To inspire holiday shoppers to book travel to Orlando for the new year, Visit Orlando launched a new domestic digital campaign, “Give the Gift of Memories,” positioning Orlando as the perfect gift for families, couples and friends looking to create lasting memories. Running Nov. 19 through Dec. 31, this campaign supports Visit Orlando’s strategic goal to drive early-year visitation by aligning with consumer behavior and leveraging high-impact media partnerships.

Timed to coincide with Travel Tuesday, the annual event the first Tuesday after Black Friday, the campaign also leverages partners to maximize visibility and drive bookings. With an estimated 49 million impressions, the initiative is one of Visit Orlando’s most robust seasonal pushes to date.

Campaign highlights include:

• Hopper: A destination homepage feature, December deals and inclusion on Hopper’s Travel Deal Tuesday microsite. A cobranded TV broadcast giveaway will air on Live with Kelly and Mark on Dec. 8.
   
• Tripadvisor: A Family Thematic Takeover and sponsorship targeting Travel Deal Hunters will showcase Orlando through digital display.
   
• Priceline/Booking.com: Orlando is integrated into the Season of Saving Sponsorship from Dec. 22–28, with hotel search result placements and homepage displays.
   
• Expedia: The campaign includes video, a dedicated holiday email, and inclusion on META and Pinterest social efforts.

To support the campaign, a dedicated landing page launched Nov. 20 featuring Black Friday and Travel Tuesday deals, with offers valid through Dec. 31.

In Latin America, we’ve partnered with leading tour operators PriceTravel, Decolar and Despegar, as well as Inter & CO., a financial tech company, to launch campaigns timed with Black Friday travel deals. These campaigns emphasize value through cashback and discounts, making Orlando a top choice during peak booking period.

Orlando Named a Top U.S. Christmas Destination

Travel + Leisure recently named Orlando as the Best Christmas Town in the Country for Families, highlighting our region’s festive atmosphere and world-class holiday experiences. The article notes Walt Disney World® Resort’s Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, which features a Christmas-themed fireworks show and classic attractions such as Jungle Cruise and Space Mountain. It also spotlights Universal Orlando Resort’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter during the holidays, when the scenery has snow. As travelers plan their getaways this holiday season, Orlando continues to deliver unforgettable experiences that drive visitation and boost our local economy. 

Data & Trends

Weekly Hotel Metrics

Metro Orlando’s hotel occupancy rate for the week ending November 15, 2025, was 73.1%, up 0.4% from the same week last year. Room night demand surpassed last year by 2.4%. The average daily rate (ADR) for the week was $204.07, up 5.7% from last year. Orlando’s occupancy rate and ADR surpassed both the national and Florida averages which were both down from last year.

Across the Industry

U.S. Travel Association Board Meeting

This week, the U.S. Travel Association held a board meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada, bringing together the executive board representing a broad spectrum of travel industry sectors.

This cohort of travel leaders help guide the association's strategy and ensure the success of U.S. Travel's mission to advance the industry. One update was around travel visas. On average, the wait time for travel Visa’s is down to an average of 60 days.  

In fact, at a press conference in the Oval Office, President Trump and the White House Task Force on the 2026 FIFA World Cup announced actions that will directly strengthen visa processing ahead of the 2026 World Cup:

• Deploying 400+ additional consular officers around the world to increase visa processing capacity and lower wait times. 
• Establishing an expedited visa process for FIFA ticketholders. 

This is a major victory for the industry that will increase capacity, reduce wait times and ensure fans from around the world can be part of the World Cup without compromising security. 

 U.S. Travel aggressively advocated for these steps with the Trump administration—a message reinforced during high-level meetings at the White House and State Department, and reiterated in the Commission on Seamless and Secure Travel’s report. 

In addition, U.S. Travel has shared background materials and social assets to underscore the importance of restoring Brand USA funding and applaud the Congressional leaders driving this fix.

2026 Good Housekeeping Travel Awards

For the fourth consecutive year, Orlando was named a winner in the 2026 Good Housekeeping Travel Awards. Selected as a top city vacation, Orlando was highlighted for offering “thrills and tranquility” with the opening of Universal Epic Universe, as well as fun and relaxing experiences including Michelin-starred restaurants, serene kayaking spots, performing arts venues and more. The awards were determined by more than 125 travel experts and consumer testers who evaluated hundreds of destinations across five continents, rating everything from service and entertainment to safety and overall experience.

Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, Villatel Orlando Resort, Evermore Orlando Resort and Grande Lakes Orlando were also recognized as Action-Packed Getaways section. Additionally, Discovery Cove is a winner in the awards for the third consecutive year. Congratulations to all the winners!

