This week, Visit Orlando and Tripadvisor launched Common Ground, a new YouTube content series showcasing how travelers can experience Orlando like a famous local.

Available to stream now on Tripadvisor and Visit Orlando’s website, the series brings together well-known personalities including recording artist Joey Fatone, Brazilian soccer legend Ricardo Kaká, Broadway and TV performer Michael James Scott, viral social media stars the Valentine Brothers, Orlando Pride’s Rafaella Souza and celebrity chef Richard Blais for unscripted conversations that use travel as a common thread to connect food, sports, entertainment and culture.

With research gathered from Tripadvisor’s 2026 Trendcast Report, data showed that meaningful connections, memorable experiences and personal interactions continue to influence how people choose to travel. As Tripadvisor's first destination partner for Common Ground, we saw an opportunity to tell the full Orlando story through the perspectives of local personalities and the experiences that make our destination unique.

Common Ground premieres with three episodes that each center on a different theme:

• Episode 1 – Sports: Brazilian soccer legend and former Orlando City SC star Ricardo Kaká joins Orlando Pride defender Rafaelle Souza to discuss leadership, competition and the power of sports to bring people together. 
   
• Episode 2 – Food and Entertainment: Orlando native and former *NSYNC member Joey Fatone teams up with celebrity chef Richard Blais to explore the destination's dining scene while sharing stories about creativity, reinvention and performance. 
   
• Episode 3 – Inclusivity: Broadway actor and Orlando-raised Michael James Scott joins the viral social media stars, the Valentine Brothers, as they explore Orlando's performing arts scene and discuss creating a more inclusive and accessible world.

The series will be promoted through Visit Orlando and Tripadvisor channels to help reach audiences domestically and internationally.

By bringing together celebrities from different backgrounds to share their experiences through food, sports, arts and culture, Common Ground highlights the power of human connection and local exploration, inspiring visitors to create meaningful memories of their own.

Learn more

2026 Call For Nominations – Visit Orlando’s Culinary Advisory Committee

Visit Orlando is launching a new Culinary Advisory Committee and is seeking passionate chefs, restaurateurs and culinary leaders to help elevate Orlando's reputation as a premier food destination.

Committee members will provide insight on culinary trends, storytelling and marketing, programming opportunities and restaurant engagement while serving as ambassadors for Orlando's vibrant dining scene. The committee will consist of 10-12 Visit Orlando members in good standing and will meet 2-3 times per year.

Applications are due by the end of the day on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Denise Spiegel at Denise.spiegel@visitorlando.com.

Apply

2026 Call For Nominations – Small Business Advisory Committee

Visit Orlando is seeking passionate members to serve on the new Small Business Advisory Committee, helping ensure small businesses have a voice in shaping programs, resources and opportunities that deliver value and support long-term success.

Committee members will provide feedback on member experiences, identify opportunities to better support small businesses, promote engagement and serve as ambassadors within Orlando's tourism community. The committee will consist of 10-12 Visit Orlando members representing small businesses with fewer than 50 employees and will meet quarterly throughout the year.

Applications are due by the end of the day on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Kristen Darby at Kristen.darby@visitorlando.com. 

Apply

Data & Trends

Weekly Metrics

Metro Orlando’s hotel occupancy rate for the week ending August 22, 2026, was 58.5%, down 1.1% from the same week last year. Room night demand trailed last year by 1.9%. The Average Daily Rate (ADR) for the week was $159.48, up 1.4% from last year.

Across the Industry

The Orlando Real Interview

In a new 35-minute episode of “The Orlando Real,” a local podcast hosted by Ken Pozek and The Pozek Group, I joined Ken for a wide-ranging conversation about Orlando's continued growth and momentum. We discussed the destination's record $98.6 billion economic impact, how Visit Orlando's Magical Dining, presented by Orlando Health, benefits local nonprofits and the role major conventions, sporting events and celebrations play in driving our community forward.

Our discussion spanned key strategies around promoting Orlando as a companion city and engaging soccer fans during the 2026 FIFA Club World Cup to elevating our culinary arts community through a partnership with MICHELIN. The interview provided an opportunity to further elevate Orlando's story and highlight the tourism industry's impact on our community while showcasing the experiences, events and investments that continue to drive growth across the destination. Watch the interview here.

