Orlando meeting leader dies as convention center wins latest accolade

Gary Sain, the man who is generally given credit for putting Orlando’s convention center among the US’s top travel destinations, died unexpected. He was 61 and his death was a shock because he was known for his health awareness, chiding others who did not emulate his good habits.

Sain collapsed last weekend after overseeing a charity event at the Orlando World Center Marriott.

In perhaps a touch of irony, at the time of his death, the Orange County Convention Center has just been ranked the top such facility in the US by Business Review USA.

The convention center also was singled out for its significant economic impact on the surrounding community, which provides tax savings to each Orange County household every year.

Tourism officials say they will mount a nationwide campaign to fill "one of the highest profile tourism posts in the country," said the Orlando Sentinel.

News reports said Sain’s death left a huge hole in the area’s $56 million-a-year tourism marketing bureau. Sain was widely known for his creativity, overseeing such creative campaigns as "Orlando Makes Me Smile," which was aimed at convention and corporate meeting planners.

The Orange County Convention Center is the second-largest convention facility in America, attracting more than 200 events annually to the Central Florida area.

Paul Tang, Visit Orlando’s chairman, said an autopsy will be performed to determine what killed Sain. "It happened quite suddenly," he said.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said Sain "helped put Orlando on the map as the No. 1 tourism destination in the world, continuing to solidify our tourism market and the backbone of our economy."

"Gary’s leadership leaves Visit Orlando in a strong position to carry on his vision to promote Orlando/Orange County as the world’s top tourist destination and a wonderful place to meet and conduct business," said Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs in a prepared statement.

"Sain had led the region’s main tourism-marketing agency since 2007, bringing about a reorganization, a new vision and name change to what had for years been called the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau," reported the Orlando Sentinel.

He came to the organization after working for decades in Orlando’s hospitality industry with Hyatt and Premier Cruise Lines.

In 2010, Orlando attracted an estimated 51.5 million visitors in a single calendar year, beating New York City.

"Sain’s unexpected death came as a shock to his colleagues and friends, who said he was extremely health-conscious and often challenged others to adopt his wholesome eating habits and exercise regimen," said the Sentinel.

He once pledged to do 1,000 push-ups a day.

Sain is survived by his wife, Pam; two adult daughters; and his mother, Elizabeth Sain.

By David Wilkening