As part of our Winter Doesn’t Exist campaign, Visit Orlando brought Florida warmth and sunshine to New York on Feb. 15 during our annual Orlando Family Fun Day at Bryant Park Winter Village. After one of the coldest winters on record, thousands of New Yorkers visited our warm zone to enjoy hot cocoa, step inside the Orlando Sun Globe activation and build their own Orlando Dream Vacation on an interactive dream wall.

Families also joined a series of Orlando-themed games including citrus cornhole, mini basketball and the family packing challenge. Throughout the day, kids and adults colored their own Orlando Dream Vacation pages, adding creativity and fun to the experience.

Visit Orlando also hosted three Orlando Skate Nights, where skaters received orange Orlando scarves and enjoyed a themed Orlando playlist on the ice. Participants shared their favorite memories and love for our destination.

In addition, Visit Orlando partnered with several NYC-based influencers to amplify the consumer activation, generating content shared with highly targeted local audiences, including coverage from @littlekidbigcity_newyork.

As the official Winter Village partner from Nov. to March, this activation provided Visit Orlando with a strong platform to engage directly with consumers in our top market, helping keep Orlando top of mind for future travel and reinforcing our Winter Doesn’t Exist messaging.

Data & Trends

Weekly Hotel Metrics

Metro Orlando’s hotel occupancy rate for the week ending Feb. 14, 2026, was 76.4%, down 10% from the same week last year. Room night demand trailed last year by 9.2%. The average daily rate (ADR) for the week was $251.42, down 0.7% from last year. One reason for the drop in hotel performance from last year is due to the shift in convention calendar as this was the week the AHR Expo met in Orlando in 2025.

Across the Industry

Brightline Debuts Freedom Express Train Honoring America’s 250th Anniversary

Brightline commemorated America’s upcoming 250th anniversary with the debut of its Freedom Express train, a 10‑coach set wrapped in patriotic artwork highlighting 10 defining moments in U.S. history. Created in partnership with America250, the special train honored the spirit of connection, innovation and independence that began on July 4, 1776 and continues to shape our nation’s transportation story today.

As part of the celebration, Brightline welcomed local first responders and community heroes for a free inaugural ride, recognizing individuals who embody service and resilience across Central Florida. The unveiling took place at the Orlando Brightline Station on Feb. 16 and offered an opportunity to reflect on the nation’s shared history and build excitement as the country looks ahead to the nationwide America250 celebrations in 2026. Explore additional ways to celebrate America250 in Orlando.

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Celebrating Destination Professionals Day

On Feb. 19, Visit Orlando joined destinations around the world in celebrating Destination Professionals Day, recognizing the people and organizations who drive tourism, economic growth and community vitality. The date marks the founding of the world’s first destination organization in 1896 and honors the work of today’s destination professionals — from marketing and sales to visitor services, research, events and beyond — whose efforts elevate local economies and enhance quality of life.

At Visit Orlando, our team plays a vital role in shaping our region’s travel and tourism impact while helping create memorable experiences for millions of visitors each year. The day serves as a reminder that our people are our greatest asset, championing our destination, supporting local businesses and inspiring future leaders in our industry.

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Visit Orlando Recognized With HSMAI Adrian Awards

Visit Orlando received a Gold award in the Multi-Channel/Integrated Marketing category for our Ecotourism Campaign at the 2026 HSMAI Adrian Awards, the travel industry’s premier global competition honoring excellence in marketing. With more than 700 entries, the recognition highlights work that delivered measurable impact through creativity and innovation. Visit Orlando also received a Silver award for the Tourism Benefits You campaign and three Bronze awards for the VisitOrlando.com website redesign, Orlando Neighborhoods Content series and Halloween Vacation Capital Media Blitz.

Now in its 69th year, the Adrian Awards spotlight the best in travel marketing worldwide, bringing together destination organizations, hospitality leaders and creative partners who help shape the future of our industry. Winners were celebrated on Feb. 18 at the New York City Marriott Marquis.

Congratulations to Visit Orlando’s Lisa Messina — 2026 Women Who Mean Business

Visit Orlando’s Chief Sales Officer Lisa Messina has been named one of Orlando Business Journal’s 2026 Women Who Mean Business. Now in its 28th year, the program recognizes 24 leaders who exemplify dedication, innovation and service across industries that shape Central Florida. Honorees are selected for professional and personal accomplishments, business achievements and community involvement during the past year.

