Visit Orlando Provides Destination News Update

As the challenges to our industry continue, we remain focused on rescheduling and booking new conventions, as well as providing resources to support local businesses and their employees, keeping Orlando top of mind with your attendees, and developing destination recovery plans. As always, our team stands ready to assist you in any way possible.

Meanwhile, across America, states and localities are moving toward a critical moment in our two-front battle to contain COVID-19 while also beginning to plant the seeds of economic recovery. As Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings recently said, our community is working very hard to find “the sweet spot between protecting lives and livelihoods.”

Rescheduling Conventions: Our convention sales team continues to work alongside the Orange County Convention Center and member hotels to reschedule impacted groups. As of April 28, 20 conventions with an estimated economic impact of $405.2 million have rescheduled for 2020 or 2021.

Economic Recovery Task Force: After the first virtual meeting of the Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force, the organization and its four working groups have held multiple follow-up meetings, with nearly 50 business and community leaders from across Central Florida contributing their insights and expertise.

We’re honored that Mayor Jerry Demings gave Visit Orlando President & CEO George Aguel the opportunity to co-chair this group along with Tim Giuliani, president & CEO of the Orlando Economic Partnership. Mayor Demings’ direction is for this task force to create a phased, data-driven approach to restarting the local economy, while ensuring the safety of employees and the public. Of the utmost importance is to protect the confidence that residents and visitors alike have in Orlando to do this in a way that is safe and effective.

You may have seen in news media some of the business protocols being discussed for various industries. We recognize that these are still in discussion and not final. Rest assured that Visit Orlando will take a proactive role in communicating these guidelines when they are established.

There are currently several meetings taking place each day this week, including the overall task force and four working subgroups: Guidelines for Re-opening Business, Business Readiness, Business Compliance and Bringing Back Tourism.

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