This week, Visit Orlando attended World Travel Market London, a premier global event for the travel and tourism industry that is recognized as one of the most influential gatherings for travel professionals. A record number of attendees, including 8,000 buyers and 4,000 exhibitors, came together Nov. 5-7, for a series of meetings.
Our travel industry sales team conducted over 60 appointments with international trade partners, discussing business development opportunities that will maximize visitation from our overseas markets including the UK, Ireland and Europe. Our public relations team also met with 10 prominent media outlets to discuss Orlando story ideas.
Joining us in the booth were seven Visit Orlando hotel, attraction and transportation members showcasing their product, obtaining leads and securing deals for future business.
In addition to World Travel Market, Visit Orlando also participated in a full day of activity with VISIT FLORIDA in London, taking over a unique venue, Frameless. UK leisure trade and media partners were immersed in floor-to-ceiling video of the Sunshine State, including Orlando, and received updates on all that's new and upcoming. In the evening, we hosted key strategic partners at the annual VISIT FLORIDA signature dinner.
Our Travel Industry Sales team is closing out 2024 strong with another productive year of sales activity promoting Orlando to our leisure trade partners globally. The team hosted creative and educational events around the world, providing member opportunities, supporting our trade and airline partners to drive overnight visitation. The leisure sales team collectively conducted over 260 live and virtual global education events; attended 31 trade shows and missions; and trained nearly 28,000 travel advisors in core and secondary markets, including Canada, UK, Germany, Spain, India, Brazil, Mexico and Colombia.
2024 Election Results
Congratulations to the re-elected and newly elected officials who will serve Central Florida. Your leadership and dedication are essential to our community’s growth, and we look forward to working alongside you to strengthen our tourism industry and enhance the experiences that make Orange County a premier destination. Together, we’ll continue to make a positive impact in the years ahead. Thank you for your commitment to fostering a vibrant and thriving Orange County!
Orange County
District 1 Commissioner Nicole Wilson
District 3 Commissioner Mayra Uribe
District 5 Commissioner Kelly Semrad
Supervisor of Elections Karen Castor Dentel
District 4 School Board Member Anne Douglas
Florida Senate
District 13 Keith Truenow
District 25 Kristen Arrington
Florida House of Representatives
District 35 Erika Booth
District 36 Rachel Plakon
District 37 Susan Plasencia
District 38 David Smith
District 39 Doug Bankson
District 40 LaVon Bracy Davis
District 42 Anna Eskamani
District 43 Johanna Lopez
District 45 Leonard Spencer
District 46 Jose Alvarez
District 47 Paula Stark
U.S. Senate
Rick Scott
U.S. House of Representatives
District 9 Darren Soto
District 10 Maxwell Frost
Destination Orlando 20235
This week our Destination Tourism Master Plan Steering Committee gathered for a Visioning Workshop facilitated by MMGY NextFactor. The session began with an update on the project plan, followed by a detailed review of Orlando’s tourism performance. During the workshop, we shared a proposed destination vision—A Global Community of the Future Fueled by Imagination—shaped by valuable input from stakeholders, the community, and industry partners. Attendees also discussed strategic goals and initiatives that will drive the vision forward. Looking ahead, NextFactor will draft the full plan over the next four to six weeks, with a steering committee meeting scheduled for February 2025 to review and ratify the plan.
Data & Trends
August 2024 TDT Collections: Orange County's Tourist Development Tax (TDT) collections received by Orange County for the September 2024 TDT collection month were $25,751,900. This represents a 4.5% increase from the previous year, marking the highest TDT collections recorded for the month of September. On a fiscal year basis, collections were up by $140,100. This is an increase of approximately 0.04% over the last fiscal year. Since last year’s collections were the highest on record to date, this year’s are now the highest.
September’s positive TDT performance was boosted by growth in major meetings and an increase in average daily rate. While Orlando’s hotel occupancy in September was down 3.1% from 2023, settling at 64.3% and hotel room demand declined by 2.2%, average daily rate (ADR) increased by 2.3% to $175.80 from last year’s $171.92.
Notably, group room night demand rose by a healthy 4.2%, with the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) reporting a 53% rise in citywide attendance in September thanks to several midsize events such as ASIS Global Security Exchange, National Safety Council Congress & Expo, American Academy of Pediatrics, and Surf Expo, each bringing more than 12,000 attendees. Altogether, this September boasted 11 citywide events (large events who make the OCCC their home base while also utilizing multiple hotels) compared to six in 2023.
Hotel Metrics: Metro Orlando’s hotel occupancy rate for the week ending November 2, 2024, was 68.6%, which was up 5.8% from the same week last year. The average daily rate for the week was $191.18, up 7.7% from last year. Room night demand surpassed the prior year by 6.8%.
Around the Destination
Invest Greater Orlando: Visit Orlando’s VP of Communications, Denise Spiegel, and Director of Communications, Jacky Schottmiller, attended the Invest: Greater Orlando 2023-24 Launch Conference at INTER&Co Stadium. Local leaders shared strategies for regional growth and joined panel discussions, including one led by Visit Orlando board member and President of Business Operations at Orlando City Soccer, Jarrod Dillion, on leveraging technology for growth. Other discussions focused on sustainable development and aligning education with evolving economic needs.
Visit Orlando Engaged!
Disney’s Marketing the Magic: Representatives from Visit Orlando’s marketing, communications and meetings and conventions teams attended Walt Disney World Resort’s Marketing the Magic event. The event served as a preview to Disney’s Orlando based partners on the exciting developments ahead, including holiday events at all four parks, a new nighttime parade in 2025, “Disney Starlight,” a reimagined Test Track at EPCOT and much more.
In addition, Futurist Nikolas Badminton encouraged attendees to move away from asking “what is” and instead focus on the question “what if.” Visit Orlando’s Senior Director of Market Research and Insights Maria Henson shared a positive outlook for the end of 2024, with leisure booking for Thanksgiving week pacing 7% ahead of 2023. The holiday week in December is also showing signs of growth.
MPI Knights: Inside The Industry: UCF’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management hosted MPI Knights: Inside The Industry Panel on Nov. 7, where Visit Orlando leaders discussed the future of the region’s meetings and events. Visit Orlando's Vice President of Sales and Services, Stephanie Naegele, and Senior Manager of Destination Experience, Carolyn Martin, covered topics like the Orange County Convention Center’s growth, key visitor demographics and how students can contribute to the industry’s development.
Downtown Orlando Field Day: This week, your Visit Orlando team competed in four classic field day games with an Orlando twist at the second annual Downtown Orlando Field Day, City District's signature fundraiser. The event featured nostalgic challenges, including a tug-of-war showdown, where top teams battled it out for the coveted Key to the City. It was a day filled with friendly competition and community spirit.
Video Production with Mexican Outlet: Visit Orlando coordinated a video shoot with Mexican Heraldo TV and radio program Viaja con María Sama to be broadcast nationwide on multiple network channels including TV Azteca. The broadcast reached over 38 million viewers. The host María Sama traveled with her mother, 5-year-old daughter and a producer to create two 50-minute programs plus social media content highlighting adults traveling to Orlando with and without children. The group stayed at the Rosen Plaza Hotel and the Drury Plaza Hotel and experienced several theme parks and attractions, dining and entertainment throughout the destination.
In the News
Orlando Business Journal: Disney World property hotels Swan, Dolphin announce $275M renovation
Canadian TravelPress: Visit Orlando unveils outdoor adventures module in Orlando Travel Academy
Orlando Sentinel: Orlando food bank offers free path to culinary careers
Corporate Event News: On site in Orlando: what’s new & trending for corporate event
