Your Visit Orlando team proudly participated in the 20th year anniversary of Come Out With Pride on Oct. 19.
This was the second year Visit Orlando partnered with iHeartMedia on a parade float. Nearly 50 Visit Orlando staff, partners and members joined the crew from XL 106.7’s Johnny’s House and iHeart Pride Radio, as parade walkers wore “Where sunlight, fireworks and rainbows all shine” t-shirts.
The event attracted more than 200,000 spectators and in addition to the float, Visit Orlando engaged with event participants at our booth with games and prize giveaways from more than 25 Visit Orlando members.
Come Out With Pride is a key part of our year-round multicultural campaign, “Orlando For All.” Earlier this year, we teamed up with iHeartMedia on a parade float in the Dallas Pride Parade to reach 300,000 attendees in one of our top feeder markets. We also collaborated with Tripadvisor on branded trips with LGBTQ+ influencers and worked with iHeart's Pride Radio on promotions to increase LGBTQ+ content and editorial on their platforms.
As we work toward our vision of becoming the world’s most visited, welcoming and inclusive travel destination, your Visit Orlando team will continue implementing unique activities to engage LGBTQ+ audiences and promote Orlando for all!
Visit Orlando’s UK PR agency representative, Louise Pepper, accepts the Accessible Destination of the Year award on behalf of the destination.
Orlando Named Accessible Destination of the Year!
Orlando was awarded “Accessible Destination of the Year” at the JRNY America Awards, held in London on Oct. 24. Travel magazine JRNY America's inaugural awards were judged by an independent panel of leading travel journalists. This award reinforces our destination’s commitment to ensuring Orlando is a destination for all visitors.
Data & Trends
Metro Orlando’s hotel occupancy rate for the week ending October 19, 2024, was 78.8% which was up 5.5% from the same week last year. The average daily rate for the week was $196.60, which was down 4.8% from last year. Room night demand surpassed prior year by 6.3%. This past week was very busy for Orlando hotels thanks in part to FABTECH—North America’s largest metal forming, fabricating, welding and finishing event—which met at the Orange County Convention Center and brought in an estimated 30,000 attendees. In fact, last week saw the highest demand for hotel rooms in Orlando since March of this year.
Around the Destination
L to R: Visit Orlando’s President & CEO Casandra Matej and Elisha Gonzalez, FAIRWINDS Credit Union
Florida Chamber of Commerce: This week, the Florida Chamber of Commerce held its 2024 Future of Florida Forum (F3) & Florida Chamber Annual Meeting at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress. Across two days, the event brought together Florida’s business leaders, elected officials, education, workforce and community advocates to unite around the Florida 2030 Blueprint’s Six Pillars Framework. The conversations addressed what’s needed for Florida’s residents, businesses and economy to succeed in 2030 and beyond. The Six Pillars Framework includes:
Improving Florida’s Talent Pipeline for a Better Workforce
Creating Good Jobs by Diversifying Florida’s Economy
Preparing Florida’s Infrastructure for Smart Growth and Development
Building the Perfect Climate for Business
Making Government and Civics More Efficient and Effective
Championing Florida’s Quality of Life
L to R: Visit Orlando’s Denise Spiegel, Stephanie Naegele and Lisa Messina; Visit Orlando’s Board Chair and Dr. Phillips Charities Chair Terry Prather; and Visit Orlando’s President & CEO Casandra Matej
Leadership Orlando 50th Anniversary Breakfast: The Orlando Economic Partnership celebrated the 50th anniversary of Leadership Orlando with a breakfast event at SeaWorld Orlando’s Ports of Call. The event honored five decades of innovation, dedication and success in developing and connecting established and emerging community leaders to better serve Central Florida. Joanna Geraghty, CEO of JetBlue Airways Corp. and the first female CEO of a major U.S. airline, was the special guest. She shared insights on her focus on delivering world-class customer service, improving operational, commercial, and financial performance, and fostering JetBlue’s unique culture as one of the best places to work.
L to R: Kenny Samsel, edgefactory CReATIVE WORKS!; Visit Orlando’s Stephanie Naegele; Eric Blanc, Orange County Convention Center; and Kristina Oumedlouz, MGM Resorts International
MPI PCMA Inaugural Summit Panel: The inaugural MPI Greater Orlando and PCMA SE Chapters Summit brought together professionals from across the events industry to collaborate, innovate and advance sustainability. During the panel discussion, “The Power of Pivoting,” Visit Orlando’s VP of Sales and Services, Stephanie Naegele, shared how Destination Marketing Organizations are critical resources and partners for planners especially when unexpected events happen, whether it be a last-minute speaker cancelation or a weather event.
Stepahnie shared insights into Visit Orlando’s role during a hurricane, working closely with Orange County Emergency Management and communicating our destination status to all stakeholders and she reinforced the importance of communication and advanced planning. Additionally, Eric Blanc, Deputy Director of the Orange County Convention Center, and Kenny Samsel, Senior Producer at edgefactory CReATIVE WORKS!, offered expertise from their own experiences.
Visit Orlando Engaged!
L to R: Visit Orlando’s Denise Spiegel; and Amy Drew Thompson, Orlando Sentinel
Central Florida Communicators Meeting: Orange County Government hosted its quarterly Central Florida Communicators Meeting at the Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute. The meeting gathers communications and community relations professionals representing Orange County and various industries, including healthcare, travel and tourism and more to network and share updates. Visit Orlando’s VP of Communications, Denise Spiegel and Amy Drew Thompson from the Orlando Sentinel collaborated on a panel discussion on the evolution of Orlando‘s dining scene. Denise shared insights on Visit Orlando‘s comprehensive efforts to elevate the perception of dining in Orlando and the impact of Netflix‘s hit show, Somebody Feed Phil, filming in Orlando. Additionally, President & CEO of the Central Florida Foundation, Mark Brewer, presented on ”Generational Differences in the Workplace – Gen X, Y, and Z, and What’s Next?”
Journalists tour the Orange County Convention Center’s Chapin Theater, currently under renovation, as part of a meetings and conventions press trip.
Meetings & Conventions Press Trip: This week, Visit Orlando hosted journalists from top meetings and conventions trade publications. The group experienced a variety of venues and attractions, staying at Conrad Orlando, touring Evermore Orlando Resort and the Orange County Convention Center, and dining at Michelin-starred Capa and Live! at The Pointe. They also enjoyed a show at Judson’s Live at the Dr. Phillips Center. The firsthand destination experience helps these writers create stories and content to help keep Orlando in front of meeting planners across the country. Participating outlets included Smart Meetings, Meetings Today, Prevue, BizBash, MeetingsNet, Tradeshow News Network, Corporate News Network and Exhibit City News.
Visit Orlando's Jacklyne Schottmiller attends Brand USA Travel Week.
Brand USA Travel Week: Brand USA Travel Week U.K. & Europe 2024 brings together U.S. exhibitors and U.K. and European buyers at London’s County Hall to discuss trends, challenges, innovations and opportunities in driving future visitation to the United States. Visit Orlando’s Director of Public Relations, Jacklyne Schottmiller, attended this year’s event meeting with more than 30 journalists to pitch story ideas for future stories to share the latest news on Orlando and inspire travel.
