Visit Orlando

Across three days, Visit Orlando's social media team hosted six content creators for a familiarization tour (FAM). FAMs are an important tool to offer influential content creators opportunities to personally experience our destination, share their stories with their followers and collaborate with Visit Orlando on content. The participants experienced International Drive Orlando's I-RIDE Trolley transportation service, stopping at nearby experiences, including Ripley's Believe It or Not!, WonderWorks Orlando and ICON Park and its attractions. The group participated in several other unique adventures, including Gatorland, enjoyed several diverse restaurants and sheered on the Orlando Magic at the Kia Center.

Visit Orlando attended World Travel Market Latin America (WTM LATAM), the leading B2B global event for the Latin American travel industry, to drive visitation to Orlando and promote the destination to key travel professionals and media. Premier trade shows like WTM LATAM are ideal platforms to strengthen relationships with the travel industry and showcase Orlando's full scope. The event included a VIP breakfast for 56 industry clients and 25 media outlets, with representation from the U.S. Consulate in attendance. The team conducted eight media interviews, met with over 20 journalists, influencers and content creators, and hosted a breakfast with six LGBTQ+ media. The team emphasized Visit Orlando’s support to this top market with a marketplace and training seminar for over 300 travel agents to educate them about Orlando’s new and unique experiences and grow our partnerships with travel professionals.

Orlando’s culinary community shined bright last night in a star-studded The MICHELIN Guide ceremony. Four new Orlando restaurants received MICHELIN Stars, one of the most prestigious honors in the restaurant industry, bringing Orlando’s total to seven One-MICHELIN-Star restaurants. ⭐ Camille (Vietnamese cuisine) in Baldwin Park ⭐ Natsu (Japanese cuisine) in Downtown Orlando ⭐ Papa Llama (Peruvian cuisine) in Curry Ford West ⭐ Victoria & Albert’s (Contemporary cuisine) at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa in Lake Buena Vista 🏆 Soseki Modern Omakase in Winter Park; Capa Steakhouse & Bar at Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort; and Kadence in the Audubon Park Garden District retained their one-MICHELIN-Star recognition. The MICHELIN Guide also recognized Orlando’s creativity, commitment to service and sustainability with three special awards: 🎉Michelin Exceptional Cocktails Award: Justin Levaughn of Otto’s High Dive, a Bib Gourmand 🎉Michelin Service Award: Israel Perez, maître d'hôtel and sommelier of Victoria & Albert’s 🎉MICHELIN Green Star, which recognizes exceptional sustainable dining that doesn’t sacrifice flavor: Kaya, a Michelin Recommended, led by Chef Lordfer Lalico Congratulations to all honorees for your amazing accomplishments and for representing Orlando so well! You all help make Orlando, Unbelievably Real!

Visit Orlando exemplifies a commitment to empowering future business professionals through presentations for educational groups and college students. Members of Visit Orlando’s marketing, communications, travel industry sales and meetings and conventions teams, shared personal career growth stories and career growth tips to 40-plus college students from the Florida Future Business Leaders of America—an organization dedicated to helping business students prepare for their future careers. Additionally, Denise Spiegel, Visit Orlando’s VP of communications, shared insights into a travel and tourism industry career with students at University of Central Florida – Rosen College of Hospitality Management. The discussion centered on Visit Orlando and the critical role the communications team plays in telling the story about the organization, destination and the impact of our industry on the community. She also shared examples of how the team landed major news coverage, including a segment on The Kelly Clarkson Show, viral Tik-Toks from influencers and syndicated news coverage on Visit Orlando and destination announcements.

Visit Orlando creates unique opportunities to make learning about Orlando fun. At HelmsBriscoe’s Partner Celebration Event at Conrad Orlando, our team members introduced "Orlando Bingo," an interactive educational game inspired by the traditional BINGO. The game implements facts about #Orlando, including: — Orlando is the #1 meeting destination in the country — Orlando has 200+ unique venues and unforgettable experiences for groups of all sizes — Orlando has over 7 million SQ FT of meeting space

Visit Orlando hosted a global group press trip last October with LGBTQ+ journalists from our key markets. As a result, this story in the Dallas Voice notes, "Orlando is a place I consider the model of doing it right." Writer Jenny Block also noted, "As Orlando continues to be a friend and ally to the LGBTQ community, it continues to enjoy more and more success as a travel destination." https://bit.ly/49Jt3yG

Two Orlando restaurants, Sushi Saint and Zaru, were awarded The MICHELIN Guide's Bib Gourmand designation—restaurants offering a good quality meal at a good value. Currently, Michelin features 51 restaurants in #Orlando, offering a wide range of cuisines such as Japanese, Vietnamese, Cuban, Ethiopian, American and more. This week, Michelin will hold an official ceremony to unveil new Michelin stars restaurants.

Visit Orlando was presented with the ConferenceDirect CVB of the Year (Major Market) Award at ConferenceDirect's Annual Partner Meeting. This is the ninth time in the past 10 years Visit Orlando achieved this honor. This award recognizes convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs) that demonstrate exceptional performance in servicing the meetings and conventions industry. The award is presented by ConferenceDirect, a leading provider of event management services, and is based on feedback from meeting planners who have worked with the CVB in the past year.

If you are a resident of Orange County, please consider joining us for an upcoming Town Hall. The focus is on developing a Destination Tourism Master Plan - a comprehensive roadmap and 10-year vision for fostering visitor-driven economic growth and development in Orange County. Resident feedback is so important to the success of this plan. Please remember to attend a town hall meeting in your district and help us spread the word! RSVP Here! https://lnkd.in/eErPNQCt #tourism #economy #travel

Living in an Unbelievably Real destination gives us many reasons to celebrate here in Orlando—especially on #407Day, a day inspired by Central Florida’s longtime area code. Here’s a look back on the many ways residents and local businesses celebrated this hometown pride holiday!