Orlando’s appeal reaches far beyond its world-famous theme parks. This Central Florida destination is a top choice for both leisure and business travelers in the United States, known for its warm hospitality, extensive amenities, signature entertainment and a vibrant, culture-rich downtown.
“Not only did Orlando remain the most visited destination in the country by welcoming 74 million visitors in 2022, but we were also named the top meetings destination by Cvent,” said Casandra Matej, president and CEO of Visit Orlando.
“The meetings business is strong and continues to grow,” Matej added. Visit Orlando reported that June brought more than 300,000 attendees citywide, and advance hotel bookings for group travel from June to August were pacing 15 percent ahead of the same period last year.
The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) hosts Orlando’s largest trade shows and conventions and generates roughly $3 billion in annual economic impact for Central Florida. In recent years the center has averaged nearly 200 events annually, including about 115 conventions and trade shows that attract more than 1.5 million attendees to the region each year.
In May, OCCC announced a new Gold Key Partnership with Walt Disney World, offering exclusive benefits to meetings and events attendees. The partnership runs for three years with options to renew. OCCC already maintains Gold Key status partnerships with SeaWorld Orlando and Universal Orlando Resort.
“The Center’s Gold Key Partnership with Walt Disney World will greatly enhance our mission and support our clients’ events in our destination,” said Mark Tester, executive director of OCCC.
Universal Orlando Resort has expanded its meeting offerings with new Meeting Enhancements at select on-site hotels. “Imagine a meeting where Optimus Prime from Transformers introduces the keynote speaker, or the Minions make a guest appearance,” Matej said. Other creative options include customized educational programs at SeaWorld Orlando or a private Disney fireworks cruise on a 25-foot chartered boat.
On the horizon, Epic Universe, a new theme park from Universal Orlando Resort, is scheduled to open in 2025. New and upcoming hotels are adding capacity and modern amenities. Conrad Orlando, part of the Evermore Orlando Resort, is set to open with 433 rooms, 40,000 square feet of indoor meeting space, a spa and a signature rooftop experience.
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Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando – Disney Springs Area recently opened with 604 guestrooms and more than 17,000 square feet of meeting space. Waldorf Astoria Orlando unveiled a new Central Park Ballroom exceeding 8,000 square feet, nearly 2,600 square feet of pre-function space and a planned 8,700-square-foot covered outdoor patio.
Downtown Orlando continues to grow as an events and cultural hub. Orlando Fringe’s Fringe ArtSpace is now a year-round performing arts venue with two theater spaces. The Grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando completed renovations that include Altira Rooftop Pool Lounge, ideal for cocktail events, and more than 10,000 square feet of event space. Nearby, the AC Hotel by Marriott Orlando Downtown adds 2,000 square feet of meeting space.
Orlando’s culinary scene is also gaining recognition: the Michelin Guide added 13 Orlando restaurants to its 2023 edition. The city now features 46 Michelin-recognized establishments, including four starred venues, 11 Bib Gourmands and 31 Recommended restaurants.
Getting to Orlando is easier than ever by air and rail. Orlando International Airport’s new South Terminal Complex opened recently, adding 15 gates and enhancing connections. As Florida’s busiest airport, it offers non-stop service to 151 destinations and handles more than 800 flights daily. The new terminal also includes the Brightline Orlando Station.
Brightline’s high-speed rail will link South Florida, including Miami, with Orlando beginning in late summer. Visit Orlando’s Matej noted that the station helps create a multimodal transportation network with capacity to expand connections between the airport, downtown Orlando, the convention center, south International Drive and potentially Tampa in the future.
“Brightline’s arrival in Orlando marks a transformative milestone for the business community,” said Johanna Rojas, senior vice president of Partnerships & Sales for Brightline Trains. “The new Orlando station will connect major destinations, making it easier for meeting planners and attendees to travel around Florida and to plan ‘bleisure’ trips that showcase multiple regions.”
For cruise travelers, Port Canaveral ranks as the world’s second-busiest cruise port for multiday embarkations and sits about 45 minutes from Orlando, making the city an ideal base for pre- or post-cruise stays.
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Scenic Drives
Green Mountain Scenic Byway, located west of Orlando, stretches roughly 19 miles from Winter Garden to Mount Dora. Despite its name, Green Mountain refers to the town of Monteverde along the route rather than a true mountain. The drive offers scenic viewpoints, including Sugarloaf Ridge—about 312 feet above sea level and the highest point in Central Florida—overlooking Lake Apopka and nearby preserves like Ferndale Preserve.
The byway is a birding hotspot, with more than 360 species recorded along the route, and features more than a dozen buildings and sites eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. Harper House in Montverde is already listed. The route has become popular with cyclists from around the world, serving as a training and touring destination.