Danielle Hollander Appointed To Visit Florida Marketing Committee

Congratulations to Visit Orlando Chief Marketing Officer Danielle Hollander on her appointment to VISIT FLORIDA's Marketing Committee. In this role, Danielle will help guide the development of the state's four-year marketing plan and provide strategic recommendations that support Florida's tourism promotion efforts, helping ensure Orlando's perspective is represented in statewide marketing discussions. The committee will meet in early September ahead of the Florida Governor's Conference on Tourism (Sept. 9-11).

Around the Destination

Visit Orlando's Magical Dining, Presented By Orlando Health

Experience Visit Orlando's Magical Dining, presented by Orlando Health, with more than 185 participating restaurants offering three-course, prix-fixe dinners for $40 or $60 through Sept. 30. Now, in its 21st year, the program continues to showcase Orlando's growing culinary scene while supporting local restaurants and raising funds for local nonprofits.

Make your reservations today at OrlandoMagicalDining.com and help make this year's Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining season one of the program's strongest yet.

Hilton Orlando Housekeeping Team Earns Bronze At Housekeeping Olympics

Congratulations to Hilton Orlando and its housekeeping team for earning a third-place finish at the Housekeeping Olympics held at ESPN Wide World of Sports during ESPN's Ocho Day. Competing against teams from Philadelphia, Chicago, Tampa and Orlando, the team captured the bronze medal and led the field in the bed-making competition, showcasing the skill, precision and teamwork that drives the hotel's guest experience.

The achievement comes as Hilton Orlando's housekeeping team celebrates 14 consecutive months of cleanliness scores above 90%, a testament to the team's dedication and leadership. Congratulations to the entire housekeeping team and Housekeeping Director Anna James for representing Orlando's hospitality industry with excellence.

Visit Orlando Engaged!

Providing Travel Trends And Ai Insights At Expedia House Panel

Visit Orlando joined hospitality and tourism leaders on Aug. 27 at Evermore Orlando Resort for Expedia House: Millionaires Club, a panel discussion focused on Orlando's travel outlook and opportunities for the year ahead. Panel topics included Orlando's resiliency, AI and emerging travel trends shaping future demand.

During the conversation, we discussed how AI is transforming the traveler journey, from trip planning and booking to in-market experiences, and emphasized the importance of creating content that serves both travelers and AI-powered planning tools.

Engaging Industry Leaders At Maritz Activate

From Aug. 24-26, Visit Orlando participated in Maritz Activate, Maritz Global Events' annual industry gathering at Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center. The conference brought together Maritz team members, meeting planners and supplier partners for education, networking and one-to-one business appointments, including two networking events in Kissimmee.

Visit Orlando also participated in the Welcome Celebration at The Palms Royale, strengthening relationships and highlighting Orlando's meetings and conventions offerings to key industry decision-makers.

Our team partnered with Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin to host Maritz Activate+, a 30-person familiarization tour designed to showcase Orlando beyond traditional meeting experiences. Attendees explored venues including The Monroe, Judson's Live and Leu Gardens while experiencing our world-class hotels and the Orange County Convention Center, providing planners with a firsthand look at the diverse options available for meetings and events across the destination.

Sharing Industry Outlook With Hospitality Leaders

Lisa Messina, Visit Orlando’s chief sales officer, spoke at the Central Florida Hotel & Lodging Association’s Airport Lodging Leadership Meeting on Aug. 27 at Holiday Inn Orlando-International Airport by IHG. Lisa answered questions from attendees and provided updates on Orlando's tourism and meetings industry. This included highlighting our region's record $98.6 billion economic impact in 2025 and current travel forecast showing positive momentum for 2026 and beyond.

Lisa also provided insight on Visit Orlando's meetings and conventions sales strategy, including the team's shift from a geographic focus to targeting top industry sectors to drive more valuable business for Orlando's existing and future meeting space. The strategy emphasizes quality over quantity, supports need periods and helps maximize impact for Orlando's meetings and conventions industry.

In the News

Orlando Sentinel: 5 Hot Picks: My recommendations from Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining restaurant lineup

Exhibit City News: Orlando August Briefs: July Results, Fall Shows, and New Attractions

Meetings Today: 4 Planners Share How Their Meetings Take Center Stage in Orlando

Luxury Vacationist: Best luxury resorts in Florida: from beachside havens to city retreats

Resident Magazine: Orlando Family Adventures: Theme Parks to Space