Under Lisa’s leadership, Visit Orlando delivered record-breaking results in 2025: 1,685 events booked, 3.2M+ attendees, 3.4M+ room nights, and $7.4B in economic impact. She drove innovative strategies to attract high-value meetings aligned with Orlando’s growth, redeployed the sales team into specialized verticals, and positioned the destination to capitalize on new convention space and global competition further cementing Orlando’s role as a leading meetings hub.

Visit Orlando is proud to see her recognized among the region’s most accomplished and influential women, whose contributions help drive economic vitality and enhance quality of life across Central Florida.

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Around the Destination

Design & Construction Week Delivers Major Impact in Orlando

This week, Design & Construction Week (DCW) returned to Orlando, bringing together the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) International Builders’ Show and the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) Kitchen & Bath Industry Show for their 13th year of co-location. As the largest annual gathering of residential construction and design professionals, the combined shows represented nearly 117,000 registrants across the Orange County Convention Center campus and the I‑Drive corridor.

NAHB International Builders’ Show: The NAHB International Builders’ Show welcomed nearly 75,000 attendees and 1,650 exhibitors. The conference is the largest annual light construction show in the world. During the opening ceremonies, I had the opportunity, alongside several Visit Orlando representatives, to meet NAHB leaders, including President & CEO Jim Tobin, Chief Revenue Officer Geoff Cassidy and Vice President of Operations Sean Lenahan.

NKBA Kitchen & Bath Industry Show: The NKBA’s Kitchen & Bath Industry Show brought in more than 40,000 attendees this year. As the only trade association dedicated exclusively to the kitchen and bath industry, NKBA represents more than 50,000 members worldwide and owns KBIS, advancing the sector through education, certification and industry leadership. The show also included exhibits at Rosen Plaza where NKBA hosted its Awards in Design event, with activities at Live! at the Pointe Orlando and throughout the International Drive corridor.

The positive momentum throughout the week was clear and attendees shared the value of DCW returning to Orlando. As Jessica Bazzi of Owens Corning, an exhibitor for over 75 years noted, “The turnout, the energy, the buzz in Orlando has been incredible. We feel it’s one of the best shows we’ve had in years.”

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Honoring Hospitality Professionals at CFHLA Golden Pineapple Awards

The Central Florida Hotel & Lodging Association (CFHLA) honored the region’s top hospitality talent at its annual Golden Pineapple Awards on Feb. 13 at the Orlando World Center Marriott. This year, CFHLA recognized 261 front-line employees from 68 Central Florida lodging properties for exemplary service and outstanding customer satisfaction throughout 2025.

CFHLA continues to play an essential role in strengthening Central Florida’s workforce by investing in programs that support students, emerging professionals and future leaders in the industry. This commitment helps cultivate the next generation of travel, tourism and hospitality professionals. We congratulate the 2026 Golden Pineapple Award winners and nominees for their contributions and lasting impact on our destination.

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Visit Orlando Engaged!

Visit Orlando Engages Irish and UK Media at Meet the Media 2026

Visit Orlando’s UK public relations agency, FINN Partners, represented the destination at the annual Irish Meet the Media networking event Feb. 9 in Dublin, which was attended by more than 100 of Ireland’s top travel editors, writers, influencers and content creators. The team held one-on-one meetings with leading outlets, including the Irish Daily Mail, The Irish Times, Sunday World and JRNY Magazine, as well as key broadcast producers, to share destination updates and pitch new story angles.

Discussions highlighted new openings, value-driven travel, adult-focused experiences, sports tourism and attractions beyond the theme parks, reinforcing Orlando’s broad appeal and keeping the destination top of mind among Irish travelers.

In the News

WPIX (New York): Why Orlando Is the Perfect Winter Getaway Destination

Report News (Mexico): Orlando kicks off 2026 with 26 new family experiences

Trade Show Executive: Orlando Breaks Ground on Convention Center Expansion and Introduces New Experiences for Meetings and Events

Mommy Poppins: Take a Tour of I-Drive: Awesome Things to Do with Kids on International Drive Orlando