Two exciting volunteer opportunities are just around the corner, and they’re a great way to give back to our community.
From April 27-29, Orlando will host DECA's International Career Development Conference at the Orange County Convention Center. The conference is a major event that prepares high school students for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management. Over 23,000 students from around the world will attend, and DECA is calling on local professionals to help make this event a success.
To ensure the event runs smoothly and provides valuable learning experiences for students, DECA needs 1,000 volunteer judges to evaluate student projects. The shifts available include:
- Sunday, April 27: 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Monday, April 28: 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. or 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Hosting DECA’s conference in Orlando not only brings significant economic impact but also highlights the city’s commitment to education and youth development. This is a wonderful opportunity to make a difference in students’ lives and to be a part of an event that showcases Orlando’s dedication to fostering emerging leaders.
Sign up today and help shape the future of tomorrow’s business leaders.
Volunteer at FIFA Club World Cup 2025™
Additionally, this summer, the first-ever FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ will be held in Orlando from June 17 through July 4, featuring popular international teams CR Flamengo and Manchester City.
FIFA is looking for passionate and enthusiastic volunteers to help make the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ an unforgettable experience. Volunteers must be U.S. residents or lawful permanent residents, 18 or older, and fluent in English. Apply today.
Volunteering at this event is a great way to give back and strengthen your connection with the community. It also offers the chance to develop essential skills such as leadership and teamwork.
This weekend, FIFA is also organizing Audio-Descriptive Commentator expert training to improve accessibility for fans who are blind, partially sighted, or sensitive to crowded environments. Spanish trainings are on Saturday and English sessions are Sunday. Apply today.
Please share these opportunities with your organizations and networks. We can all get involved to make these events a huge success!
Data & Trends
Metro Orlando’s hotel occupancy rate for the week ending March 22, 2025, was 80.4% up 6.1% from the same week last year. The average daily rate for the week was $235.72, up 1% from last year. Room night demand surpassed the prior year by 6.5%.
Across the Industry
Florida Tourism Day in Tallahassee
Orlando’s tourism industry is the backbone of our region’s economy, generating an astounding $78 billion in economic impact in Orange County alone. To maintain our position as the most visited destination in the U.S., it’s critical that we advocate for the industry's continued growth and success through education at both the state and national levels.
This week, destination organizations and industry partners from across Florida came together in Tallahassee for Florida Tourism Day. The event provided a platform to share the powerful impact of tourism, from supporting small businesses to saving each Orange County household an average of $10,200 annually in taxes.
New this year, the event featured an outdoor expo along Adams Street, celebrating the diverse offerings of each destination and highlighting how the tourism industry supports the entire state. Thank you to our theme park partners—United Parks & Resorts, Universal Destinations & Experiences, and Walt Disney World Resort—for helping us demonstrate how Orlando creates unforgettable memories and supports the economy that benefits all of us.
Destinations International CEO Summit
I had the opportunity to attend Destinations International’s CEO Summit in Savannah, Georgia, where destination leaders from across the globe came together to discuss key issues shaping the future of the tourism industry and our communities. Overall key takeaways include:
Unprecedented challenges: The current political situation presents unique challenges for the tourism industry, potentially more impactful than previous crises. The current U.S.-Canada trade disputes have created a sense of anger and emotion in Canada, potentially affecting tourism between the two countries. European sentiment toward the U.S. is shifting, with a sense of bewilderment and potential reconsideration of long-standing relationships, which may also impact travel and business events.
It will be so ever important for Visit Orlando to make data-driven decision-making by tracking sentiment, visitor numbers, and other key data points to understand the real impact of political changes on tourism and make adjustments to our plan in real time if needed. However, there is an opportunity in leveraging major events like the FIFA World Cup and America’s birthday to collaborate and boost tourism despite some of these challenges. As Visit Orlando always does, highlighting destination strengths values to overcome negative perceptions.
Destinations International is an association of destination professionals dedicated to elevating tourism by educating, equipping, empowering, and connecting its members to help them fulfill their missions and achieve positive results worldwide.
