Visit Orlando has been recognized with many prestigious awards, including '2023 Best Places to Work in Central Florida' by Orlando Business Journal. These awards showcase our excellence in tourism, community engagement and organizational leadership.
Our 2024 Awards
- Orlando was ranked as the 2024 Best Sports Business City for Attracting and Hosting Events by Sports Business Journal.
- Orlando ranks in the top 10 for Best Places for Valentines Day according to WalletHub.
- Orlando awarded 2024 Best Family Travel Award by Good Housekeeping.
- Orlando is recognized as a top 30 local government by the EPA when it comes to green power.
- Orlando is named the best city to staycation, according to a report from WalletHub, that compared more than 180 cities across 42 key metrics.
- Orlando is ranked among the best place to celebrate the 4th of July, according to a report from WalletHub, that compared the 100 largest U.S. cities across 18 key metrics.
- Orlando has been named North America's Leading City Break Destination 2024 in the 2024 World Travel Awards.
- Routes Americas presented Orlando International Airport (MCO) with the top award for airports with over 20 million annual passengers.
- Lifestyle magazine Southern Living highlighted mom-and-pop and authentic eateries for their list of “most legendary” restaurants in the South and two Orlando restaurants, Lee and Rick’s Oyster Bar in Winter Garden and Bull & Bear at the Waldorf Astoria Orlando, were featured,
- Orlando International Airport (MCO) was ranked 7th busiest for passenger traffic among U.S. airports in 2023, remaining the busiest airport in Florida.
- Visit Orlando was presented with the ConferenceDirect CVB of the Year (Major Market) Award at ConferenceDirect’s Annual Partner Meeting.
- Orlando is the Top Meeting Destination in North America by CVENT, the industry-leading meetings, events, and hospitality technology provider.
- Orlando is HelmsBriscoe’s CVB/Destination of the Year in North America.
- Visit Orlando was named a 2024 Smart Star by Smart Meetings
- Visit Orlando was awarded the 2024 Domo Community Ovation Awards — Rookie of the Year award.
- Visit Orlando was named CVB/Destination of the Year by HelmsBriscoe
- Visit Orlando was named a Top 100 Women-Led Businesses of 2024 by The Women’s Edge.
- Visit Orlando has been named one of Orlando Business Journal's 2024 Best Places to Work in Central Florida
Our 2023 Awards
- Orlando is 2023's Best Foodie City in America according to WalletHub.
- Orlando was named Good Housekeeping 2024 Best Family Travel Award Winner.
- Orlando ranked among the most disability-friendly cities in the U.S. by The Valuable 500, a collective of CEOs dedicated to disability inclusion.
- Orlando was named the largest U.S. travel and tourism city destination for 2022 by the World Travel & Tourism Council, earning $31 billion from tourism.
- Orlando is ranked third in the World Travel & Tourism Council’s list of the world's most powerful cities for tourism 2022, behind Paris and Beijing, bringing in $31 billion for 2022.
- Orlando ranked top domestic city for Valentine’s Day travel, according to Allianz Partners USA's Top Valentine’s Day Destinations report.
- Orlando ranked among the 18 Cheapest Places to Travel in 2023, according to Kayak, as reported by Travel + Leisure.
- Orlando is the second-most valuable destination in the World by Mexican magazine Periodico Viaje.
- Orlando is named 2023’s Best Place to Get Married by finance website WalletHub, which compared more than 180 of the biggest U.S. cities across 26 key indicators of cost-effectiveness, convenience and enjoyment.
- Orlando ranked Second-Best Staycation Location in the U.S. according to a study by Travel Lens that analyzed the most popular tourist destinations in the U.S. to find the safest, most affordable, and best overall locations for a staycation.
- For the eighth consecutive year, Orlando is number one in Allianz Partner’s Top 10 Spring Break Destinations review.
- Orlando ranked among the safest cities in the world for female solo travelers, according to travel metasearch website WayAway.
- Orlando ranked No. 1 on the list of the top U.S. summer travel destinations by Allianz Partners.
- Greater Orlando is 2023's 8th best summer travel destination, according to a recent study from the personal finance outlet WalletHub.com.
- Orlando ranked #9 on Architectural Digest's list of the Top 50 Most Climate Resilient Cities.
- Orlando was selected as one of The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2023 by Travel + Leisure.
- Orlando is named the "geekiest city" for pop culture buffs, according to a recent study of 300 U.S. cities conducted by RentCafe.
- Booking.com named Orlando one of the top 10 business travel destinations in the U.S.- ranked #3.
- Orlando will host the largest number of the top 250 conventions this year, according to Simpleview and Destinations International. The information was collected through Meetings Information Network’s MINT+ 2023 Top 250 report, a database that helps destinations prospect intelligently by using both historical data and information on future bookings.
- Orlando was named No. 1 Meetings Destination by Cvent.
- Visit Orlando named Best Places to Work in Central Florida by the Orlando Business Journal.
- Visit Orlando was awarded Best Tourist Board at the 2023 Travel Weekly UK Globe Awards.
