-- Highlights Include an Upcoming Convention Center Expansion, Brand New Theme Park, and Destination Accolades --
ORLANDO, Fla. – Visit Orlando, The Official Tourism Association® for Orlando, is exhibiting at IMEX America 2025 as Cvent’s No. 1 Top Meeting Destination launches transformational expansions and celebrates the openings of major attractions and experiences. From the first new theme park to open in 25 years to the highly anticipated expansion of the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC), Orlando continues to lead the way as one of the most dynamic meetings destinations in the country.
“Orlando's continued investment in new and enhanced venues, experiences and services helps ensure our destination remains aligned with our customers’ ever-changing meetings goals,” said Casandra Matej, president and CEO, Visit Orlando. “The destination accolades and record-attendance shattering trade shows exemplifies Orlando’s dedication to offer unmatched meeting experiences.”
During IMEX America 2025, Visit Orlando will exhibit at stand #C3717. For more information and to stay updated on meeting news from Orlando, visit OrlandoMeeting.com and follow Visit Orlando on our new meetings-focused Instagram channel.
CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION AND ENHANCED MEETING SERVICE
Orange County Convention Center’s Grand Concourse Expansion to Begin Construction in 2026
The Orange County Convention Center’s Grand Concourse Expansion will bring an additional 44,000 square feet of meeting space and a 100,000-square-foot ballroom to the OCCC’s North-South Building. Construction will begin in 2026 and is expected to finish in 2029.
The OCCC also received approval to design the second phase of the expansion project. This phase would bring an additional 200,000 square feet of contiguous multipurpose exhibit space to the building, while also incorporating connectivity between the North and South Concourses. When completed, both phases will provide a grand total of 1.15 million square feet of exhibit space in the North-South Building.
Orlando Virtual Tours Now Offers More Locations
Visit Orlando has expanded its live virtual site inspection platform, Orlando Virtual Tours, with 14 neighborhoods that encompass the Orlando area, 14 new or upgraded hotels and six attractions and venues. Utilizing authentic location imagery, Orlando Virtual Tours offers planners the convenience to travel to more than 1,100 Orlando locations either on their own or with a pre-scheduled Visit Orlando destination expert. Each location also includes detailed site information such as square feet. For more information, planners can visit OrlandoMeeting.com.
DESTINATION ACCOLADES
Orlando Named Top Meeting Destination for 10th Year
Cvent, the industry-leading meetings, events, and hospitality technology provider named Orlando as the No. 1 Top Meeting Destination in North America. This is the 10th time Orlando has been recognized by Cvent as the top meeting destination in the country. Twenty Orlando convention hotels and resorts were named as a Top Meeting Hotel in North America with 16 ranked in the Top 100 including one Top 10 placement (JW Marriott, Grande Lakes).
MICHELIN Guide Recognizes First Two-Starred Restaurant in Orlando
The MICHELIN Guide Florida recognized Orlando’s evolving dining scene yet again as inspectors announced two new MICHELIN-starred Orlando restaurants for 2025, including the destination’s first Two-Star venue, Sorekara. MICHELIN’s recognition of the 59 identified Orlando restaurants includes nine MICHELIN Starred venues, 15 Bib Gourmands and 35 Recommended eateries.
Conrad Orlando at Evermore Receives AAA’s Esteemed Five Diamond Designation
Conrad Orlando at Evermore has received the coveted AAA Five Diamond designation. This is the first time the luxury property has attained the prestigious honor and is now the third hotel in Orlando (Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World® Resort and The Ritz-Carlton, Grande Lakes), and 12th in Florida, to receive the distinction.
INCREASED VISITATION AND ATTENDANCE MILESTONES
Orlando Remains Most Visited Destination in the U.S.
In 2024, Orlando welcomed more than 75 million visitors, including more than 5.6 million business travelers, to remain the most visited destination in the U.S.