Around the Destination

Seating Limited – Register for Visit Orlando’s Year End Celebration

As we approach the close of another year, we are pleased to extend an invitation to Visit Orlando’s Year End Celebration luncheon – a time to celebrate the season, reflect on the year’s achievements, and enjoy meaningful connections.

We are honored to be hosted by Walt Disney World® Resort, offering a truly magical setting for this year’s celebration. We are equally delighted to share that following the luncheon, Walt Disney World Resort is extending an exclusive opportunity to remain in the park as their guest to enjoy the festive holiday cheer of EPCOT® International Festival of the Holidays, presented by AdventHealth — a wonderful way to extend the spirit of the season and create lasting memories with your team and colleagues.

Reserve Your Spot Today!

Three weeks remain until Visit Orlando’s Year End Celebration. Seating is limited and will sell out so be sure to secure your spot. We look forward to celebrating with you.

Florida Blue Florida Classic Returns to Orlando

On Nov. 22, Orlando will host the Florida Blue Florida Classic, the nation’s largest annual football game between two Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs): Florida A&M University (FAMU) and Bethune–Cookman University (B-CU). Held at Camping World Stadium, this matchup is a celebration of heritage, unity and pride that draws tens of thousands of fans from across the country. With an average attendance of 60,000, the Classic is a cornerstone event for Central Florida. The Florida Classic delivers a powerful economic boost to Orlando, generating up to $30 million annually for the region.

With three out of four attendees traveling from outside the area, local hotels, restaurants and attractions benefit from increased visitation. Visit Orlando is activating across digital, broadcast and in-venue platforms to promote “Unbelievably Real” experiences, ensuring visitors make the most of their time in the destination. From in-stadium signage to curated itineraries and mascot integrations, the Classic weekend is a vibrant showcase of Orlando’s hospitality and cultural richness.

Jennifer Evins Named 2025 Hispanic Community Champion

Visit Orlando board member and president and CEO of United Arts of Central Florida, Jennifer Evins, has been named the 2025 Hispanic Community Champion, presented by the Hispanic Chamber of Metro Orlando and Prospera USA. This honor reflects Jennifer’s leadership in launching the Board Leadership Pipeline, contracting more than 100 local musicians through DTO Live!, growing investment in Hispanic-led organizations from project-based grants to multi-year awards and more. 

The Don Quijote Awards, which will take place in December, recognize individuals and organizations who embody the vision, courage, and determination of the iconic literary character. Jennifer is being honored for her outstanding leadership in advancing and celebrating Central Florida’s Hispanic community through the arts.

Visit Orlando Engaged!

Visit Orlando Tours Disney’s Meetings Planning Epicenter

The Disney Meetings & Events team hosted representatives from Visit Orlando’s convention sales, marketing and communications team for a tour of the reimagined Disney Creative Studio. The studio, an epicenter where meeting professionals collaborate with Disney Event Architects to design unique conventions, meetings and incentives, underscores Walt Disney World® Resort’s commitment to attracting impactful meeting groups to Orlando. Following the tour, the teams held a collaborative session to discuss future meetings-related opportunities and initiatives.

Galaxy Vacations Mega FAM

Visit Orlando’s Travel Industry Sales Team partnered with Galaxy Vacations to host an engaging presentation at Andretti Indoor Karting & Games Orlando for 120 travel agents from 14 Latin American countries during Galaxy Vacations’ annual Mega FAM. This year marked the company’s 50th anniversary, a significant milestone. Before traveling, all attendees completed their Orlando Travel Academy certification, ensuring they arrived well-prepared to promote Orlando in their respective markets. Hosting FAMs for travel professionals is essential as the firsthand experiences help equip them with the knowledge and tools to more confidently sell Orlando to clients, ultimately driving visitation and strengthening the destination’s global reach. 

Visit Orlando Engages Key Travel Advisors at AAA Threads

AAA Travel Northeast, the second-largest AAA club in the U.S. and Orlando’s top revenue generator among all AAA clubs, hosted its annual AAA Threads conference, bringing together travel advisors this year in Providence, Rhode Island. Visit Orlando hosted destination training, joined a panel discussion titled “How to Make Maximum Impact in Travel Sales” for more than 200 advisors and participated in the final evening event alongside other Florida destination marketing organizations. AAA Northeast serves 6.4 million members, has 68 branches across five states and books more than $10 million in travel to Orlando annually. Strengthening relationships with their advisors through training and networking ensures Orlando remains a top destination in their strategy.

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