This week, I had the pleasure of announcing the dates, details and website launch for the 20th year of Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining, presented by Orlando Health, during a special press event. The program begins in just a few weeks, starting Aug. 15 and running through Sept. 30. Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining is a fall tradition where restaurants from across Central Florida offer three-course, prix-fixe menus for $40 or $60.

Highlights for our big anniversary year include:

• A record-breaking 160+ participating restaurants! 
• 24 new restaurant participants.
• 15 MICHELIN Guide-recognized restaurants.
• Special Edition Dish: Many restaurants will feature a limited-edition 20th Anniversary Dish.
• More than a dozen hotels offering Magical Nights package deals.

Each year, Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining selects nonprofit organizations that make an impact on the Orlando community as charity beneficiaries, with $1 for each $40 meal and $2 for each $60 meal going toward the organization.

This year’s beneficiary is REED Charitable Foundation, focused on ending the literacy crisis by ensuring all children have access to reading instruction based on how the brain learns to read — through educator training that’s both affordable and accessible.

Additionally, Visit Orlando will also award a $3,000 donation to a local nonprofit in each of Orange County's six commission districts. This year’s charities are Boys 2 Men Mentoring, Early Learning Coalition of Orange County, Finding the Lost Sheep, Nuevo Sendero, Samaritan Resource Center and Therapy Wish. Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining has raised nearly $3 million for local organizations since 2009.

With OrlandoMagicalDining.com now live, the ball is in your court! Don’t wait to make your reservations and share your experiences with your friends, family and networks. Your support helps make this program a continued success and brings even more awareness to the great cause behind it.  
 
Bon appétit!

Data & Trends

Weekly Hotel Metrics

Metro Orlando’s hotel occupancy rate for the week ending July 12, 2025, was 68.5% up 0.9% from the same week last year. The average daily rate for the week was $174.00, up 0.7% from last year. Room night demand surpassed last year by 2.7%. 

Around the Destination

Visit Orlando’s Industry Insights Forum

Register for Visit Orlando’s Industry Insights Forum, taking place Wednesday, Aug. 20, from 7:30 a.m. to noon at the Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando. This half-day event is designed to help you finish the year strong and plan for 2026. You’ll join industry professionals for expert keynotes from Anirban Basu, chairman and CEO of Sage Policy Group, and Maria Henson, senior director of market insights and research at Visit Orlando. 

 
Anirban will focus on U.S. and regional economic performance, with an eye toward identifying emerging risks. Maria will explore the key factors driving destination choices, the socioeconomic and geopolitical influences shaping travel plans and the latest travel trends — sharing actionable insights with an outlook on Orlando to support your 2025 and 2026 planning. 

 
Interactive Learning Labs, led by Visit Orlando team members, explore key industry trends and offer practical strategies to help your organization thrive in a rapidly evolving landscape. Topics include elevating meetings and events, leveraging influencers, using AI effectively, marketing communications strategy, hotel sales and turning data into actionable insights. 

Lions Clubs International Unites 7,000 Attendees from Over 130 Countries in Orlando

The Orange County Convention Center made history by hosting its first-ever parade during the 107th annual Lions Clubs International Convention. More than 7,000 attendees participated in the three-hour Parade of Nations, which featured 158 Lions Clubs from over 130 countries. In recognition of the organization’s global impact, Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings officially proclaimed July 10–17 as Lions International Week. The weeklong convention brought thousands of international visitors to the region, reinforcing Orlando’s reputation as a top destination for global events and delivering significant economic benefit to our community. Lions Clubs International, the world’s largest membership-based service club organization, includes 1.4 million members in 49,000 clubs serving communities worldwide

Visit Orlando played a key role in securing and planning the convention in just 11 months. The team collaborated with the local Lions Clubs of Central Florida and worked closely with area hotels, the Orange County Convention Center, offsite venues and the Kennedy Space Center to deliver a world-class experience. The event welcomed more than 10,000 attendees and generated impactful short-term business for the community — marking a major win for the destination.

Conversations Shaping Our Region

This week, the Hispanic Chamber of Metro Orlando hosted a “Policy to Practice” panel, bringing together state lawmakers to discuss new laws, priorities and their effects on Hispanic businesses and communities. Visit Orlando’s director of community relations and external affairs, Kristin Westover, serves on the Hispanic Business Advisory Committee to help champion education, advocacy and engagement across Central Florida. Additionally, Heart of Florida United Way held a legislative update focused on policy changes impacting local families and essential services. Thank you to the Florida senators and representatives who participated and shared their insights.

We encourage you to stay engaged and informed on the issues that impact the tourism industry and the broader Central Florida community. Your voice matters in shaping our region’s future!

Celebrating a New Connection to I-4

This morning, local leaders gathered for the ribbon-cutting of the new Daryl Carter Parkway Interchange, a major infrastructure milestone improving access to I-4 and easing traffic flow in the tourism corridor. Hosted by the Florida Department of Transportation, Orange County Government and I-4 Beyond the Ultimate, the event highlighted the importance of continued investment in transportation to support growth and connectivity in our region. The new interchange is expected to enhance mobility for residents, visitors and businesses alike.

Visit Orlando Engaged!

Educational Sessions Aligns M&C Team on Future Strategies

The Visit Orlando meetings and conventions team recently came together for a summer strategy and educational session. The full team — including citywide sales, in-house sales, business development, destination experiences, site inspection team and administrative support — reviewed mid-year performance against goals and objectives while finalizing strategies for 2026 and beyond. They discussed industry trends, sales productivity, demand, marketing messaging and the competitive outlook to make sure everyone is working toward the same goal of driving valuable business to Orlando.
 
Meetings took place at unique venues throughout the community. Regional team members from key markets, such as Washington, D.C. and Chicago, saw how spaces like Judson’s Live at the Dr. Phillips Center and the USTA National Campus in Lake Nona can be used as meeting locations.

 
The team also participated in local activities, including team-building exercises at House on Lang in the Mills50 District and culinary experiences at restaurants like Lamp and Shade. They visited Ivanhoe Village to support small businesses, including Maffrey’s newest location and Russell’s on the Lake—both consistent partners in the convention market. A team-building event with Play With a Purpose included friendly competition and helped donate sports equipment to the community. The session ended at the Orange County Convention Center, where everyone worked together on developing future plans, including the much-anticipated expansion of the convention center.

Visit Orlando Attends Travel Connect Group’s U.K. Media Marketplace

Visit Orlando’s U.K. public relations agency attended Travel Connect Group’s U.K. Media Marketplace event July 7-9 in Chester, U.K. The three-day event attracted 90 media representatives from top publications, including The Times, The Scottish Sun, The Telegraph, Metro and JRNY Magazine, as well as content creators. The team conducted 16 formal appointments and attended several networking events. Attending media marketplace events like this one is essential for building and maintaining relationships with key media, while also keeping Orlando top of mind for their editorial coverage. These connections often lead to story ideas and future press trip opportunities.

In the News

Orlando Sentinel: Visit Orlando announces dates for 2025 Magical Dining 

Orlando Business Journal: Orlando restaurants embrace 'Girl Dinner' trend with tapas, drinks 

Miami Herald: Summer like you mean it at these perk-packed Florida hotels 

Dimension Turistica (Mexico): How to enjoy Orlando without spending too much: an adventure for everyone