Trade Shows and Conferences in Orlando Scoring Record Attendance in 2025
Multiple association trade shows and conferences held in Orlando at the Orange County Convention Center during 2025 experienced record-setting attendance. The shows include the 2025 PGA Show, which held its largest show in 15 years with more than 33,000 attendees and 1,100 exhibitors; the North American Veterinary Community’s (NAVC) VMX Veterinary Meeting 2025, which hosted a record 30,000 attendees and 735 exhibitors; and InfoComm 2025, the largest technology exhibition and conference in North America focused on the pro AV industry, which welcomed a record 31,000 attendees from 97 countries.
NEW AND UPGRADED HOTELS
The Universal Helios Grand Hotel, A Loews Hotel, features the Helios Grand Hall with nearly 5,000 square feet of customizable meeting space, 500 hotel rooms, dining options such as Bar Helios with 360-degree views of the new Universal Epic Universe, and a dedicated entrance to the park.
The Universal Stella Nova and Universal Terra Luna Resorts, located near Universal Epic Universe and the Orange County Convention Center, are now open as part of Universal Orlando Resort’s portfolio of hotels. Ideal for rooms-only programs, the properties collectively feature 1,500 guest rooms, a variety of dining options and amenities including resort-style pools, fitness centers, game rooms, recreation rooms and more.
The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin completed the renovation of all 756 guest rooms and suites in the Swan hotel as part of a broader $275 million renovation and expansion project — the largest in the property’s history – which also includes upgrades to the meeting spaces at both the Swan and Dolphin, as well as a 120,000-square-foot expansion of the Dolphin’s event space.
Villatel Orlando Resort, perfect for corporate retreats, features 270 themed villas, each accommodating up to 26 guests, 200,000 square feet of resort amenities and a variety of elevated guest experiences. The property also features the nation’s first Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy Resort with 256 spacious two- to three-bedroom units.
NEW DINING EXPERIENCES
Convention District
Corazón By Baires, a speakeasy restaurant, opened at Mango’s Tropical Cafe in Pointe Orlando, in collaboration with Baires Grill. Walking distance from the Orange County Convention Center, the new eatery features a menu of globally inspired Latin American cuisine.
Oza Izakaya opened near SeaWorld® Orlando, highlighting a blend of the Japanese izakaya setting and omakase style of dining.
Nabe, a speakeasy-inspired restaurant specializing in premium A5 wagyu hot pot, is open in the Dr. Phillips neighborhood, a short drive from the Convention District.
Downtown Orlando and Winter Park
Sparrow Wine Bar and Lounge opened in the North Quarter District of downtown Orlando, offering a unique and eclectic experience for wine and cocktail enthusiasts that features a selection of both New and Old World wines.
Lorelai Wine Bar opened in the Thornton Park neighborhood in downtown Orlando and offers European wines by the bottle or by the glass along with shareable plates for snacking.
Heatwave, a new hybrid bar, restaurant and cafe concept in downtown Orlando, features three distinct areas: The Green Room main space, offering a coffee spot during the day and a full bar in the evening; the Views upstairs bar; and the outdoors terrace area and bar.
Mosonori, by James Beard Award finalist Chef Henry Moso of the MICHELIN Recommended Kabooki Sushi, is open in Winter Park and features a hand-roll bar serving a variety of temaki, sake, beer, wine and sake-based cocktails.
Resort Hotel Dining
Bourbon Steak is the newest addition to the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin. James Beard Award-winning celebrity chef Michael Mina brings a modern take on the American steakhouse, featuring premium cuts and seafood infused with global flavors, showcasing his signature focus on product, technique and presentation.
Epilogue is a new adult-only speakeasy at Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World® Resort. Available for private events ranging from 2 – 4 hours for up to 30 guests, the new lounge features a library-inspired theme and offers a variety of specialty, on-theme cocktails.
The Lake Nona Wave Hotel introduced Garni Café, an all-day French bistro, and the upscale Nectar Room cocktail lounge as the newest offerings to the hotel’s award-winning food and beverage scene.
NEW AND UPCOMING AT THE THEME PARKS
Universal Orlando Resort
Universal Epic Universe, one of the most innovative and immersive theme parks ever created, opened on May 22. As the first major theme park to open in Orlando in 25 years, Epic offers planners another large-scale location in Orlando to host off-site events. The groundbreaking new theme park transports guests to five imaginative worlds filled with extraordinary adventures that go beyond guests’ wildest imaginations: Celestial Park, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ – Ministry of Magic™, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD™, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, and Dark Universe.
