June 1 marks the start of Pride Month, the annual celebration recognizing the LGBTQ+ community and their allies. Visit Orlando is collaborating with organizations to highlight Orlando’s Pride Month activities, including parades, promotional campaigns, commemorative events and more.
- Red Shirt Pride Day: In honor of Red Shirt Pride Day, a global initiative held on June 1 to help spread the message of diversity, equality, inclusion, safe expression and kindness around the world, the Visit Orlando team wore red shirts sharing “where sunlight, fireworks and rainbows all shine.” Let's see your red shirts. Join our team in supporting Red Shirt Pride Day by taking a picture and tagging us on our social channels.
- Pride Parade & Partnerships: Visit Orlando teamed up with iHeartMedia on a parade float in the Dallas Pride Parade, to reach 300,000 attendees in one of our top feeder markets. Our float features local Dallas radio personalities and brings the energy, excitement and fun of Orlando. We're also collaborating with Tripadvisor on branded trips with LGBTQ+ influencers and partnering with iHeart Radio on promotions to increase LGBTQ+ content and editorial on their platforms.
- Marketing Initiatives: We’re running a full-page LGBTQ+ advertisement through June in PASSPORT Magazine, highlighting Orlando as “inclusive and welcoming.” And, readers of USA Today will find our message in the Pride Month insert showcasing Orlando as “A City of Colorful People.” The advertisement highlights Orlando being named the first-ever “City of the Year” by GayCities.com.
- Promoting Orlando’s Pride Events: Consumers around the world can learn about Orlando’s Pride Month activities and events on our consumer blog. The article highlights Orlando’s LGBTQ+-owned businesses and lists Pride and Pulse remembrance events, with an interactive map. Additionally, a new blog by Instagram influencer Josh Easterling provides a personal take on LGBTQ+ living in Orlando.
At Visit Orlando, we support our LGBTQ+ community during Pride Month and year-round, bringing positive exposure by showcasing our diverse, welcoming, and inclusive destination.
New Expedia Partnership Highlights Outdoor Experiences
At Visit Orlando, we always look for unique ways to reach our target audiences with compelling storytelling about all aspects of our destination. That’s why we partnered with Expedia’s branded travel series, The Next Turn, to take viewers on an unexpected adventure, showing Orlando from a different angle of outdoor adventures. The 10-minute Orlando episode follows the journey of Jo Franco from the Netflix series “The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals” as she explores Orlando’s ecotourism—outdoor activities, food, culture and other exciting experiences that resonate with outdoor/nature enthusiasts.
The episode lives on Expedia’s shoppable travel platform with interactive maps, custom articles and Expedia listings to allow consumers to watch the video, learn more about the experiences and purchase directly on the platform. The campaign will run in the United States and Canada from May to July to inspire travelers to plan a trip and explore more of Orlando this year. Click here to check it out!
Data & Trends
Metro Orlando’s hotel occupancy rate for the week ending May 25, 2024, was 66.8%, up 0.8% from the same week last year. The average daily rate for the week was $183.85, up 0.8%. Room night demand surpassed the prior year by 1.6%.
April 2024 Employment Report Summary: The state labor report for April showed a slight increase in the Orlando MSA’s overall employment from March’s report, with the addition of 3,000 jobs (+0.2%). The April unemployment rate in the Orlando MSA fell slightly from March to 3.2% and is now slightly lower than the Florida unemployment rate (3.3%). The Leisure and Hospitality (L&H) sector in the Orlando MSA lost 300 jobs (-0.1%) from March to April. The L&H sector remains at 103% of pre-pandemic (Feb-2020) employment. The sector is comprised of three areas:
- Food Services and Drinking Places grew 0.3% from March to April; the sector is currently at 106% of Feb-2020 employment.
- Arts, Entertainment and Recreation fell -0.7 % from March to April; the sector currently has 106% of Feb-2020 employment.
- Accommodations were flat from March to April; the sector remains at 94% of Feb-2020 employment.
Across the Industry
New Canadian Flight Expansion to Orlando: Flair Airlines, Canada's leading low-fare airline, recently announced its winter schedule expansion, connecting key Canadian cities to Orlando International Airport (MCO). Beginning in the fall, Canadian travelers can book one-way fares starting as low as $44. This launch is happening at the perfect time ahead of the upcoming winter season, providing value-focused options for Canadian travelers and easy travel options to experience Orlando’s unique experiences. Nonstop service between Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Kitchener-Waterloo (YKF) will begin on October 29; between MCO and Toronto Pearson (YYZ) on December 16; between MCO and London (YXU) on December 20th; and between MCO and Saint John (YSJ) on December 22. Learn more.
Around the Destination
Insights Forum: Join Visit Orlando and Expedia Group on Wednesday, June 26, for an Industry Insights Forum at UCF's Rosen College of Hospitality Management. At the general session, “Orlando Market: Navigating Current Travel Trends,” we will share insights on changes in traveler behaviors and motivations with a snapshot of the 2023 Orlando traveler, including visitor volume, origin data, seasonality and traveler characteristics. We’ll also examine the current state of the travel industry with a lens on Orlando and provide a glimpse at the outlook for the remainder of 2024 and beyond. Attendees will have opportunities to gain invaluable insights, exchange ideas and network with peers. Register today!
Orlando Host City for FABTECH: With expert guidance from Visit Orlando’s destination experience team, the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) chose Orlando for its FABTECH conference for the first time. Approximately 35,000 attendees are expected at the Orange County Convention Center. Visit Orlando is essential in bringing organizations like SME to the city. The destination experience team provides expertise on the area, offers site inspections and even suggests unique off-site events, dinners and behind-the-scenes activities, all of which are essential in attracting major organizations and positively impacting our economy.
Visit Orlando Engaged!
Arts & Culture Luxury Press Trip: The publicity team hosted Brazilian journalists and content creators on a press trip promoting Orlando’s arts and culture scene and luxury experiences. The group explored Orlando neighborhoods and murals, toured our unique neighborhoods and indulged in a wide range of culinary and shopping experiences. They visited the new Evermore Orlando Resort, Conrad Orlando and Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World® Resort. The group also attended the 33rd annual Orlando Fringe festival and experienced entertainment at Cirque du Soleil’s Drawn to Life and Judson’s Live at The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. The media represented national outlets, including Caderno Ela from O Globo newspaper, luxury Claudia magazine and Viagem e Turismo Portal, plus content creators Bruna Vieira and Igor Saringer, for a combined reach of 7.3 million readers and followers.
Grand Opening Celebration: The Visit Orlando team was onsite to welcome Tom’s Watch Bar as the newest rooftop sports venue in the city. The bar offers more than 150 televisions and stadium screens for a 360-degree game day viewing experience. It also showcases a world-class rooftop view of the Orlando Skyline. Offering "all the sports, all the time," Tom’s Watch Bar is a unique experience and ideal game day headquarters for sports enthusiasts. Learn more.
In the News
Orlando Weekly: Downtown Orlando may get a new on-demand, eco-friendly shuttle service
MSN: Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Orlando plans to open in 2026
People: Four Seasons Orlando baby enjoys stay at hotel after viral fame
Travelweek (Canada): Orlando has hot deals and new attractions this summer
The Times (UK): 16 of the best family hotels in Orlando