In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated annually from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, Visit Orlando is spotlighting the vibrant cultures and deep-rooted histories of our residents with heritage from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.

With more than 35% of Central Florida’s population identifying as Hispanic or Latino, this month is a meaningful opportunity to celebrate the people and traditions that shape our destination. This is an important tie with Orlando’s key travel audiences, with Mexico in the top five for countries of origin for travel to our destination, Colombia, Argentina, Chile and Peru growing markets, and new air service from Spain beginning towards the end of the month.

Our activities during Hispanic Heritage Month allow for both domestic and international audiences to connect with Orlando more personally and find inspiration for their next vacation. 

This year, Visit Orlando launched a Hispanic Heritage Month campaign airing on Univision across key metro markets, including New York, Miami, Houston, Dallas, Chicago and Philadelphia. The campaign features two 15-second vignettes that spotlight the richness of Hispanic culture connecting with audiences with deeper storytelling.

Visit Orlando’s Hispanic Heritage Month blog highlights some of the best ways to join the celebration — from festive events and cultural exhibits to specialty dining and more. The blog includes a curated map and event listings, plus a dedicated landing page: the Hispanic & Latino Travel Guide. This guide invites visitors to explore Hispanic and Latino history and influence throughout Orlando, including cultural attractions, special events, restaurants and other reasons to visit.

Across Visit Orlando’s social channels, we’re amplifying voices from our community and celebrating the incredible talent and stories that make Orlando shine. Our social media and content team recently met with two inspiring performers from Drawn to Life by Cirque du Soleil at Disney, who shared what it means to chase their dreams as Hispanic artists in Orlando — and bring magic to life on stage.

We also partnered with Yelp Orlando’s Elite Squad for an evening at Mexican restaurant Reyes Mezcaleria. Chef Wendy Lopez curated a Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining, presented by Orlando Health menu, paired with handcrafted margaritas and mocktails. The night featured a folkloric performance by @mexicodanza.folk, kicking off Hispanic Heritage Month with a joyful celebration of food, culture and community. 

Data & Trends

Weekly Hotel Metrics

Metro Orlando’s hotel occupancy rate for the week ending September 27, 2025, was 57.7%, down 13.2% from the same week last year. The average daily rate for the week was $162.61, down 10.9% from last year. Room night demand trailed last year by 11.7%.

The decrease this week has long been anticipated by Amadeus advance hotel booking pace data. Almost all of the top 25 domestic markets saw declines in occupancy rate last week with the U.S. and Florida averages down 4.2% and 8.7%, respectively.

Across the Industry

50 Most Powerful People in Orlando

Orlando Magazine recently revealed its 2025 list of the 50 Most Powerful People in Orlando. I am honored to be highlighted in the Tourism and Transportation category alongside so many visionary leaders who are shaping our region’s future. This recognition reflects the collective impact of our tourism community — and the momentum we’ve built together. We also congratulate Visit Orlando board members Karen Irwin, Lance Lyttle, Mark Tester, Jennifer Evins, and Tim Giuliani, as well as Mayor Jerry L. Demings and Mayor Buddy Dyer, for their inclusion in this year’s list.

Visit Orlando Honored in Best of Meetings Today Awards

Visit Orlando has been selected as a winner in the Best of Meetings Today Awards in the Best South CVBs/DMOs category. Voted on by meeting planners, the award is an annual recognition bestowed to the top destination marketing organizations (DMOs) in North America based on the overall service they provided to planners for their meetings and events. This is a key win for the destination, as Meetings Today — one of the top meetings industry trade publications — shares the list of winners with planners who are researching meeting venues and destinations for their programs. The Orange County Convention Center also received an award in the Best Convention Centers category.

Congratulations to the following destination hotels and resorts, winners in the Best South Hotels category:

• Caribe Royale Orlando
• Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
• Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resort
• JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes
• Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate
• Rosen Shingle Creek
• The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes
• Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin

Kia Center Celebrates 15 Years

Tuesday, Oct. 1, marked 15 incredible years of Kia Center in downtown Orlando. Since opening its doors in 2010, the venue has hosted more than 3,250 events and welcomed nearly 20 million guests — bringing unforgettable entertainment experiences and events to locals and visitors alike. From world-class concerts and thrilling Orlando Magic games to community celebrations, Kia Center continues to be a cornerstone of our city’s vibrant culture and an economic engine, fueling sports, tourism and more. Its impact reaches far beyond the stage and the court — inspiring memories, connecting communities and helping shape Orlando’s identity as a top-tier destination for live entertainment.

Around the Destination

Welcoming ELX North American Summit to Orlando in 2026!

The very first Event Leaders Exchange (ELX) North American Summit will take place Feb. 2–4, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency Orlando. ELX is the leading invitation-only community for senior corporate event leaders some of the world’s most influential brands. This new summit marks an exciting milestone for ELX, designed as a more intimate counterpart to its Annual Congress with a focus on depth of discussion, peer exchange and professional development. With ELX representing $8.1 billion in the meetings and conventions sector and $15 million in annual travel and expenses, the summit is expected to draw influential corporate event leaders from across the globe.

Visit Orlando Engaged!

Investing in Tomorrow’s Tourism Leaders

At Visit Orlando, we’re committed to investing in the next generation of tourism professionals. Recently, Vickie Keliher, director of national accounts, and Carolyn Martin, CMP, destination experience senior manager, visited Dr. Aysegul Songur’s HFT 2750 Event Industry class at the University of Central Florida to share what it’s like working at a destination marketing organization (DMO) — and how DMOs drive travel, events and memorable experiences across our region. Thank you to Vickie and Carolyn for sparking meaningful conversations with students passionate about travel and tourism. 

Delivering Insights at GNEX Conference

The Global Networking Experience (GNEX) Conference made its Orlando debut Sept. 22–24 at Hyatt Regency Orlando, marking a landmark collaboration with the Canadian Resort and Travel Association (CRTA). The event convened top executives and thought leaders from the vacation ownership and travel industries for dynamic panels, breakout sessions and networking events centered on innovation, modernization and consumer-first strategies.

Maria Henson, Visit Orlando’s senior director of market research and insights, shared new data on Canadian travel sentiment, noting a modest but meaningful rebound in interest in visiting the U.S. — the first positive shift in nearly a year. While political concerns, economic pressures and border frustrations continue to influence travel decisions, this uptick is a promising sign as we look ahead to 2026. Understanding these trends helps Visit Orlando and our partners better position our destination to meet evolving traveler expectations.

In The News

Meetings Today: Unique Venues and Activities in Orlando for Post-Meetings Fun

Conde Nast Traveler: 9 Best US Theme Parks to Visit During Halloween

Aeroermo (Colombia): Orlando, the most sought-after international destination for Colombians during the October break

Thrillist: The Theme Park Minimalist’s Family-Friendly Guide to Orlando