- Visit Orlando received TravelAbility's "Accessibility Superstar Award" during the Emerging Markets Summit.
- Visit Orlando was honored with Conference Direct's Partner of the Year Award.
- Visit Orlando was a NorthStar Stella Award Gold Winner for Best CVB/DMO in the Southeast.
- Visit Orlando is named Best DMO in the South as part of the 2023 Best of Meetings Today Awards.
- Orange Appeal Magazine's 2023 Women of the Year Vibrant Visionaries.
- Orlando Business Journal's 2023 Businesswoman of the Year.
- 50 most powerful people to watch for 2023 by Orlando Magazine (2nd consecutive year).
- Orlando Family Magazine's 2023 Leading Ladies.
- 50 Most Powerful People of 2023 by Orlando Magazine.
- Top 25 Women in the Meetings Industry by Meetings & Conventions Magazine.
Our 2022 Awards
- Orlando was named No. 23 Best of the Best Top Destination for Sun Seekers in the World in the 2022 Travelers’ Choice Awards, as a result of ratings and reviews pulled by Tripadvisor from travelers across the world.
- Orlando was named the No. 1 U.S. destination for spring break travel by Travel Pulse.
- Orlando was named a top U.S. travel destination according to new research released by Allianz Partners in its Top 10 Summer Rental Car Report.
- The Orlando International Airport (MCO) is the country's second-cheapest airport for departures, with an average airfare of $241.01, according to a study by FinanceBuzz that looked at average domestic airfares from the 45 busiest airports in the U.S.
- Greater Orlando was named 2022's Best Summer Travel Destination, according to a recent study from the personal finance outlet WalletHub.com
- Orlando was ranked the top destination for Memorial Day travel. AAA predicts that 39.2 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from their homes during the Memorial Day Travel Weekend.
- Orlando is 2022's 2nd best city for staycations, according to in a recent study from the personal finance outlet WalletHub.com that compared more than 180 cities across 44 key metrics ranging from parks per capita to restaurant-meal costs.
- Orlando is the No. 2 best city for recreation based on various factors, including access to entertainment and recreation facilities, according to WalletHub.
- Orlando is named the second-most vegan-friendly U.S. city, according to a recent study by WalletHub that compared the 100 largest U.S. cities across 17 key indicators of vegan- and vegetarian-friendliness.
- Orlando is the second-best foodie city in America, according to a new analysis from WalletHub that compared more than 180 U.S. cities across 29 key indicators of foodie-friendliness.
- Orlando was selected as one of the 2022 Top 10 United States Destinations by The Hotel Guide.
- Orlando was named the No.1 Thanksgiving Destination according to a study by AAA, based on flight, hotel, and rental car bookings for Thanksgiving week.
- Downtown Orlando ranked as one of the Top Places To Go in the Southeast in 2022
- Orlando is 2022's 2nd best city for Thanksgiving, in a recent study from the personal finance outlet WalletHub.com.
- Orlando was selected as one of the Best Christmas Towns in the USA by Travel + Leisure.
- Orlando is 2022's 5th best city for Christmas, according to a recent study from the personal finance outlet WalletHub.com.
- Meetings & Incentives Worldwide, Inc. 2022 Supplier Moxie Award for Non-Hotel Supplier.
- Orlando is ConferenceDirect's 2022 Convention and Visitors Bureau of the year Major Market.
- Orlando received the Facilities & Destinations 2022 Top Destination Award
- Visit Orlando is recognized with a Prevue’s Visionary Award
- Visit Orlando was awarded Destinations Council’s Destiny Award — which recognizes U.S. Travel destination members for excellence and creative accomplishment — in the “Innovation Award” category at U.S. Travel’s Educational Seminar for Tourism Organizations (ESTO).
- Smart Meetings Platinum Choice Award- Meet the 2021 Platinum Choice Award Winners! | Smart Meetings
- Readers’ Choice (sponsored by ConventionSouth)- 2021 Readers' Choice Award Winners Announced - ConventionSouth
- Visit Orlando was awarded Destinations Council’s Destiny Award — which recognizes U.S. Travel destination members for excellence and creative accomplishment — in the “Innovation Award” category at U.S. Travel’s Educational Seminar for Tourism Organizations (ESTO).
- Women's Executive Council of Orlando, Networking, Philanthropy awarded Casandra 2022 Woman of the Year at their Women’s Achievement Award Gala.
- Casandra received a Smart Woman in Meetings Award in the Visionary Category from Smart Meetings.
2021 Awards
- Orlando is the No. 1 place to get married according to Wallethub. The study compared 182 cities across three key dimensions: 1) Costs, 2) Facilities & Services and 3) Safety.
- Greater Orlando is 2021's best summer travel destination according to WalletHub.com. The study compared 100 cities across six key categories: 1) Travel Costs & Hassles, 2) Local Costs, 3) Attractions, 4) Weather, 5) Activities and 6) Safety.
- Orlando is ranked among 2021’s Best Cities for Staycations according to Wallethub. The study compared 182 U.S. cities, including the 150 most populated U.S. cities, across three key indicators of recreation, food and entertainment and rest and relaxation.
