I'm encouraged by the progress toward restarting the region’s economy in a safe, responsible manner. Businesses across our county have begun reopening in a phased approach under new guidelines recommended by Mayor Jerry Demings.
Building on this momentum, Visit Orlando continues to roll out new programs in support of the meetings industry, highlighted by the recent announcement of our overall recommendations for restarting tourism.
Feel free to email us with any questions, and follow us on LinkedIn for the latest updates from Cvent’s No. 1 meeting destination in the country.
REOPENING GUIDELINES
The Orange County Task Force has recommended these seven general guidelines for all industries:
1. Practice social distancing. 2. Stay home when feeling sick. 3. Wear protective face covering. 4. Conduct health screenings. 5. Sanitize and wash hands frequently. 6. High-risk individuals should shelter and work from home, whenever possible. 7. Recommend temperature check for all staff. All temperatures of 100 degrees or above must go home.
In addition, Orange County has developed reopening criteria for local restaurants. Restaurants can allow no more than 50% indoor occupancy, and outdoor seating is permissible with appropriate social distancing and subject to local zoning requirements.
VISIT ORLANDO IN ACTION
Rescheduling Conventions: Our convention sales team continues to work alongside the Orange County Convention Center and member hotels to reschedule impacted groups. As of today, 20 conventions with an estimated economic impact of $358 million have rescheduled for 2020 or 2021.
Webinars: We’ve hosted several installments of our Webinar Series, with more to come. Recent webinars have included economist Anirban Basu, chairman & CEO of Sage Policy Group, discussing the foreseeable future and “the contours of the brisk recovery to come thereafter,” as well as David Blansfield and Lauren Edelstein of Northstar Meetings Group, discussing how event planners are managing through the COVID-19 crisis. View previous editions here.
Stay Connected: With millions of meeting professionals and attendees currently working from home, the desire to return to Orlando is stronger than ever. While Visit Orlando and its partners work tirelessly with health experts and medical professionals to prepare for your return, you and your colleagues can stay connected to Orlando with fun, virtual learning activities from Orlando — including the chance to learn how to cook from some of our most famous celebrity chefs.
ACCOMMODATION RESOURCES
Although Orange County hotels and resorts are currently permitted to operate, many of the larger hotel chains and theme park hotels are currently closed. However, there are several independent and smaller hotels that are open for visitors. Vacation-home rentals are currently closed. Please contact your preferred place of lodging for details about their current availability.
Orlando's hotel companies are also employing robust health and safety protocols, including the following initiatives and programs. You can find the latest information on OrlandoMeeting.com.
Traveler Sentiment: According to research this week, travelers’ confidence in airline cleanliness is the key to their return. The most in-demand practice is “high-tech” cleanings of interiors between flights and requiring passenger health screenings. Travelers also want to see that hotels are primarily concerned with their health by providing hand sanitizing stations, face masks and disinfectant wipes. Read more.
HEALTHY BUSINESS TRAVEL INFORMATION
Be sure to check out Visit Orlando’s dedicated Healthy Business Travel Information webpage regularly, as we continue to update information about accommodations and additional resources about meeting in Orlando.
COMMUNITY & HEALTH
While not a mandate, Orange County strongly urges individuals to wear a mask or facial covering when in public. For the most critical local health and government updates, visit Orange County's coronavirus webpage.
About Visit Orlando 6277 Sea Harbor Drive, Suite 400, Orlando, FL 32821, US
Visit Orlando, The Official Tourism Association®, represents the most visited destination in the United States, with a presence in more than a dozen countries around the world. Visit Orlando, together with its 1,200 member organizations, represents the area's leading industry.
