Commissioner's Corner: Tour of Orange County's tourism

There are few things more quintessential to Orange County than our tourism industry. We are the nation’s top tourist destination, with over 62 million people from around the world coming here to visit theme parks, attend conventions, and experience the many entertainment and cultural attractions we have to offer. These visitors have been an economic boon for our community, creating over 370,000 direct and indirect jobs and over $14 billion in employee wages annually. This month, I would like to give you an update on some of the exciting things happening on International Drive, the linchpin of our tourist district.

International Drive is home to a wide variety of attractions. These attractions range from well-known theme parks like Wet N’ Wild and SeaWorld to museums such as Ripley's Believe It or Not!, Wonderworks, The World Of Chocolate Museum & Café, and Titanic - The Artifact Exhibition. Birdseye views of Orlando are available through several helicopter tour companies, while those looking to stay closer to the ground can participate in everything from miniature golf to simulated skydiving in a wind tunnel. Shoppers have several malls to choose from, including Orlando Premium Outlets and the recently redeveloped Artegon Marketplace. Several new and exciting attractions have opened in the last two years, including I-Drive NASCAR, an indoor go-cart racing facility with a half-mile-long track, bowling alley, and arcade games. The new I-Drive 360 complex opened last year with several attractions, including the 400-foot-tall Orlando Eye, Madame Tussauds Orlando, Sea Life Aquarium, several restaurants, nightlife, and shopping options. Last month, Mango’s Tropical Café celebrated its soft opening. At 55,000 square feet, it is the largest nightclub on the east coast.

Several new attractions are currently being developed that will enhance the International Drive experience. The iSquare Mall and Hotel are projected to open this summer. When completed, this project will include a multi-level shopping mall with upscale international retailers, a 26-story hotel, indoor ice-skating rink, 100,000 feet of convention space, and a 500 seat theater. Another large project currently under development is the SkyPlex, planned for opening later this year. The SkyPlex complex will include shopping, restaurants, an observation platform, and the world’s tallest rollercoaster called the Skyscraper.

No visit to International Drive would be complete without driving by the Orange County Convention Center, one of the largest and most heavily utilized convention centers in the country. The facility is owned and operated by Orange County government and is funded through Tourist Development Tax, a tax on short-term lodging. The convention center is a massive facility, with over 2 million square feet of exhibition space, 74 meeting rooms, and over 6,000 parking spaces. During the 2013-2014 fiscal year, over 1.1 million trade show and convention attendees visited the convention center, creating $2.2 billion in economic impact.

Demand for convention space is high. As of January 2015, organizers had booked 818 events with an estimated 11.9 million attendees through the year 2035. These events will generate approximately $22.1 billion in economic impact for our community. To facilitate the large number of visitors and shows expected at the center in the future, Orange County has invested $187 million towards a capital improvement program to update the convention center’s facilities. The West Building will get a major renovation, which will include both aesthetics as well as life safety updates. Examples of some of the improvements include curtain walls, lighting and utility upgrades, restroom renovations, fire alarm systems and an existing exhibit hall will be retrofitted to become flexible ballroom space. New furniture groupings will also be added to all concourses to make for a more relaxed feel. The convention center has upgraded the wireless system in both buildings, to handle more attendees on cell phones, tablets, and portable devices at one time for more reliable coverage.

International Drive is an active, vibrant place and the excitement and energy there is representative of the ambitions and dreams of our community. I am proud Orange County is known far and wide as a symbol of hospitality and I look forward to watching International Drive grow and prosper. As always, please do not hesitate to contact me or my aide, Edgar Robinson, if you have any questions regarding our tourism industry or any other Orange County issue. We can be reached at 407-836-7350 or by email and [email protected].