This weekend, our nation will celebrate an exciting milestone with America 250 celebrations happening across the country.

As an iconic family vacation destination, there’s no shortage of activities to celebrate our country’s big birthday. A core strategy for Visit Orlando is to leverage key cultural moments to stay top of mind for travelers. Our America 250 campaign, launched in May, directs travelers to a dedicated landing page featuring special events, itinerary ideas and offers across the destination.

Supported by paid search, public relations and social efforts, the campaign also encourages the sharing of memorable Orlando moments on social media to be featured in social videos and on our landing page. 

A few highlights to enjoy this weekend range from signing a big birthday card to America at the Winter Garden Heritage Museum in downtown Winter Garden or spotting bald eagles in their natural habitat from an airboat tour to snapping a selfie in a replica of the Oval Office or checking out one of the many events featuring fireworks.

For more ideas check out our blog Fourth of July Fireworks and Fun.

We wish you and your family a safe, fun and memorable holiday weekend.

Explore Orlando’s New Ice Cream Trail

A new way to experience Orlando’s culinary scene is here and just in time for summer. Visit Orlando, in partnership with Florida Dairy Farmers, launched the Thrill to Chill: Orlando Ice Cream Trail—a limited-time, self-guided digital experience designed to drive summer visitation while supporting locally owned businesses.

Available through July 31, the free mobile pass guides visitors to more than two dozen ice cream shops across the destination. Participating locations include Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream, Sampaguita Ice Cream, Charlie’s Bakery & Creamery, The Greenery Creamery and Twistee Treat, offering a mix of well-known favorites and local gems.

So far, there's been a good roundup of media attention promoting the new trail. This includes coverage from Gotta Go Orlando, WFTV, WOFL and OrlandoShines.com, helping amplify awareness of the experience. 

Explore

Data & Trends

Weekly Metrics

Metro Orlando’s hotel occupancy rate for the week ending June 27, 2026, was 70.8%, down 10.8% from the same week last year. Room night demand trailed last year by 11.5%. The Average Daily Rate (ADR) for the week was $193.65, up 0.6% from last year. 

Around the Destination

As the new school year approaches, organizations and community leaders across Orange County are hosting back-to-school drives and fairs to help students and families prepare for a successful start. These events provide access to school supplies, health services, community resources and volunteer opportunities that support students throughout our region.

• Community members are encouraged to support the Back-to-School Fairs taking place throughout Orange County in July and August. Hosted by the Community & Family Services Department in partnership with Orange County Commission Districts, these free events help students prepare for the new school year by providing access to health services, immunizations, ECG screenings and valuable community resources for families. Learn more here. 
   
• Support Commissioner Nicole Wilson's Back-to-School Hygiene & Bookbag Donation Drive by donating backpacks and essential hygiene items for local students. Collection will run through July 8, with items distributed at community events on July 11 and August 1. Learn more here. 
   
• Volunteers are needed to support Commissioner Michael Scott's back-to-school initiatives by volunteering at local Back-to-School Fairs. Volunteers assist with event setup, registration and parking while helping connect students and families with resources for a successful start to the school year. Register here. 
   
• Community members are encouraged to donate backpacks, school supplies and other essential items to support local students through the Orange County Sheriff's Office Back to School Bash on August 1. Learn more here.

Visit Orlando Engaged!

Sharing Expertise at Research Conference

Visit Orlando’s senior director of market research and insights, Maria Henson, spoke at the 56th annual TTRA International Conference, held June 24-26 in Greenville, South Carolina. Hosted by the Travel and Tourism Research Association (TTRA), the conference brought together destination leaders and academics from around the world with attendees from as far as Australia and Hong Kong. TTRA is a global nonprofit and leading advocate for higher standards in travel and tourism research, analysis and marketing.

Maria spoke on multiple panels sharing her expertise on a range of topics from mentoring early career development in the travel industry to discussions around inclusion in research and marketing.

Strengthening International Partnerships in Brazil Market

Our team met with PRGE (Personal RGE), a local tour operator specializing in Brazilian travelers, to explore new ways to enhance our partnership and support international visitation to Orlando. The discussion focused on expanding efforts in key areas including FAM tours, Orlando Travel Academy certifications and engagement with Portuguese-speaking audiences.

The conversation also highlighted opportunities to showcase the breadth of Orlando’s offerings in addition to theme parks—including dining, shopping, sports, luxury hospitality and extended-stay experiences. Continued collaboration with partners like PRGE supports Visit Orlando’s strategy to grow demand in priority international markets.

In The News

Travel + Leisure: From My Travels

Azul in-flight magazine (Brazil): Orlando: Attractions in the Theme Park Capital of the World That Go Beyond the Parks

AdventuresOfATwinMom: Every time we visit Orlando, we discover something new