Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining®, presented by Orlando Health, begins today bringing a fantastic opportunity to explore our local culinary scene while supporting a great cause. We invite you to learn more about this annual program by watching this video.
To support our restaurants and maximize the program’s impact, we’ve been working hard to promote Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining® through a mix of outdoor advertising, paid social media, digital displays and working with Yelp on events for their elite Yelpers.
We have also hosted exclusive media dinners and welcomed nearly two dozen food-focused writers, influencers and content creators for preview dinners at two of our newest program restaurants: Crocante in East Orlando and Braccia Restaurant in Winter Park. These events were designed to generate buzz and excitement for the program, helping to ensure a successful start.
By dining out and sharing your experiences on social media with the hashtag #MagicalDining, you play a key role in spotlighting our local restaurants and amplifying the program’s reach.
ASAE Selects Orlando for 2031 Annual Meeting & Exposition
Visit Orlando team members and representatives of the Orange County Convention Center Pinstripes, Smart City, FedEx and Sodexo Live! celebrate the announcement that Orlando will host ASAE’s 2031 Annual Meeting & Exposition.
Orlando was named the host city for the American Society of Association Executives™ (ASAE) Annual Meeting & Exposition in 2031! ASAE is the premier global professional organization for association executives, and its annual meeting is often referred to as the “Super Bowl of meetings.” It’s the world’s largest annual educational and networking conference for the association profession. Hosting the ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition in 2031 is a significant honor for our destination. This meeting is a vital event within the industry, and it provides us with an excellent opportunity to showcase the many changes and developments that have taken place within our destination. The values of ASAE and Visit Orlando align in our shared commitment to moving the industry forward through excellence and education.
Data & Trends
Metro Orlando’s hotel occupancy rate for the week ending August 10, 2024, was 62.1% which was down 1.7% from the same week last year. The average daily rate for the week was $160.71, up 0.3% from last year. Room night demand trailed the prior year by 0.8%.
Across the Industry
Disney Announces Attractions, Movies and More: Walt Disney World Resort announced several exciting developments at its annual D23 event. Highlights include a reimagined Test Track at EPCOT and new themed lounges based on "Pirates of the Caribbean" and "Spaceship Earth." Coming to Magic Kingdom in 2025 includes a new nighttime parade, "Disney Starlight," Pixar Animation Studios’ Cars franchise with two all-new attractions, a new Villains Land with two attractions, dining and shopping. Additionally, a new "Monsters, Inc." land will open at Disney's Hollywood Studios, while at Animal Kingdom, Tropical Americas is set to open in 2027, featuring two new signature attractions, an Indiana Jones-themed adventure and a journey through the Casita Madrigal from “Encanto.” These projects underscore Disney's ongoing efforts to enhance guest experiences with innovative attractions and entertainment. For more details, click here.
Around the Destination
Visit Orlando's Signature Event: Next week, join us for Visit Orlando’s Insights Luncheon & Economic Forum on Friday, Aug. 23, at Hilton Orlando. Attend the Economic Forum to hear Anirban Basu, Chairman & CEO of Sage Policy Group, alongside Visit Orlando’s Senior Director of Market Insights & Research, Maria Henson, share how interest rates, global conflict, wage dynamics, business confidence and demographics will impact economic outcomes and provide a forecast for the coming year.
After the forum, luncheon attendees will hear an inspiring message from dynamic keynote speaker Kevin Brown, best-selling author of The Hero Effect®. This simple yet powerful philosophy sets world-class organizations and high-performance people apart from the rest. Kevin, passionate about helping others expand their vision and grow their potential, brings a personal perspective as the father of a child with autism, showing how the principles of true success extend beyond the boardroom and into everyday life.
Take advantage of this unique learning experience. Register today.
SeaWorld Orlando and 4Roots Farm collaborate to help accelerate rehab efforts for rescued manatees.
SeaWorld Partners with Local Nonprofit to Rehabilitate Manatees: As part of SeaWorld Orlando's ongoing manatee rescue and rehabilitation efforts, they are collaborating with 4Roots Farms —a local non-profit that uses hydroponic farming to grow nutrient-dense vegetables—to help rehabilitate manatees. The partnership has also provided SeaWorld’s research team with an opportunity to study how varying sources of nutrient-rich lettuce can enhance the recovery process for manatees. Every day, Manatees can consume an average of 3,000 pounds of lettuce. 4Roots has provided SeaWorld Orlando with about 1,000 pounds of lettuce weekly. Lettuce serves as a vital substitute for seagrass. Learn more.
City of Orlando Commissioner Bakari F. Burns; Maria Triscari, I-Drive Chamber; and Orange County Commissioner Mike Scott
I-Drive Business Roundtable: This week, City of Orlando Commissioner Bakari F. Burns and Orange County Commissioner Mike Scott, in partnership with the International Drive Chamber of Commerce and the I-Drive Business Improvement District, held an I-Drive Business Roundtable at Mango‘s Tropical Cafe. The event brought together business leaders and industry professionals for a discussion about the future of I-Drive. Topics included economic development, transportation, public works and code enforcement, while several organizations provided updates, including the Orlando Police Department, Orange County Sheriff‘s Office, Universal Orlando Resort and more. Learn about the International Drive Vision Plan and read more about the I-Drive Business Roundtable.
Visit Orlando Engaged!
Visit Orlando's Jacky Schottmiller and Wesley Costa attend U.S. Travel Association’s premier conference, ESTO 2024.
U.S. Travel’s ESTO Conference: The U.S. Travel Association hosted its annual Educational Seminar for Tourism Organizations (ESTO), bringing together over 1,000 industry leaders and destination marketers to Columbus, Ohio. U.S. Travel’s ESTO is the premier annual gathering for destination leaders. Each year, the conference is held in a different destination and features three days of unparalleled educational sessions, networking opportunities and industry awards.
Visit Orlando's Director of Public Relations Jacky Schottmiller and Director of International Marketing Wesley Costa represented our destination at the conference. Key insights included leveraging local partnerships during the U.S.'s mega-decade of sports, with major events like the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, 2026 World Cup, and bids for the Women’s World Cup coming soon. Emphasis was also placed on "story listening" for building holistic influencer strategies, engaging travelers in real-time to capture trends—perfect content or not—and inspiring future vacations as visitors head home on an ultimate high.