Walt Disney World® Resort
Disney Meetings & Events unveiled at Walt Disney World® Resort the reimagined Disney Creative Studio as an epicenter where meeting professionals collaborate with Disney Event Architects to design unique conventions, meetings and incentives. The studio brings all the creative resources needed to design a seamless, impactful experience together in one hub location, including entertainment and content, audio/visual and decor, and floral, catering and more.
Magic Kingdom® Park
Disney Starlight debuted this summer at Magic Kingdom® Park, the park’s first nighttime parade since 2016.
The Beak and Barrel, a new, Pirates of the Caribbean®-themed tavern at Magic Kingdom® Park, features thirst-quenching tropical beverages, delicious small bites, singalongs, storytelling and enchanting surprises.
In 2026, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will reopen at Magic Kingdom® Park. Thrill-seeking guests will experience the iconic attraction’s refreshed caverns and peaks along with some new magic.
Villains Land and Piston Peak, a Pixar Animations’ Cars-themed area, are coming to Magic Kingdom® Park as part of the park’s largest expansion in its history. Villains Land will feature two major attractions, dining and shopping. Piston Peak will feature two exciting Cars-themed attractions including a thrilling rally race through the mountains.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park
Opening Nov. 7, 2025, at Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park, “Zootopia: Better Zoogether!” is an all-new 4D show that invites guests to celebrate Zoogether Day, a holiday commemorating the unity of Zootopia’s diverse biomes.
Tropical Americas, a lush and sprawling 11-acre new space coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park in 2027, will feature attractions themed to Indiana Jones and Encanto.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios®
Disney’s Hollywood Studios® debuted two new shows: “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure,” a reimagined production inspired by the classic film at the refreshed Animation Courtyard theater, and “Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After,” taking over the park’s Sunset Showcase with appearances by dozens of infamous evildoers — including Cruella de Vil, Captain Hook and Maleficent.
In 2026, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster® Starring The Muppets speeds into Disney’s Hollywood Studios® for a high-energy, rockin’ concert.
A Pixar Animation Studios Monsters, Inc.-inspired land is coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios® where guests can stroll the streets of Monstropolis and experience the first suspended coaster ever in a Disney park.
EPCOT®
TEST TRACK® Presented by CHEVROLET® at EPCOT® now features an all-new musical score and new scenes that highlight the technological advances making today’s cars smarter.
GEO-82, a new, adults-only lounge nestled inside the iconic geodesic sphere at EPCOT®, features innovative cocktails and globally inspired small plates.
SeaWorld® Orlando
Opening in 2026 at SeaWorld® Orlando, SEAQuest: Legends of the Deep, the world’s first-of-its-kind suspended dark ride, will take riders on an awe-inspiring voyage into the ocean’s most extraordinary realms. Guests will step aboard a state-of-the-art submersible and discover dazzling ecosystems, legendary sea life, and breathtaking stories of resilience and wonder.
Expedition Odyssey is open at SeaWorld® Orlando, presenting the world’s first fully immersive Artic-themed flying theater where guests can experience the Arctic by soaring over icy landscapes, chasing the dazzling Northern Lights, diving beneath frozen waters and encountering majestic wildlife.
About Visit Orlando
Visit Orlando is The Official Tourism Association® for Orlando, the most visited destination in the United States, Theme Park Capital of the World® and No. 1 meeting destination in the country. A not-for-profit trade association that brands, markets and sells the Orlando destination globally, the organization represents more than 1,600 member companies comprising every segment of Central Florida’s tourism community.
Visit Orlando connects consumers and business groups with all facets of Orlando’s travel community, whether for a vacation or meeting. Home to 15 of the world’s top theme parks and water parks — as well as nature and outdoor adventures, vibrant neighborhoods, a dynamic dining scene with Michelin-recognized restaurants, and a robust calendar of entertainment and sports events — Orlando is a diverse, welcoming and inclusive community for all travelers. Find more information at VisitOrlando.com, VisitOrlando.org or OrlandoMeeting.com.
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