For the first time, Visit Orlando and Orlando Economic Partnership (OEP) partnered on a joint mission in New York City with Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings and City of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer to tell Orlando’s Unbelievably Real story.
New York City is one of our largest domestic leisure markets, a top market for meetings clients and the nation’s leading media market. This joint mission allowed us to share the full scope of Orlando as a meetings, leisure and business destination to all of our audiences, with the one voice and one brand of Unbelievably Real.
Throughout the week, we conducted media appointments with top-tier outlets including Wall Street Journal, Travel + Leisure, Forbes and more. We hosted a roundtable discussion with media from Northstar Travel Group’s outlets including, Meetings & Conventions, Successful Meetings, Travel Weekly and TravelPulse to discuss our leadership role and strong start in 2023. Our Convention Sales team hosted a client event, welcoming 80 clients to learn from 23 members in attendance about offerings for future events.
And to showcase Orlando’s thriving culinary community, we partnered with Michelin on a consumer media dinner event featuring Capa Steakhouse Chef Malyna Si, a recent recipient of a coveted Michelin star, for the second year in a row.
To cap it off, we even spotted our fantastic outdoor boards in Times Square sharing our message with residents and visitors in the busy New York hub.
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Tourism Matters Newsletter (visitorlando.com)
Visit Orlando Launches Local Campaign
Last week, we launched a new local campaign, The Value of Tourism, to encourage Central Florida residents to share how tourism positively impacts our community. Check out this tool kit with ready-made social graphics and copy suggestions and help spread the word to your friends, family and colleagues.
In addition, Visit Orlando wants to uncover more stories about the journey to unique jobs within the hospitality industry in our community. The career paths available throughout Orlando can lead to dream jobs that many may not even know exist. Please help by sharing this form with anyone that has a story to tell about their career experience in the travel and tourism industry.
Gearing up for IPW 2023
Next week, Visit Orlando team members will travel to San Antonio, Texas, for U.S. Travel Association’s IPW 2023, the nation’s largest travel trade show. In partnership with Visit Orlando members, we will showcase our wonderful destination—including our newest things to do and see, beyond the parks experiences, outdoor adventures and culinary scene—to travel media, delegates, buyers and suppliers from around the globe.
Honoring Asian American and Pacific Islander Communities
As we continue the celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPI), Visit Orlando’s social media team partnered with Tasty Chomps founder, Ricky Ly, to highlight 4 Must Try Orlando Restaurants. The blog features Orlando Michelin restaurants, including Bombay Street Kitchen, Kai Asian Street Fare, Kaya and Isan Zaap Thai Café, who share AAPI history and culture and Ricky Ly’s take on three of the tastiest Asian American-owned restaurants in Orlando.
Town Halls for Orange County Initiative: Vision 2050
The Orange County Government Planning Division is seeking residents to learn about Vision 2050 which is a comprehensive plan on how and where growth will occur during the next three decades in our communities. The plan focuses on protecting natural resources and habitats, respecting the diversity and character of established communities, increasing transportation choices and so much more. Learn more and consider attending one of the upcoming live discussions.
Hotel Metrics
Metro Orlando occupancy for the week ending May 13, 2023, was 64%, down from last week's 72.4% and down 7.4% from the same week last year. The Average Daily Rate for the week was $196.21, up 7.6% from last year.
Across the Industry
Successful Media Coverage: Over 400 stories have spanned across all of Visit Orlando's key domestic and international markets since announcing Orlando welcomed 74 million visitors in 2022, ranking us the No.1 most visited U.S. destination. Coverage has been a huge success appearing in publications including The Associated Press, UK’s Travel Weekly, Canada’s Travel Industry Today and Latin American media outlets R7 Portal and LADEVI.
Also, following new Orlando restaurants awards and additions in the MICHELIN Guide, we received top hits on Bon Appétit, Yahoo and Elite Traveler, while The Weather Channel featured a segment showcasing Orlando as a top destination for summer travel, highlighting our outdoor adventures, Michelin restaurants and unique experiences.
Industry Nominations: Visit Orlando and the Orlando destination were nominated for several industry awards. They include:
Stella Awards: Recognizes hotels, convention centers, conference centers, airlines, cruise lines, destination marketing organizations and destination management companies that consistently deliver quality service and innovation to meeting and event professionals. Our nominations are listed in the southeast categories. Voting ends this Wednesday on May 24, 2023, so please click on the link to cast your vote for Visit Orlando.
World Travel Awards: Celebrates excellence within the travel, tourism and hospitality industries. The nomination categories include North America's Leading City Break Destination 2023 (Orlando, FL), Leading City Destination 2023 (Orlando, FL) and Leading Tourist Board 2023 (Visit Orlando). Voting ends July 9, 2023.
Brightline Tickets on Sale: We were honored to have Brightline sponsor Visit Orlando’s signature luncheon last week at the Orange County Convention Center. Recently, Brightline unveiled a first look of their Orlando Station at Orlando International Airport (MCO) next to Terminal C. The station features world-class amenities and this week they announced fares are now on sale between Orlando and South Florida, scheduled for late summer through early 2024. Brightline plans to announce opening dates and inaugural summer rides soon!
Visit Orlando Engaged!
Travel and Tourism Luncheon: Visit Orlando’s director of market research & insights, Maria Henson, presented to more than 80 Central Florida business owners, community leaders and top executives at the Oviedo-Winter Springs Chamber’s Travel and Tourism luncheon. In a panel discussion with other industry leaders, Maria provided an overview of Visit Orlando and shared insights on how the travel and tourism industry benefits Orlando’s economy and infrastructure.
In the News
ConventionSouth: Virtual Care Center officially opens inside Orange County Convention Center
Meetings Today: 8 U.S. hotel openings in 2023 that meeting and event professionals should know about
Luxury Travel Magazine: Planning a trip to Orlando? 5 ways to get your money’s worth
Good Housekeeping: 10 best family hotels in Orlando 2023, reviewed by experts
MSN: 35 fun & free things to do in Orlando you’ll love
