What a significant week in our destination's ongoing recovery! Each day brought new progress, as LEGOLAND reopened Monday; hotels on Universal property welcomed back guests Tuesday; the Orange County Convention Center unveiled its reopening plan Wednesday to our Economic Recovery Task Force; attractions along I-Drive continued to open all week; and today we are excited that Universal Studios Florida, Universal's Islands of Adventure and Universal's Volcano Bay have reopened to guests once again.
Also, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that most of Florida is entering Phase 2 of our statewide reopening today, allowing bars and entertainment businesses such as movie theaters, concert halls, arcades and more to reopen at 50% capacity.
Underpinning these developments, all segments of our industry are diligently enacting new procedures to enhance health, safety and hygiene. Safety and trust in our destination are critical messages that Visit Orlando is sharing with consumers, travel clients, meeting planners and media, and we will continue to promote these things alongside all the great experiences we offer, as reasons to visit.
VISIT ORLANDO IN ACTION
Staying Up to Date: As many attractions, hotels and restaurants are now open, with more added daily, Visit Orlando has launched a new webpage to showcase what is open/coming soon and new safety measures throughout the destination. In addition to healthy travel and reopening information, the page also includes special "Welcome Back" offers to help visitors make the most of their vacations.
Regional Branding Initiative: We're pleased to be working with Orange County and the Orlando Economic Partnership on a regional branding campaign to boost consumer confidence as our region resumes economic activity. The campaign ("Better. Safer. Stronger. Together.") is in the early stages of development and a diverse group of regional stakeholders is part of the process. We look forward to sharing more with you in the coming days.
Promoting Our Destination's Reopening: As our region continues to emerge from the shutdown, Visit Orlando's publicity team is communicating proactively to national media to secure stories on which theme parks, attractions, hotels, shops and activities are open, as well as the creative ways that Orlando is handling new safety measures. You can read our press release here, and please reach out to us at media@visitorlando.com if you have news to share.
CONVENTIONS
The Orange County Convention Center's Recovery and Resiliency Plan focuses on a three-pronged strategy to safeguard clients, attendees and employees:
Collaborate with a large, established healthcare system in Central Florida.
The plan was developed in accordance with policy recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Orange County government, and state and federal mandates. Relying on the best available data, science and research, it will provide an excellent road map to ramping up operations at one of our county's biggest economic engines.
RESEARCH & INSIGHTS
Tourist Development Tax: As anticipated, Orange County's TDT collections for April sank to $765,900, down 97% from the same month last year, a $12.8 million decline compared to March and comparable to monthly levels from 1980 on a per-penny basis. We expect May's collections to show a slight increase when released next month.
Hotel Metrics: Metro Orlando's occupancy rate for the week ending May 30 was 24.5%, up from 22.5% the week before. The average daily rate rose $2.69 to $66.85.
Travel Forecast: One in five Americans are already traveling or are ready to travel immediately, and 30% are ready to travel but still feel some hesitation. The percentage of Americans with at least tentative plans to travel in 2020 has now grown to nearly 70%. Most still report that their next air trip will not be until 2021 or later, however, due to the perceived safety risks. Read more.
WAYS TO PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS
Have a Special Offer for Father's Day? If your business has special Father's Day offers or events coming up, send details to marketing brand manager Nate Shelton for possible inclusion on our blog or social media channels.
Promoting Safety Measures: We continue to enhance member listings on our consumer website, VisitOrlando.com, to include new safety and cleaning protocols throughout our destination. To share and update your information, please contact our membership team.
