Visit Orlando is participating in IMEX America 2025, presenting new developments and recent milestones that strengthen its position as a leading meetings destination. The organization highlights the upcoming expansion of the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC), the opening of Universal Epic Universe theme park, and various recognitions received by local hotels and restaurants.
Casandra Matej, president and CEO of Visit Orlando, said, “Orlando’s continued investment in new and enhanced venues, experiences and services helps ensure our destination remains aligned with our customers’ ever-changing meetings goals. The destination accolades and record-attendance shattering trade shows exemplifies Orlando’s dedication to offer unmatched meeting experiences.”
The OCCC is set for significant growth. Construction on the Grand Concourse Expansion will begin in 2026, adding 44,000 square feet of meeting space and a 100,000-square-foot ballroom to the North-South Building. Completion is expected in 2029. A second phase under design could add another 200,000 square feet of multipurpose exhibit space. When both phases are finished, the North-South Building will total 1.15 million square feet of exhibit space.
Visit Orlando has also expanded its live virtual site inspection platform—Orlando Virtual Tours—to include more neighborhoods, hotels, attractions, and venues across over 1,100 locations. This service provides planners with detailed site information to support event planning.
For the tenth year in a row, Cvent named Orlando as North America’s top meeting destination. In addition to this recognition for the city itself, twenty local convention hotels were listed among Cvent’s Top Meeting Hotels in North America; sixteen made it into the Top 100 list.
The MICHELIN Guide Florida acknowledged two new starred restaurants in Orlando for 2025—including Sorekara as its first Two-Star venue—bringing the city’s total to nine starred establishments.
Conrad Orlando at Evermore achieved AAA’s Five Diamond designation for the first time; it joins two other properties in Orlando with this distinction.
In terms of tourism numbers, over 75 million people visited Orlando in 2024—including more than 5.6 million business travelers—maintaining its status as America’s most visited destination.
Trade shows held at OCCC during 2025 have seen record attendance: The PGA Show attracted over 33,000 attendees; VMX Veterinary Meeting drew a record crowd of about 30,000; InfoComm welcomed around 31,000 participants from nearly one hundred countries.
Several hotel projects have recently opened or undergone upgrades near major attractions or convention areas. These include Universal Helios Grand Hotel with dedicated event spaces overlooking Epic Universe; Universal Stella Nova and Terra Luna Resorts offering a combined total of approximately fifteen hundred rooms; Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin’s renovation covering all guest rooms plus an expansion to event facilities; Villatel Orlando Resort designed for corporate retreats with themed villas accommodating large groups.
Dining options continue to expand throughout downtown districts and resorts—with openings such as Corazón By Baires near Pointe Orlando offering Latin American cuisine; Nabe specializing in premium wagyu hot pot; Sparrow Wine Bar downtown; Mosonori hand-roll bar by Chef Henry Moso in Winter Park; Bourbon Steak by chef Michael Mina at Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin; Epilogue speakeasy lounge at Four Seasons Resort Orlando; Garni Café French bistro at Lake Nona Wave Hotel.
Universal Epic Universe opened on May 22—the first new major theme park launch in Central Florida since Islands of Adventure opened more than two decades ago—featuring five themed worlds suitable for hosting off-site events.
Walt Disney World Resort introduced reimagined creative studios for meeting professionals alongside several entertainment additions across Magic Kingdom Park (including nighttime parades), Animal Kingdom Theme Park (“Zootopia: Better Zoogether!” show launching November), Hollywood Studios (new stage productions), EPCOT (TEST TRACK updates), SeaWorld Orlando (upcoming SEAQuest ride).
Visit Orlando represents over sixteen hundred member companies from Central Florida’s tourism sector—connecting visitors with travel options ranging from theme parks to dining—and continues marketing efforts globally through various channels including social media.
