This year, the 20th anniversary of Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining, presented by Orlando Health, set a new record — raising $398,307 for Orange County charities, a 13% increase from 2024! We announced the milestone at Visit Orlando’s Year End Celebration.

The program featured pre-fixe menus at an all-time high of over 160 of the region’s top restaurants, including MICHELIN Guide honorees, with up to $2 from every meal going directly to local charities.

Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining has raised nearly $3.3 million for local charities since launching the charity fundraising component in 2009. This year’s primary beneficiary, REED Charitable Foundation, focused on ending the literacy crisis by ensuring all children have access to reading instruction based on how the brain learns to read—through educator training that’s both affordable and accessible.

Additionally, Visit Orlando will award $3,000 to additional nonprofits in each of Orange County’s six commission districts. The recipients are: Boys 2 Men Mentoring, Early Learning Coalition of Orange County, Finding the Lost Sheep, Nuevo Sendero, Samaritan Resource Center and Therapy Wish.

We also honored top-performing restaurants for their outstanding contributions to Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining:

• Otto's High Dive: Top performing new restaurant: $40 menu. 
• The Chapman: Top performing new restaurant: $60 menu.  
• STK Orlando: Largest increase in meals served year over year.  
• Seasons 52 – Orlando: Top performing restaurant overall.

With more than 160 participating restaurants, diners had more options than ever to experience Orlando’s culinary excellence. We appreciate every restaurant for elevating the experience and proving Orlando’s dining scene is Unbelievably Real.

Visit Orlando’s Year End Celebration

We were honored to be hosted by Walt Disney World® Resort, offering a truly magical setting for this year’s celebration. During the luncheon, Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings shared an update on the successful year at the Orange County Convention Center and upcoming expansion; Barb Bowden, Visit Orlando board chair and area managing director at Loews Hotels at Universal Orlando, shared a new milestone in membership with 1,661 Visit Orlando members. Additional updates included:

• New Campaign Launch: We unveiled three new TV ads and brand creative showcasing the evolution of Visit Orlando’s 'Unbelievably Real' brand platform. “The Moments in Between”  launched in September in key markets around the world sharing the message of how in Orlando, connections grow stronger during the moments we don’t expect. From television ads, to taxi cabs to city center billboards, the heavily researched and tested campaign is showing early indications of a successful rollout.
   
• Orlando’s First Destination Cookbook: Award-winning cookbook author Pam Brandon joined and shared stories from Orlando’s Kitchens, our destination’s first cookbook showcasing more than 60 recipes from restaurants throughout Orlando. The cookbook is on sale now at the DTO store and online.

These accomplishments reflect the strength of our partnerships and the shared commitment to keeping Orlando top-of-mind worldwide.

A special thank you to Disney historians and authors Kevin M. Kern and Steven M. Vagnini, for delivering the keynote presentation, “Following Walt’s Blueprints: Secrets Behind Making Dreams Come True.” They explored how the Walt Disney World Resort evolved from a “blue sky” vision into a groundbreaking reality that redefined Central Florida and the entertainment industry.

The presentation showed how Walt Disney’s four C’s — curiosity, confidence, courage and constancy — were instrumental in the creation of Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida and remain applicable to scaling any challenge.

To our members, partners and community leaders, thank you for joining us at Visit Orlando’s Year End Celebration and helping make 2025 a year to remember.

Data & Trends

Weekly Hotel Metrics

Metro Orlando’s hotel occupancy rate for the week ending Dec. 6, 2025, was 71.7%, down 2.3% from the same week last year. Room night demand trailed last year by 0.4%. The average daily rate (ADR) for the week was $213.63, up 7% from last year. Orlando’s occupancy rate and ADR surpassed both the national and Florida averages.

Around the Destination

Tourist Development Council Presentation

Today, Visit Orlando provided a quarterly update to Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings and members of the Tourist Development Council. We shared an update on destination performance with key performance indicators showing flat or ahead performance through the remainder of the year. In addition, Jimmy Allen, SVP and Executive Creative Director of Razorfish, Visit Orlando’s creative agency partner shared examples of our latest campaign, the Moments in Between, an evolution of our brand platform, Unbelievably Real.

We also laid out our new deployment strategy for our meetings and convention team to be better repositioned for the future. Five dedicated sales people will focus on corporate verticals, business that brings high quality meetings to our destination. Our goal is to generate more demand for the expansion of the Orange County Convention Center and drive business to all of our community partners.

