Talking About Tourism in Orlando — Interesting Not Only for Professionals
On May 7, 2026, the annual Travel & Tourism Event hosted by Visit Orlando took place at the Orange County Convention Center. The event was part of National Travel and Tourism Week and gathered representatives from the tourism industry, businesses, and the local community.
What Was on the Agenda
The meeting was designed not as a typical presentation for tourists but as a conversation about how travel impacts the economy and everyday life in Central Florida. Participants were presented with national and global trends from the U.S. Travel Association and Tripadvisor — meaning attendees could hear not only celebratory speeches but also insights into where the tourism market is headed.
A special highlight was the appearance of Michael James Scott — a native of Orlando, Broadway performer, singer, and actor. Before the main program, those interested could record a short 15-second video about their own experiences and contribute to a collective story of the people who keep Orlando a popular destination.
Was It Worth Attending?
If you work in the hospitality industry, restaurants, entertainment, event planning, or are connected to city services, this was truly a valuable professional opportunity for networking and discussions about the future of the industry. Registration and networking began at 11:00 AM, and the event itself ran from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM in the Valencia Ballroom on the west side of the convention center.
For the average traveler, the event would hardly replace a festival or tourist attraction: it was more of a business lunch and a meeting of people shaping tourist Orlando. But if you’re interested in understanding the city from the inside — through its events, jobs, guests, and local stories — such meetings provide a much broader context than a typical stroll through a theme park.
The venue was the Orange County Convention Center, 9800 International Drive, Orlando, Florida; free self-parking was available for participants in the west concourse parking lot. Location coordinates: 28.4724, -81.4664.
So the answer is simple: for professionals and those interested in the development of Orlando, it’s definitely worth attending; for entertainment, it’s better to choose another event. Would you be interested in attending such a meeting and seeing the tourist city not through the eyes of a guest, but from the inside?
