25th Anniversary — Members Make It Happen

A lot has happened during the past 25 years since the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc.® (Orlando/Orange County CVB) opened its doors in 1984. That’s a quarter century of marketing the destination to global audiences, with plenty of progress and challenges along the way. And also plenty of economic development — the amount of Orange County Tourist Development Tax generated by conventions and meetings booked by the Orlando CVB since its opening totals more than $440 million.

But what sometimes gets lost is we’re a 501(c)(6) trade association and governed by a Board of Directors that is elected by its membership and consists of representatives from the tourism industry, local community organizations, Orange County and the City of Orlando. Beginning with its founding members in 1984 — which now totals more than 1,200 — the organization has always placed a premium on the insightful direction and contributions it receives from these businesses and individuals.

Here’s a look back at the Orlando/Orange County CVB’s members during its first year of operation in 1984:

Charter Members

  • Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
  • Christie's Photographic Studios
  • Christini's Ristorante Italiano
  • Clarion Hotel Universal
  • Days Inn Convention Center
  • Dollar Rent A Car
  • Embassy Suites Hotel Orlando-I Drive/Convention Center
  • Ford & Harrison LLP
  • Holiday Inn Club Vacations At Orange Lake Resort
    (formerly Orange Lake Resort and Country Club)
  • Mission Inn Resort & Club
  • Ramada Maingate West
  • Silver Springs
  • Smith & Mackinnon, P. A.
  • Universal Convention Photography

Founding Members

  • American Coach Lines of Orlando, Inc.
  • Best Western Lake Buena Vista Resort Hotel in the WDW Resort
  • Best Western Lakeside
  • Buena Vista Palace Hotel and Spa
  • Charley's Steak House
  • Days Inn Orlando - Maingate To Universal
  • Doubletree Hotel at the Entrance to Universal Orlando
  • Embassy Suites Hotel Orlando International Drive/Jamaican Court
  • Freeman
  • Fry/Hammond/Barr, Incorporated
  • Gatorland
  • GES Exposition Services
  • Greater Orlando Aviation Authority
  • Helman Hurley Charvat Peacock/Architects
  • Hilton in the Walt Disney World Resort
  • Holiday Inn International Drive Resort
  • Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress
  • Maison & Jardin Restaurant
  • Mears Transportation Group
  • Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission
  • Orlando Airport Marriott
  • Orlando Centroplex
  • Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce
  • Orlando Sentinel Communications
  • Orlando World Center Marriott
  • Quality Inn Plaza
  • Regal Sun Resort
    (formerly Grosvenor Resort in the Walt Disney World Resort)
  • Royal Plaza in the Walt Disney World Resort
  • SeaWorld Orlando
  • Sheraton Orlando North (formerly Hotel Orlando North)
  • Sheraton Vistana Resort
  • SunTrust Bank
  • TravelHost Magazine/Orlando
  • VS Publishing Company
  • Walt Disney Co.
  • Walt Disney World® Golf
  • WESH TV Channel 2
  • Wet 'n Wild - Orlando
  • Worth International Media Group
  • Wyndham Orlando Resort
  • Ypartnership (formerly YPB&R)