Site Visits Showcase Orlando’s Meeting Power

Members of Visit Orlando’s meetings and conventions team, along with our destination experience team, visited Hilton Orlando and Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista this week for site visits. These visits help provide insight on the latest offerings at each location, as well as give planners and partners a firsthand look at any meeting spaces and venues that can positively impact guest experience.

This includes how easy it is to travel to our destination to the quality of dining and experiences available. They’re essential for educating our team, building relationships and ensuring Orlando remains the top choice for major events.

Site visits directly impact future business for our destination. For example, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) will host its Annual Scientific Meeting at the Orange County Convention Center in November 2026, drawing an estimated 17,000 attendees. Crystal Green, ACR’s senior director of meetings, was in Orlando this week exploring venues for their President’s Reception — a perfect example of how these visits help secure citywide programs and elevate Orlando’s position as a premier meetings destination.

Walt Disney World® Golf Named 2026 Resort Course of the Year

The National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) has honored Walt Disney World® Golf, operated by Arnold Palmer Golf Management, as its 2026 Resort Golf Course of the Year. This prestigious award recognizes excellence in service, design and leadership among thousands of courses nationwide. The announcement will be celebrated during NGCOA’s Golf Business Conference, January 19–21, 2026, in Orlando.

With three championship courses and a nine-hole walking layout, Walt Disney World® Golf continues to elevate the guest experience through major enhancements, including a full-course overseeding project, a new fleet of premium golf carts and the extensive renovation of Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course featuring reimagined holes and whimsical Disney-themed touches. Congratulations to the team for setting the standard in resort golf and bringing another national spotlight to Orlando!

Dr. Phillips Center Launches Free Frontyard Holiday Festival

Downtown Orlando is getting a festive makeover as Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts debuted its Frontyard Holiday Festival, supported by AdventHealth. Running now through January 4, this free, family-friendly celebration transforms the three-acre Seneff Arts Plaza into a winter wonderland with nightly tree lightings, snowfalls, fire pits and more than 80 live performances. Guests can enjoy holiday movie nights, caroling, interactive Santa experiences, seasonal treats and even the sounds of the season from North America’s only transportable carillon.

The festival is part of the City of Orlando’s Downtown for the Holidays and is expected to draw 300,000 visitors, creating a vibrant destination for community connection and holiday cheer. From local arts groups to festive food and a special New Year’s Eve countdown, this inaugural event promises to become a beloved Orlando tradition. Visit Orlando representatives, along with members of our social media and content team, attended the kickoff event to amplify its reach.

Visit Orlando Engaged!

Visit Orlando Showcases Destination At IAEE’s Expo! Expo!

This week, the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) hosted its annual Expo! Expo!. As the premier global gathering for exhibitions and events professionals, the event brings together industry leaders, innovative ideas and best practices that shape the future of meetings and conventions. Visit Orlando attends to strengthen relationships with decision-makers in the $90 billion B2B exhibitions industry and position Orlando as a top destination for major events. By engaging with organizers of some of North America’s largest shows, we gain insights to develop strategies that help drive economic impact and keep Orlando at the forefront of the meetings and events industry.

Hosting U.K. and Canada Media

Visit Orlando’s public relations team hosted top journalists from the U.K. and Canada for a “What’s New in Orlando” press trip, showcasing the destination’s latest experiences and developments. The itinerary featured a stay at Villatel Orlando Resort, along with new offerings at Walt Disney World Resort and a visit to Universal Epic Universe. The media also explored Orlando’s newest attractions, dining and retail experiences at Pointe Orlando and The Mall at Millenia. As Orlando’s two top international markets, the U.K. and Canada play a critical role in driving visitation, and the resulting coverage will help keep the destination top of mind.

In the News

Bradenton Herald: Orlando Holiday Celebrations: 5 Merry and Bright Things to Do

Timeout: Best Michelin-Starred Restaurants in Florida to Book Now

Southern Living: 10 Ways Orlando Makes The Holidays Magical

Flamingo Magazine: Florida's Holiday Light Shows

Meetings Today: Destination-wide Cookbook Is a Love Letter to Orlando | Meetings Today

OpenJaw (Canada): Visit Orlando and Advisors Bring Sunshine to Hamilton and Toronto