Orlando comes alive this autumn with a colorful array of top seasonal festivals at the theme parks and beyond. The destination is brimming with events that extend beyond the realm of Halloween festivities, offering a diverse lineup of entertainment, culture and seasonal charm. It comprises galaxy themed beverages and nontraditional vegan eats to vibrant cultural celebrations – including an all-new LGBTQ+ festival. Orlando's fall lineup offers something for everyone. Go to VisitOrlando.com for a full schedule of this year's festivities.   FOODIE EVENTS Fall in Orlando is packed with delicious festivities for every palate, from gourmet dining and craft beer fests to international and vegan cuisine celebrations. Visit Orlando's Magical Dining presented by Orlando Health (through Sept. 30) celebrates its 19th year with a record 151 restaurants, including 25 newcomers and nine MICHELIN-recognized spots, offering three-course prix-fixe menus for $40 or $60, with up to $2 from each meal benefiting The Mustard Seed of Central Florida. The EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival presented by CORKCICLE (through Nov. 23) offers global flavors from over 25 Marketplaces at the World Showcase, featuring new tastes, live entertainment and family activities. At Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Taste of Space Fall Bites (Sept. 30–Nov. 3) returns with new savory bites and sweet treats, while the after-hours Taste of Space: Marstini Shake-Off (Oct. 4) offers a ticketed experience featuring seasonal flavors, "Marstinis" crafted by local bars and restaurants, diverse food stations, and the chance to mingle with astronauts. Jake's Beer Festival (Oct. 4) at Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando Resort offers beer lovers a unique evening with over 50 craft beers, hard seltzers, all-you-can-eat food, and live entertainment. International Vegan Food Festival (Oct. 12) at Wall Street Plaza in downtown Orlando celebrates plant-based cuisine from around the world, offering visitors the chance to discover new flavors and learn about sustainable food practices. Winter Park Wine & Dine: Fall Edition (Oct. 16) is a sophisticated evening of unlimited tastings from over 40 food, wine and dessert vendors, plus live music and full-service bar access, with an optional VIP package including unlimited Veuve Clicquot and extra perks. The 19th annual Central Florida Veg Fest (Oct. 26) at Orlando Festival Park is one of the longest-running vegan festivals in the world celebrating vegan lifestyles with educational exhibits, food demos, and a variety of vegan cuisines and products from over 200 vendors and 100 contributors. Orlando Beer Festival (Nov. 2) invites beer enthusiasts to sip on craft and premium brews from local favorites and nationwide breweries at Orlando Festival Park. Visitors can also enjoy wine tastings, indulge in delicious food, listen to live music and enjoy interactive games. The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic (Nov. 15-16) celebrates its 15th year with a street party festival offering unlimited food and beverage tastings from the hotel's award-winning restaurants and international wine selection. EVENTS AND FESTIVALS Orlando's fall festivities are in full swing from LGBTQ+ celebrations and iconic music festivals to community traditions and family friendly fun. Orlando Fringe's inaugural Orlando Out Fest (Sept. 20-22) celebrates LGBTQ+ stories and artists with highlights including the "Truth-or-Dare" game show, Billy Mick's "Just B" and "The Odd Ball!" featuring drag, cabaret and camp humor, along with various other performances and events supporting The Center Orlando. Southern Hill Farms Fall Festival (select days, Sept. 28- Nov. 17) invites families to enjoy its iconic pumpkin patch, a five-acre corn maze, live music, seasonal treats and a Kids Zone featuring bungee trampolines, a petting zoo, and a carousel. Come Out with Pride Orlando (Oct. 19) at Lake Eola Park is a celebration fostering LGBTQ+ community pride that features diverse live entertainment, local artists, celebrity headliners, The Most Colorful Parade and a Fireworks Grand Finale over Lake Eola. Fiesta Calle Orange (Oct. 27) celebrates Hispanic and Latin Heritage with live performances on four stages, authentic Latin cuisine, and a full bar with cocktails, beers and sangria. Fall Fiesta in the Park (Nov. 2-3) celebrates 53 years with hundreds of unique artists and craft booths, food vendors, a beer garden and a Kids Zone with live entertainment on the amphitheater stage. The Electric Daisy Carnival (Nov. 8-10) showcases an eclectic mix of more than 120 dance music acts at historic Tinker Field, adjacent to Camping World Stadium. This iconic music festival celebrates more than 25 years of love, community and dance “Under the Electric Sky.” Florida Blue Florida Classic (Nov. 23) features the Bethune-Cookman University Wildcats and Florida A&M University Rattlesnakes battling it out at Camping World Stadium for bragging rights in their long-running annual rivalry. FusionFest (Nov. 30 – Dec. 1) brings over 110 global cultures to downtown Orlando with a two-day celebration featuring international cuisine, music, dance, visual arts, contests and interactive activities at the Dr. Phillips Center's Seneff Arts Plaza.

