Travel destinations can control certain factors—product, marketing and sales efforts, and the level of experience we deliver. Yet there are external aspects, beyond our control, that can impact travel behavior and destination performance.

As Vice Chair of U.S. Travel Association’s Board of Directors, this week I attended the Spring board meeting and Destination Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. The push and pull of factors that impact travel, was a key theme discussed with my fellow board members – representatives from DMOs, hotels, airlines and other travel companies.

Key Takeaways:

• Travel is essential to the US economy and Central Florida.
• The travel industry is resilient.

Orlando Perspective:

At Visit Orlando, we closely monitor economic factors, perceptions and trends. This data and research helps guide our decisions. We understand the importance of remaining top of mind in our key international markets, but we also recognize that we must be nimble.

In recent weeks, we have started to see travel demand from Canada soften, which could be a result of a variety of factors, including the strength of the U.S. dollar and slowing Canadian economy, compounded by recent tariff announcements.

For all markets combined, overall advance hotel booking pace remains ahead compared to this time last year, with April pacing 3% ahead, and May is looking strong with an 8% increase. While we are seeing a slowdown from Canada, we are still seeing continued interest and bookings from other international markets, such as Mexico. As one market slows, others present opportunities and our goal at Visit Orlando is to make sure we maintain the optimal visitor mix driving visitation for the benefit of our community’s economic health.

National Perspective:

During the meetings in Washington D.C., there were many updates and priorities shared that our Central Florida community may find helpful:

• Global Events & Brand USA: The industry has an opportunity to partner with the Administration with events such as the FIFA World Cup, America250, and the 2028 Olympic games. Recently, the Administration announced a White House task force for the FIFA World Cup 2026 to oversee preparations for the high-profile tournament. Brand USA is working with us to extend our reach, and it's crucial that we focus on its reauthorization. Visit Orlando will continue to help educate stakeholders on why having an organization such as Brand USA dedicated to telling our nation’s story is important. 
   
• Booking Trends: Expedia shared valuable insights, noting a trend of booking windows being 20 days or less, credited to uncertainty. While they see in decline in Canada, stability remains in other international markets such as France and Mexico. This is further evidence that we must keep marketing to remain top of mind and encourage travelers to put Orlando in their consideration for their next vacation.
   
• Meetings & Conventions: A panel led by U.S. Travel Association predicted that the impact to meetings because of recent actions will be felt over the next 5-8 years. A member survey from American Society of Association Executives found that healthcare associations are most impacted, with financial impacts affecting sponsorship, meetings, and membership. Government meetings are facing funding cuts, with some events canceled and agencies pausing or slowing down. Despite the challenges, there’s optimism that unlike during other times, meetings remain important to industry, personal growth, and critical to providing solutions.
   
• Personal Experiences are Critical: We’ve long known that personal experiences shape perceptions of the travel industry. We found this to be true even with our elected officials, when the group took to Capitol Hill to share our story. Travel's ability to connect is highly valued and needs to prioritize people.

For more information on U.S. Travel Association’s priorities, click here.

Celebrating Global Meetings Industry Day

On April 3, we proudly joined the annual worldwide recognition of Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID) to champion the benefits and impact of professional meetings and events held in the destination. Fueled by the U.S. Travel Association’s Meetings Mean Business Coalition, GMID spotlights the proven value that business meetings, conferences, conventions, incentive travel, trade shows and exhibitions bring to businesses, workers and the economy.

Visit Orlando celebrated the impact the meetings industry has on the Central Florida small business community, showcased in this video. Additionally, we've collaborated with the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) and destination partners in a joint messaging campaign celebrating the importance of meetings and events, and Visit Orlando provided event planning expertise during a panel discussion with the Greater Orlando Chapter of Meeting Planners International.

Data & Trends

Metro Orlando’s hotel occupancy rate for the week ending March 29, 2025, was 76.8% down 4.4% from the same week last year. The average daily rate for the week was $236.26, up 2.1% from last year. Room night demand trailed the prior year by 3.6%.

Across the Industry

British Airways Celebrates Four Decades of Flights Between Orlando and London

On March 30, British Airways celebrated 40 years of flight connection between London and Orlando. This milestone reflects the vital role British Airways has played in facilitating travel between Orlando and the U.K., our top overseas international market. Today, the Orlando–London route remains one of the airline’s most popular transatlantic connections, drawing visitors to Orlando’s renowned attractions. This summer, the airline will operate 14 direct flights per week between Orlando and London Gatwick aboard its Boeing 777 aircraft.

Around the Destination

Register For Visit Orlando’s Travel & Tourism Event

Join us for Visit Orlando's Travel & Tourism Event on Thursday, May 8, at the Orange County Convention Center as we celebrate National Travel & Tourism Week. The event will recognize our industry’s critical role in powering economies, communities and connections, with an industry update and great networking opportunities for professionals, business leaders, and community members.

Enjoy a performance by Blue Man Group, returning to Orlando at ICON Park this year, and a keynote on AI by Mitch Mitchem, CEO of HIVE Interactive, on how AI is shaping industries and empowering individuals. For corporate table purchases, email Kelly Kinney, Visit Orlando’s senior member sales manager.

Visit Orlando Engaged!

Highlighting the Impact of Travel in Orlando

Visit Orlando presented during the general session of Hilton’s Global Client Forum in Orlando this week. Stephanie Naegele, Visit Orlando’s vice president of sales and services, highlighted the profound impact travel has on Orlando's economy, noting it employs 398,000 workers, generates $78 billion in economic impact, and provides $5.6 billion in local and state tax revenue.

Stephanie showcased Orlando’s key features, including its extensive convention space, numerous hotels and attractions, and connectivity through Orlando International Airport. She also emphasized the benefits of partnering with Visit Orlando for expertise, marketing support, and exhibitor assistance. During the welcome reception, Visit Orlando hosted a gifting experience where attendees interacted with several Orlando-based small businesses. Attendees learned about the origin stories of these enterprises and how tourism impacts them.

Media Mission to Mexico City

The Visit Orlando public relations team recently participated in a VISIT FLORIDA media mission to Mexico City alongside key representatives from Visit St. Pete-Clearwater, Greater Miami CVB, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and Visit Central Florida. Country media missions serve as invaluable platforms to not only showcase the destination to established and emerging markets but also to drive visitation and build connections with influential media outlets.

Across three days, the team engaged with over 40 prominent consumer and trade publications and content creators through a media brunch and evening reception. The Visit Orlando team also organized an immersive media event, captivating 17 additional media outlets and content creators with the latest updates about the destination. Additionally, our travel industry sales team, with representatives from the participating destinations, delivered in-depth training sessions to over 172 industry professionals in Monterrey, Merida and Mexico City, promoting Orlando's unique offerings and experiences.

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