With health and safety top of mind, Orlando and Orange County have begun to reopen for business travel and tourism — including the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC), which in collaboration with Visit Orlando has announced a first-of-its-kind medical concierge program with Orlando Health, achieved the Global Biorisk Advisory Council's (GBAC) Star Accreditation and welcomed several successful large-scale events.
In addition, the destination has adopted new and improved safety measures for all aspects of conventions, meetings or events, starting with arrivals at Orlando International Airport (MCO) and continuing with our ground transportation, meeting hotels and venues, and even theme parks and attractions.
Successful Events
Large-scale events have returned to the OCCC, starting with the Amateur Athletic Union’s (AAU’s) national volleyball tournament on July 14-22. More than 400 teams and 10,500 attendees participated.
On July 24, Alliance Nationwide Exposition (ANE) hosted Together Again Expo at the OCCC. This industry event provided a forum on how live events can safely move forward and get back to business as Florida enters Phase 2 of the COVID-19 recovery. Together, the AAU and ANE events underscore the Orange County Convention Center’s readiness for meeting and event needs.
In July, the National Basketball Association and Major League Soccer kicked off league-wide tournaments exclusively held at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex® at Walt Disney World® Resort, citing the destination’s enhanced safety measures and unparalleled infrastructure as leading reasons for choosing Orlando.
Pioneering Medical Collaboration
The OCCC and Visit Orlando's collaboration with Orlando Health is the first of its kind in the convention and trade show industry. As a result of the program, Orlando Health will provide personalized medical services and resources to all meetings and conventions held at the convention center through 2020, giving convention groups direct access to medical collaboration, planning and support.
Services for conventions will include customized medical plan guidance, planner access to a medical expert, 24/7 medical concierge services through Orlando Health’s Virtual Visit, direct access to PPE for attendees, medical advisory services to the event’s host hotels and transportation vendors, and medically certified communication materials. It’s the latest example of the extraordinary regional collaborations the OCCC has in Orange County with medical partners and leisure and hospitality sectors.
The OCCC also received GBAC STAR Accreditation which is recognized as the gold standard of safe venues.
Orlando International Airport
Ranked as J.D. Power & Associates’ No. 1 mega airport in the southeastern U.S. for customer satisfaction, Orlando International Airport (MCO) is committed to the safety and well-being of its travelers and employees. Steps to safeguard travelers and staff include:
- An enhanced cleaning schedule
- Implementation of updated security procedures from the TSA
- Requiring that all 22,000 badged airport employees wear facial coverings
- Personal protective equipment (PPE) vending machines for easy access to face masks, hand sanitizers and similar equipment
Orlando Meeting Hotels & Resorts
Accommodations for every budget are open throughout Orange County — including meeting-friendly resorts in the convention district and close to Walt Disney World® Resort. In addition to offering plenty of room to spread out thanks to open vistas and reduced crowds, Orlando’s meeting hotels are keeping the health and safety of attendees top of mind with robust cleanliness procedures that adhere to current CDC guidelines.
These enhanced cleanliness measures include Hilton CleanStay With Lysol Protection, Hyatt’s Global Care & Cleanliness Commitment, and Marriott International’s Commitment to Clean. What's more, Hilton is further raising the bar for healthy meetings and events with Hilton EventReady. These companies and many others with similar programs can be found throughout our convention and tourism districts.
About Visit Orlando
Visit Orlando is the official tourism association for the most visited destination in the United States and is annually recognized as Cvent’s No. 1 overall meetings destination in the country. Orlando is home to the nation’s second-largest convention center, more than 450 hotels and resorts, and world-class entertainment and dining options. For more information, visit OrlandoMeeting.com.