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Visit Orlando has rolled out a new Student and Youth Travel specialist module within its Orlando Travel Academy. The online training resource platform provides travel advisors with an additional tool to boost their knowledge of Orlando. The module will now offer travel advisors resources tailored to student and youth group travel. "Orlando is ranked one of the top student travel destinations," said Casandra Matej, President and CEO of Visit Orlando. Key highlights of the student and youth travel module include: Comprehensive destination information tailored to the interests and preferences of student and youth travellers. Insights into Orlando's top attractions, accommodations, transportation and entertainment offerings suitable for educational or performance groups. Guidance on planning educational trips, youth sports events, performance tours and other specialised group travel experiences. Tips for managing group logistics and maximising value for student and youth group travel clients. Interactive quizzes and assessments to reinforce learning and earn certification as an Orlando Expert. The Orlando Travel Academy offers travel advisors on-demand sales planning resources available on any device, including interactive modules, webinars and training videos. Orlando Travel Academy graduates also gain access to exclusive offers upon completion of the program. Designated ‘Certified Orlando Experts’ can take advantage of up to 20 offers ranging from complimentary attractions tickets to airline perks.

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Visit Orlando has appointed AVIAREPS as its global representative across Latin America and Europe. The local tourism expert teams will be responsible for Visit Orlando's tourism trade sales representation in key markets the UK, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Germany and Ireland. It will do project work in Canada, as well as in secondary markets Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, Norway and Finland. With owned offices in all key countries , AVIAREPS will implement a trade sales concept which can be adapted locally to each market. Duties include supporting Orlando tourism sales strategies and activities, in-market training and ensuring the trade is kept up to date. This will complement Visit Orlando's efforts to drive international visitors to Orlando. AVIAREPS will provide Visit Orlando with research and market intelligence, as well as MICE services. Casandra Matej, CEO of Visit Orlando said: "AVIAREPS can adapt concepts to each individual market to promote Orlando with the ultimate goal of increasing visitor numbers.” “The teams specifically provide the travel industry with personalised service and education." Visit Orlando is the official destination organisation for Orlando, Florida. It is the third-largest city in Florida and one of the most-visited cities in the world.

Orlando maintained its ranking as the country’s top tourist destination. Visit Orlando announced 74 million annual visitors in 2022, up 25% on 2021. It puts Orlando tourism at 98% of pre-pandemic levels. "This past year proved to be a key recovery timeframe for Orlando's tourism industry, with a lot of pent-up demand," said Casandra Matej, CEO of Visit Orlando. "Our new international brand launch and marketing initiatives helped Orlando maintain its leadership position." The uptick comes off the back of the new Unbelievably Real brand launch, first introduced in May 2022 to domestic visitors. It was then rolled out in the UK, Ireland, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Chile and Peru. In 2022, domestic leisure visitation completely recovered with a new record of 61 million visit. International visitation is now at 75% of pre-pandemic levels, reaching 4.9 million in 2022. Canada, UK and Brazil were the top three international markets. The new high speed rail service connecting Orlando and Miami is expected to boost visitation further.

  As one of the most sought-after destinations in the U.S., Orlando maintains its popularity as one of the top places for summer holidaymakers and promises an array of new experiences for visitors planning their next trip to the Theme Park Capital of the World. In addition to new attractions at Orlando’s theme parks, the destination is offering up even more new adventures ranging from a new golf entertainment venue from Tiger Woods to an alcohol-free speakeasy concept.   “Orlando is ready to welcome summer travelers with unforgettable new experiences,” said Casandra Matej, president and CEO for Visit Orlando. “Whether you’re a theme park expert or a first-time visitor, there's always something new to discover in Orlando with a variety of new hotels, unique restaurants and one-of-a-kind attractions to explore and create new vacation memories.”   Continuous updates on what's new in Orlando can be found at VisitOrlando.com, the official visitor information source for the destination. On the website, visitors can also make an appointment for a complimentary, personalized one-on-one Vacation Planning Service with one of Visit Orlando’s vacation planning experts for advice and guidance on building the perfect itinerary.  

1. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, EPCOT’s first “other-world” showcase pavilion opens May 27, featuring a new storytelling coaster that rotates 360 degrees to focus on the action, including the first reverse launch on a Disney coaster.
2. Ice Breaker, SeaWorld Orlando’s first launch coaster features four launches, both backwards and forwards, culminating in a reverse launch with a 93-foot-tall spike with 100-degree angle, the steepest vertical drop in Florida.
3. Aquatica Orlando’s newest water slide, Reef Plunge, offers eye-catching translucent cutouts and rings with twists and turn though 330 feet of fiberglass. A vibrant array of marine life, Commerson’s dolphins, leopard sharks and a variety of other cold-water fish are also part of the new dynamic habitat.
4. PopStroke, a golf entertainment venue created in partnership with Tiger Woods, will offer a menu of handhelds and pizzas to enjoy from the indoor-outdoor dining room overlooking two 18-hole miniature golf courses. PopStroke even has an app to automatically keep track of scores on the course and is set to open in May at Waterford Lakes Town Center.
5. Take a short drive to explore Orlando’s local neighborhoods and experience The BANDBOX – Orlando, Central Florida’s first alcohol-free speakeasy cocktail tasting lounge and vintage shop, will open this summer at Ivanhoe Village in Downtown Orlando.
6. Immersion at London House, a new boutique restaurantby Chef Rikku Ó'Donnchü, features a tasting menu-only concept with a sensorial dining experience focused on science, climate change, sustainable farming and zero waste, where texture, scents and sounds are as important as taste.
7. The New York Beer Project,set to open this summer in Winter Garden, will resemble an indoor beer garden complete with a gastropub, sidewalk bistro and up to 20 craft beers on tap.
8. Three-time James Beard Award semifinalist and “Top Chef” contestant Chef John Tesar has brought his concept Knife Burger to the JW Marriott Orlando. Featuring a slightly more expanded menu than the original Texas location, the poolside restaurant offers classic, high-quality burgers as well as seafood burgers and salads, all made with the finest ingredients.
9. The Tuscan-inspired, 126-room ette Hotel Orlando opens in June near Disney World. Focusing on wellness as an alcohol-free property, the hotel offers culinary experiences in partnership with Michelin Star Chef Akira Back, along with The Spa at ette, with services for everyone from the modern minimalist to the unruly naturalist. 
10. AC Hotel by Marriott Orlando Lake Buena Vista will offer a state-of-the-art, 24-hour fitness facility, inventive chef-tailored dining and signature cocktail service. The property is set to open June 2022.

Enterprise Florida, Inc.'s voted to award $10 million in funds to support the Miami and Orlando bids to be selected as U.S. host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The funds will support the cities' planning and operational needs in hosting fans during the tournament. It would support security, transportation and other infrastructure needs, with $5 million grants going to the Greater Orlando Sports Commission and the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau.   Read full story

Latest data shows Florida tourism is booming. Q3 (July to September) 2021 estimates by Visit Florida recorded 32 million visitors to Florida, which is up .3% from 2019 and 60% from last year. It was virtually all domestic visitors during the quarter although borders have now reopened. Orlando International Airport posted the highest passenger traffic during the quarter with 5.3 million flyers, up 200% from 2020.   Read full story

Michelin and Visit Florida together revealed an expansion of The Michelin Guide, with the announcement of The Michelin Guide Miami, Orlando and Tampa. "Michelin Guide inspectors look forward to discovering the culinary landscape in Miami, Orlando and Tampa," said Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Michelin Guides. The inaugural edition for Guides to Miami, Orlando and Tampa will be announced in 2022. The new restaurant selections will join Michelin's selection of top rated hotels in Florida, curated by Tablet Hotels, the hotel experts at the Michelin Guide. "Visit Florida, along with our destination partners, Visit Orlando, Visit Tampa Bay and the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau, are thrilled to partner with Michelin to develop a Michelin Guide to further establish Florida as a world-renowned culinary destination," said Dana Young, President and CEO of Visit Florida. "This gives Florida the opportunity to highlight the dynamic and unexpected culinary adventures the Sunshine State has to offer."