockside resort opening in 2020. Note: Story requires paid subscription.

'StarFlyer' to
Open June 1

The StarFlyer - a spinning swing that will stand over 400 feet tall, seat 24 riders in 12 double seats, spinning at 40-60 miles an hour - is slated to open June 1 on International Drive.

Trade Show Industry
Up 2 Percent in 2017

The Center for Exhibition Industry Research released its 2018 Index Report, which analyzes the 2017 exhibition industry and provides an outlook for the next three years. The Total Index, a measure of overall exhibition industry performance, increased by a moderate 2 percent, 1 percentage point higher than 2016.

2018 Outlook for
Attractions Industry

PGAV Destinations and H2R Market Research released findings of more than 1,500 U.S. leisure attraction visitors who visited either an attraction in 2017 or are considering doing so this year. Water parks, aquariums, science centers, dinner theaters, cruises and botanical gardens are expected to see the highest attendance growth in 2018.

Virtuoso Reports Interest
in Sustainable Tourism

Millennials are three times more likely than Gen-Xers to seek sustainable tourism experiences. Virtuoso identified several factors of sustainable tourism that most appealed to clients, including: reducing plastic waste, eco-friendly practices, eating local foods/supporting local farmers, staying at green hotels, conserving coral reefs and safeguarding historic sites.

Airbus Eyes Passenger
Sleeping Modules

Aircraft manufacturer Airbus recently revealed a partnership with Zodiac Aerospace to develop sleeping modules that would be installed in the cargo hold of planes. Airbus expects that by 2020 they will have a catalog of certified solutions for airlines to choose from.