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OCCC

FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO

Orlando: No. 1 Meetings Destination

Once again, Orlando has been named America’s No. 1 meetings destination, according to Cvent, a global event management company that analyzed booking data from more than U.S. 5,000 cities.

We lead the pack for a variety of reasons – affordability, accessibility, quality and variety of facilities, positive brand awareness about Orlando – and, of course, our culture of service and hospitality.

Looking ahead, I’m encouraged that our elected officials continue to put a priority on expanding the Convention Center, a move that will help reinforce our leadership position in the convention industry in an increasingly competitive landscape.
George Aguel George Aguel
President & CEO

RESEARCH & INSIGHTS

Hotel Growth Rates Lead Nation's Top 25 Markets

In June, Orlando's occupancy rate was 83.3 percent, up 6.1 percent from last year. Among the nation’s top 25 hotel markets, our region posted the fastest growth in occupancy (+6.1 percent), average daily rate (+10.2 percent) and revenue per available room (+16.9 percent). For the first half of 2018, all-time highs were established in room night demand, ADR and RevPAR.

VISIT ORLANDO ACTIVITIES

ICAST

M&C

OCCC Hosts Largest Sportfishing Tradeshow

ICAST, the world’s largest sportfishing tradeshow, was attended by more than 15,000 people from 71 countries July 10-13 at the Orange County Convention Center. The event, which featured more than 600 exhibitors, generated $30 million in economic impact.
Visit Orlando's Magical Dining Month Sponsored by American Express

PUBLICITY

Media Buzzing About Magical Dining Month

The buzz is starting around Magical Dining Month (Aug. 24-Sept. 30), thanks to the publicity team targeting state and national media outlets near and far, from the Orlando Sentinel to MSN.com. In all, the coverage has resulted in nearly 100 million impressions.
Orlando Dining Scene a Big Hit in Philadelphia

M&C

Orlando Dining Scene a Big Hit in Philadelphia

Our publicity team worked with The Philadelphia Inquirer – the top paper in a key market for Orlando – on a story about how some of “Orlando's best dining thrills are outside the parks.” The piece featured seven restaurants, covering everything from local cuisine at long-time favorites to new fare at more recently opened spots.
Meeting Planners Event Coming to Orlando in '20

M&C

Meeting Planners Event Coming to Orlando in '20

Visit Orlando recently attended the Florida Society of Association Executives’ annual conference in Fort Lauderdale to network with more than 1,100 industry professionals and generate future business opportunities for our destination. Orlando will host the event in 2020.
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IN THE NEWS

Disney, 21st Century Fox Merger Moves Ahead

Shareholders of 21st Century Fox and Disney voted today to approve Disney's  $71.3 billion buyout of major Fox assets. The merger is expected to be completed in the first half of 2019. Read More

Orlando Theme Parks Top TripAdvisor Awards

Orlando continues to score high in TripAdvisor's Travelers’ Choice awards. Six area theme parks rank among the Top 10 Amusement Parks in the U.S., while the top 10 list of U.S. water parks also included three Orlando locations. Read More

Introducing the Rosen YMCA Aquatic Center

For more than 20 years, Orlando hotelier, philanthropist and avid swimmer Harris Rosen has supported the YMCA Aquatic Center, located on International Drive. On Tuesday, in honor of his dedication, the facility was renamed the Rosen YMCA Aquatic Center. Read More

For Family Vacations, Orlando a Top Bargain

Orlando ranks as the nation’s second-most affordable family destination, according to Money magazine. Thousands of data points were analyzed from hundreds of U.S. cities, including weather, overall visitation cost and the value provided by each city’s attractions. Read More

Disney Eliminating Plastic Straws by Mid-2019

The Walt Disney Company is set to eliminate single-use plastic straws and plastic stirrers at all its owned and operated locations across the globe by mid-2019, the company announced Thursday. This includes all parks with the exception of Disney Tokyo. Read More

VISIT ORLANDO EVENTS

Business Insights Luncheon & Economic Forum, Thursday, August 23, Hilton Orlando
Trendhunter.com CEO Jeremy Gutsche — an award-winning innovator, management consultant and New York Times bestselling author — will be the keynote speaker at one of our most popular annual events. Anirban Basu, chairman and CEO of Sage Policy Group, and Daryl Cronk, Visit Orlando’s director of research and insights, will discuss economic trends.
EVENTS CALENDAR

AT THE CONVENTION CENTER

Upcoming events at the Orange County Convention Center will generate a combined economic impact of more than $32 million.

JULY 30 - AUGUST 3

Church of God International General Assembly 2018
Estimated Attendees: 14,000

JULY 30 - AUGUST 5

National Veterans Wheelchair Games
Estimated Attendees: 1,500

AUGUST 6-8

Society of Independent Show Organizers Leadership Conference
Estimated Attendees: 160

AUGUST 11-12

2018 Walker Stalker Con Orlando
Estimated Attendees: 6,000
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