As part of Visit Orlando's "Orlando for All" multicultural campaign, we have several initiatives this fall tied to celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. With nearly 35% of Central Florida’s population identifying as Hispanic or Latino, our community is filled with opportunities for visitors and locals to explore and celebrate Hispanic Heritage. Visit Orlando’s campaign aims to reach key markets, such as New York, Atlanta, Washington DC, Philadelphia, Chicago, Dallas and Houston, and includes:
Univision Collaboration: In partnership with Univision, the leading Spanish-language television network in the United States, we’re promoting Hispanic music and cuisine through a targeted social media campaign to amplify the celebration.
Events and Exhibits: Explore a variety of events that celebrate Hispanic heritage, including cultural festivals, art shows, performances, music, dance and visual arts.
Restaurants and Cuisine: Indulge in authentic Hispanic and Latino flavors throughout Orlando’s vibrant food scene, including traditional dishes from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and beyond.
Local Businesses: Support Orlando's Hispanic and Latino-owned businesses to enrich our destination’s cultural and economic landscape.
Together, these initiatives honor the rich cultural tapestry that makes Orlando a welcoming destination for all.
Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining, presented by Orlando Health offers prix-fixe menus at local restaurants, with a portion of proceeds benefiting local charities. Our teams have worked hard to maximize the program’s exposure. So far, we’ve partnered with 10 local content creators to highlight over 20 restaurants, generating more than 160 posts and over 60,000 engagements across social media. Additionally, we’ve hosted 40 influencers to produce 139 pieces of content, including a collaboration with @thisbabeeats to drive overnight stays from our key drive market, Tampa, through Visit Orlando’s Magical Nights.
Don’t miss out on Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining, which ends in just 10 days! Not only will you enjoy an amazing meal, but your support will help The Mustard Seed of Central Florida and local nonprofits. Make your reservations at OrlandoMagicalDining.com by Sept. 30 and help make a difference with $1 from each $40 meal and $2 from each $60 meal.
Data & Trends
Metro Orlando’s hotel occupancy rate for the week ending September 14, 2024, was 61.5%, down 2.3% from the same week last year. The average daily rate for the week was $176.99, which was down 0.1% from last year. Room night demand trailed the prior year by 1.5%.
Across the Industry
Orlando Economic Partnership Mission: This week, the Orlando Economic Partnership hosted its 2024 Executive Leadership Mission in Nashville, where regional business and community leaders explored key factors behind the city’s economic vibrancy and downtown recovery. Attendees gained insights into Nashville's $8.6 billion public-private investments and workforce attraction strategies. Highlights included a private dinner and show at the Grand Ole Opry, a tour of Vanderbilt University’s innovation hub and discussions on economic development at Nashville Yards.
Around the Destination
L to R: Visit Orlando’s Casandra Matej; Maria Lombardi, Foundry Commerical; Laine Powell, Tech Sassy Girlz; and Lynn Sedwick, RSM
Orlando Women’s Leadership NextGen Program: As part of the ATHENA Orlando Women’s Leadership NextGen program, I served on a panel discussing the Living Authentically principle. Held at Valencia College Downtown, the event offered participants the chance to explore ATHENA’s Leadership model and learn from women who have made significant contributions to their fields and the business community. The panel, moderated by Lynn Sedwick, Partner at RSM, also featured Laine Powell, CEO and Founder of Tech Sassy Girlz and Maria Lombardi, Associate at Foundry Commercial. Attendees gained insights on embracing authenticity, navigating challenges and leading purposefully.
L to R: Visit Orlando’s Shannon Parker; Dr. Alex Erdmann, Valencia College; Ofira Bondorowsky, Rosen JCC; Stephanie Howell, Valencia College; Camila Hernandez, Visit Orlando's WEC Scholarship Recipient and guest; and Visit Orlando’s Stan Rubins and guest
Red, Black, and Boundless Gala: Visit Orlando attended the annual Red, Black, and Boundless Gala, which celebrates Valencia College's impact on Central Florida and the accomplishments of its current students and graduates. We are proud to be part of such a thriving community and to support Valencia College’s faculty and staff. Congratulations, President Kathleen Plinske and the entire team, on a successful event and for showing great leadership by supporting 200,000-plus alumni and 70,000 students.
Visit Orlando Engaged!
Visit Orlando staff and agency partners pack more than 27,000 bars of soap at Clean the World.
Clean the World: At Visit Orlando, we regularly highlight unique corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities that meeting groups can integrate into their events. Last week, during our Marketing & Communications Agency Summit—where representatives from our U.S., Canada, UK, Brazil, Mexico and Colombia creative, advertising and public relations agencies gathered in Orlando for planning—we took the opportunity to give back. Our team spent the morning at Clean the World, a global organization committed to improving hygiene and health. Together, we packed 27,800 bars of soap benefiting approximately 42,000 people in need. This effort underscores our continued dedication to service within our community and beyond.
Visit Orlando’s Allisson Dos Santos hosted Colombian journalists and content creators at Orlando Family Stage during a press trip.
Colombian Journalists Experience Orlando: Visit Orlando’s public relations team recently hosted Colombian journalists and content creators to showcase Orlando’s vibrant dining, arts and culture. The media represented major outlets, including Boca, Cromos and Fuscia magazines, plus content creators Paulina Hoyos and Maria Paulina Rodriguez, for a combined reach of 700,000 readers and followers. The group explored Orlando’s unique neighborhoods and attractions, including the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art and Cirque du Soleil’s Drawn to Life.
Members of Visit Orlando, Experience Kissimmee and Disney host Avoris and El Corte Inglés agents for a familiarization tour.
Travel Industry Sales FAMs: Visit Orlando’s travel industry sales team recently co-hosted a familiarization tour (FAM) with Icelandair and Experience Kissimmee for Scandinavian travel agents, highlighting Orlando’s direct flights from Keflavik. The agents explored Universal Orlando, Kennedy Space Center, and visited the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Resort and Rosen Shingle Creek.
The team also hosted a FAM from Spain with Disney and Experience Kissimmee, welcoming top-selling agents from Avoris and El Corte Inglés, chosen for their sales of the new Iberojet flights between Madrid and Orlando. The group visited ICON Park, Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures, Pinstripes, and the Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets. FAMs are essential tools as they allow travel professionals to experience destinations firsthand to better sell to their clients.
Visit Orlando’s public relations team showcases Orlando experiences as part of a press trip.
Azul Airlines Magazine Press Trip: Visit Orlando worked with a journalist and photographer from Azul Brazilian Airlines' in-flight magazine to showcase Orlando's top theme parks, outdoor activities, cultural sites and dining. Their October feature will reach 60,000 print readers and over 2 million digital readers, highlighting their experiences at SeaWorld, Aquatica, Discovery Cove and notable local restaurants like the Edison and Capa.
