Visit Orlando

Visit Orlando is always looking for new and innovative ways to showcase our destination. Our 2025 social media FAM (familiarization) trip brought together 10 creators and their families for a four-day adventure in Orlando, capturing exciting content to highlight our destination on their channels and for Visit Orlando. The group stayed at the Conrad Orlando and Evermore Resort and enjoyed adventures throughout our destination, such as Fun Spot America, Leu Gardens, Restaurante Crocante, Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour, Revolution Adventures, Luxe Water Sports, The Mall at Millenia, Pointe Orlando’s new Pointe Live, and more.

Visit Orlando was honored to share an update on our destination at the general session of Hilton’s Global Client Forum in Orlando. Stephanie Naegele, Visit Orlando’s vice president of sales and services, highlighted the profound impact travel has on Orlando's economy. In Orange County, our industry employs 398,000 workers, generates $78 billion in economic impact, and provides $5.6 billion in local and state tax revenue. Stephanie showcased Orlando’s key features, including its extensive convention space, numerous hotels and attractions, and connectivity through Orlando International Airport. She also emphasized the benefits of partnering with Visit Orlando for expertise, marketing support, and exhibitor assistance.

Visit Orlando recently hosted two familiarization tours (FAMs) for travel advisors from the UK, giving them firsthand experience of the destination's top attractions and providing opportunities to explore Orlando’s renowned shopping, dining, and beyond-the-parks experiences. FAMs are designed to help advisors better understand, promote and sell #Orlando to their clients. The FAMs included a collaboration between Universal Orlando Resort and Royal Caribbean Cruise Line showcasing how easily an Orlando vacation can be paired with a cruise, and a partnership with Universal Orlando Resort and Travel Counsellors, highlighting Universal’s top attractions and dining experiences.

A delegation of 11 Visit Orlando members hosted a strategic sales mission in Minneapolis, engaging with key clients in the meetings and conventions sector. The team curated exclusive events, including hosting 25 top meeting planners at a Minnesota Wild hockey game and connecting with 27 clients through a wellness experience at the Four Seasons Minneapolis. Sales missions are essential for Visit Orlando and its members, serving as a platform to share updates about the destination, including new experiences and developments, and cultivate relationships that drive future business to Orlando.

It was another great 407 Day in Orlando! Orange County Government, City of Orlando, Orlando Economic Partnership and Visit Orlando came together to celebrate hometown pride and unveil a 60-foot Lynx bus wrapped in Unbelievably Real branding — a reminder of the unique aspects of our region and all we have to offer. Since the launch of 407 Day in 2020, the initiative has now expanded from a single day to a fortnight (March 21 – April 7) inspired by two of Central Florida’s longtime area codes (321 and 407). Thank you to Mayor Jerry Demings, Mayor Buddy Dyer Dyer, Visit Orlando’s Board of Directors Vice Chair Charlie Freeman and Orlando Economic Partnership CEO Tim Giuliani for leading the celebration.

Congratulations to David Buckalew, CMP, Visit Orlando board member and owner of Buckalew Hospitality, who was awarded the Scholarship Patron Award at the UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management’s Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. David has made extraordinary contributions to the hospitality industry, particularly through his support for students entering the field. In 2024, David co-established the Buckalew Family UCF Scholarship for Entrepreneurship in Hospitality, to be awarded annually to a student pursuing business ownership in the hospitality industry at UCF.

A delegation of 11 Visit Orlando members hosted a strategic sales mission in Minneapolis, engaging with key clients in the meetings and conventions sector. The team curated exclusive events, including hosting 25 top meeting planners at a Minnesota Wild hockey game and connecting with 27 clients through a wellness experience at the Four Seasons Minneapolis. Sales missions are essential for Visit Orlando and its members, serving as a platform to share updates about the destination, including new experiences and developments, and cultivate relationships that drive future business to Orlando.

🎉Congratulations to Good Salt Restaurant Group and Ômo by Jônt! These two Visit Orlando members were named 2025 Restaurant and Chef Award nominees in the James Beard Awards®. We’re thrilled to see our region shine in this year’s awards. The nominations include: • 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘂𝗿 — Sue Chin and Jason Chin, Good Salt Restaurant Group (Seito Sushi, Reyes Mezcaleria, The Osprey, and others), Orlando, FL • 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁 — Ômo by Jônt, Winter Park, FL The James Beard Awards recognizes talent and achievement in the culinary arts, hospitality, media and broader food system, as well as a demonstrated commitment to equity, community, sustainability, and a culture where all can thrive. Winners will be revealed at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony on June 16. https://lnkd.in/gsg_Ex5D

Today is Global Meetings Industry Day—a day to showcase why #MeetingsMatter to communities, businesses and economies across the country. This year we’re celebrating the impact the meetings industry has on our local business community. When Visit Orlando brings meetings and conventions to our destination, our goal is to connect these meeting planners with local companies and vendors for their events, which allows our homegrown business owners to thrive and grow their enterprises. Join us in celebrating this vital connection between planners and local businesses which benefits our economy now and in the future! #GMID2025 #MeetingsMatter

Visit Orlando’s membership team hosted a sold-out Power Lunch with over 100 attendees at Isleworth Country Club. Power Lunches foster connections among members and offer learning sessions on various engaging topics. This event, moderated by Brandon Dodrill, Visit Orlando’s manager of membership, featured a panel from Visit Orlando's global marketing team, including Jasmin Hough, Dipika Hernandez, Nate Shelton and Ian Suarez. The panelists discussed the organization's marketing campaigns, how our team shares destination stories, and ways members can get involved to maximize their benefits and promote Orlando through multiple channels.