Around the Destination
Register for Visit Orlando's Travel & Tourism Event
Register for Visit Orlando's Travel & Tourism Event on Thursday, May 8, at the Orange County Convention Center. We’re celebrating National Travel & Tourism Week, recognizing our industry’s critical role in powering economies, communities and connections. We will provide an industry update and offer great networking opportunities with professionals, business leaders and community members.
The event features a performance by Blue Man Group and a keynote on AI by Mitch Mitchem, CEO of HIVE Interactive. Mitch will discuss how AI is shaping industries and empowering individuals.
To purchase corporate tables, email Visit Orlando’s senior member sales manager, Kelly Kinney.
Orange County Convention Center Grand Concourse Expansion
The Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) reached a significant milestone as it officially embarks on its Grand Concourse Expansion project. Construction is set to begin in 2026, with completion expected in 2029. This transformative project will add 44,000 square feet of meeting space and a 100,000-square-foot ballroom to the OCCC’s North/South Building.
Additionally, the OCCC has received approval to design the second phase of the expansion, which will bring an extra 200,000 square feet of versatile multipurpose and exhibit space, along with enhanced connectivity between the North and South Concourses. Once completed, the entire expansion will provide a total of 1.15 million square feet of exhibit space in the North-South Building.
Showcasing The Destination to Travel Agents
Visit Orlando recently hosted two familiarization tours (FAMs) for travel advisors from the UK, giving them firsthand experience of the destination's top attractions and providing opportunities to explore Orlando’s renowned shopping, dining, and beyond-the-parks experiences. These trips aimed to help agents better understand, promote and sell Orlando to their clients.
The first FAM—a collaboration between Universal Orlando Resort and Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (RCCL)—showcased how easily an Orlando vacation can be paired with a cruise. The second FAM was a partnership with Universal Orlando Resort and Travel Counsellors, which showcased Universal’s top attractions and dining experiences to travel agents. This group also learned about the wide range of accommodations and entertainment options offered throughout Orlando.
Visit Orlando Engaged
Promoting Orlando In Minneapolis, MN
A delegation of 11 Visit Orlando members hosted a strategic sales mission in Minneapolis, engaging with key clients in the meetings and conventions sector. The team curated exclusive events, including hosting 25 top meeting planners at a Minnesota Wild hockey game and connecting with 27 clients through a wellness experience at the Four Seasons Minneapolis. Notable organizations in attendance included ACA International, Advanced Textiles Association, BI Worldwide, CWT, One10 Marketing and Prestige Global Meeting Source.
Sales missions are essential for Visit Orlando and its members, serving as a platform to share updates about the destination and cultivate relationships that drive future business to Orlando. These events were designed to foster connections with both new and existing clients while providing insights into the latest developments in Orlando.
Rosen College Hospitality Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
This week, the UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management held its Rosen College Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at its campus. The event recognizes visionary leaders who’ve made an extraordinary impact on the hospitality industry. David Buckalew, Visit Orlando board member and owner of Buckalew Hospitality, was awarded the Scholarship Patron Award for his continued contributions and assistance for students entering the hospitality industry.
In 2024, David and his wife, Erica Buckalew, created the Buckalew Family UCF Scholarship for Entrepreneurship in Hospitality, to be awarded annually to a student pursuing business ownership in the hospitality industry at UCF. Congratulations, David!
Conference Direct Annual Partner Meeting
The ConferenceDirect Annual Partner Meeting, held from March 16-19, in Philadelphia, brought together key associates and industry partners for an event with record attendance. At the event, Orlando was recognized as one of the top three most booked destinations, reinforcing our destination’s popularity for future programs. At the meeting, Visit Orlando connected with clients and partners to strengthen relationships and discuss upcoming business opportunities.
In The News
Orlando Sentinel: Orlando 407 Day area-code event expands from 3/21 to 4/07
USA Today 10Best: 7 beer spas in the US where you can find your hoppy place
The Design Tourist: Discover the 10 best 4th of July destinations for families!
Estado de Minas (Brazil): Much more than just theme parks, Orlando is a trend in the USA