- Orlando is the 2020 Gay Travel Awards winner in the Destination, Family category. The annual Gay Travel Awards, serves to support and promote LGBTQ travel and tourism by identifying and rewarding select companies exemplifying a genuine spirit of diversity and inclusiveness, superb customer service, and outstanding hospitality excellence
- Orlando is the No. 1 cheapest destination in the U.S. to travel to according to a new Hopper report. The study analyzed the cheapest domestic destinations based on airfare and hotel rates.
- Orlando is ranked the No. 1 Independence Day Travel Destination by AAA based on advanced travel bookings.
- Orlando is the Most Dog-Friendly City for a Vacation in the US and Best City for Pet-Friendly Hotels, with 624 in the city, according to a study by Booking.com, based on the number of pet-friendly hotels, pet stores, dog-friendly parks and fun hikes.
- Orlando is the Best U.S. City for Recreation, according to WalletHub. To determine the places where recreation is a high priority, WalletHub compared the 100 largest U.S. cities across 48 key metrics that speak to the benefits of recreational activities, and Orlando topped the list.
- Orlando is the Best U.S. City for Families, according to United Airlines’ Hemispheres magazine’s Readers Choice Awards.
- Orlando is named the No. 2 Best Foodie City in America, according to a study by WalletHub, based on 29 key indicators of foodie-friendliness including cost of groceries, affordability and accessibility of high-quality restaurants to food festivals per capita.
- Orlando has been named one of TIME's 2021 World's Greatest Places. This list of destinations recognizes adaptability, creativity, and innovation.
- Orlando is ranked second among the most searched cities in the U.S. for fall getaways, according to HomeToGo. These stats are based on data compiled from the world’s largest vacation rental search engine.
- Orlando Metro is 2021's 10th best warm destination for winter travel, according to a recent study from the personal finance outlet WalletHub.com.
- Orlando is named North America's Leading City Break Destination 2021 at the 28th annual World Travel Awards.
- Orlando is 2021's 2nd best city for Thanksgiving, according to a recent study from the personal finance outlet WalletHub.com.
- Orlando is 2021's 3rd best city for New Year's, according to a recent study from the personal finance outlet WalletHub.com, that compared the 100 biggest cities based on 28 key indicators of an epic New Year’s Eve celebration.
- Visit Orlando has been named Major Market CVB of the Year by ConferenceDirect, one of the world's leading providers of meeting and conference solutions and services.
- Visit Orlando has been named Best CVB/DMO in the 2021 Smart Meetings Smart Stars Awards. Now in its tenth year, the Smart Stars Awards have become a meeting industry touchstone and continues to be an essential tool for planners worldwide. This year, meeting professionals voted among thousands of properties, choosing Visit Orlando as the top CVB/DMO.
- Stephanie Naegele, Visit Orlando’s vice president of sales operations, has been recognized among this year's Smart Women in Meetings by Smart Meetings Magazine. Yulita Osuba, deputy director at the Orange County Convention Center, also made the list.
- Visit Orlando is recognized with an Annual ConventionSouth 2021 Readers’ Choice Award.
- Visit Orlando received the highest honor (Gold) Stella Award for CVB/DMO in the South East as part of Northstar Meetings Group’s 5th Annual Stella Awards.
- Visit Orlando has been selected as a 2021 Smart Meetings Platinum Choice Awards winner, nominated by Smart Meetings readers for consistently exceeding expectations and help planners deliver on their goals.
- Visit Orlando is an IAEE Innovative Business Solution Award recipient, recognized in the creation of new and innovative business solutions, as a result of the 2021 IAEE Awards.
- Visit Orlando was honored as a 2020-2021 Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism Presented by Traveling Teams in Sports Destination Management for the 48th AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships.
- Visit Orlando, Orange County Government and Orlando Economic Partnership were recently honored with a PRSA Silver Anvil Award for their “Safer, Stronger, Together" campaign, educating Orange County businesses and residents on health and safety measures to stop the spread of COVID-19 and emerge from the shutdown. The Silver Anvil is one of the most coveted national awards in the public relations field, recognizing "successfully addressing challenging issues with exemplary professional skill, creativity and resourcefulness."
- Orlando’s “Safer, Stronger, Together” campaign took first place in the 2021 National Association of County Achievement Awards. A joint effort between Visit Orlando, Orange County and the Orlando Economic Partnership, the campaign was lauded for establishing safety measures as the “new norm” across the destination.
- Visit Orlando was awarded the LUXlife Excellence Award in Tourism Marketing – Orlando as part of the 6th annual Resort and Retreat Awards 2021 hosted by LUXlife magazine.
We Win As A Team
2024 Best Places to Work in Central Florida
Visit Orlando earned “2024 Best Places to Work in Central Florida” by the Orlando Business Journal. The award identifies exceptional workplaces.
CVB of the Year
Visit Orlando was named Major Market CVB of the Year by ConferenceDirect, one of the world's leading providers of M & C solutions.