Thank You to Our Back of the House Sponsors
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National Travel and Tourism Week Highlights
Central Florida’s Hospitality Impact
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This week marked the 43rd annual National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW), a nationwide celebration created in 1983 to recognize the powerful contributions of the travel and tourism industry across the United States. Each year, NTTW highlights how tourism strengthens the economy, supports small businesses and working families, and fuels economic growth in communities nationwide.
Nationally, travel spending produced $2.9 trillion in economic output, with one in every 11 American jobs tied to the tourism sector. In addition, the industry generated approximately $190 billion in tax revenue nationwide, helping fund essential public services such as education, emergency response, and public safety initiatives.
Here in Central Florida, CFHLA celebrated the vital role the hospitality industry plays by supporting more than 468,000 local jobs and generating approximately $6.7 billion in state and local tax revenue. In recognition of NTTW, CFHLA collaborated with our regional tourism partners from Lake County, Orange County, Osceola County, and Seminole County to recognize the industry's contributions from economic development, increasing workforce opportunities, community vibrancy, and improving the quality of life for all local residents.
Additionally, Visit Orlando announced the incredible news that our destination welcomed a record breaking 76.7 million visitors in 2025. This represented a 1.8% increase over the previous year and Central Florida continues to be the #1 visited destination in the United States. Also, international visitation remained strong in 2025, with Orlando hosting 6.3 million international travelers. Canada remained the region’s largest international market with 1.1 million visitors, with new record highs from Mexico, Colombia and Japan.
The travel and tourism industry also generated a record-breaking $94.5 billion in economic impact across Central Florida while supporting more than 41% of the region’s workforce.
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Within Lake County, tourism continues to expand as the county promotes outdoor recreation, waterfront attractions, festivals, and eco-tourism experiences. The county’s population, estimated at more than 444,000 residents in 2024, has contributed to continued growth in hospitality, recreation, and tourism-related services.
In Orange County, tourism generated $79.5 billion in total economic impact during 2024 and supported more than 400,400 jobs. Tourism-related tax revenues provided annual tax savings exceeding $10,400 per household while also funding arts, cultural programs, and sports initiatives. More than half of the county’s annual sales tax revenue now comes from visitor spending.
Tourism remains the leading industry in Osceola County, generating more than $10.6 billion in economic impact in 2024, an increase of $300 million over the previous year. The industry also produced more than $685.3 million in state and local tax revenues and supported approximately 40,700 local jobs, nearly 600 more than in 2023. These tourism revenues translated into nearly $4,500 in annual tax savings for local households.
Meanwhile, travel and tourism activity in Seminole County created $4.3 billion in economic impact in 2024, generated more than $335 million in state and local tax revenues, and supported over 27,100 jobs. Seminole County has also strengthened its reputation as a leading sports tourism destination, attracting athletes, teams, and spectators through tournaments and events that continue to energize the local economy while showcasing the county’s natural beauty and recreational assets.
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Celebrating the Small Businesses That
Power the Central Florida Hospitality Industry
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In addition to National Travel and Tourism Week, we also celebrate National Small Business Week! We'd like to recognize the hundreds of small businesses within CFHLA which are a vital element of Central Florida’s hospitality and tourism industry. From family-owned businesses, to boutique hotels and transportation providers, event planners, and local suppliers, these businesses bring character, innovation, and personalized service that elevate the visitor experience. Their entrepreneurial spirit not only enhances the region’s global reputation as a premier destination but also strengthens the local economy by creating jobs, fostering community connections, and supporting a diverse and resilient business ecosystem.
At CFHLA, we are proud to support our allied members and their ability to adapt, collaborate, and deliver exceptional experiences ensures that Central Florida remains vibrant and competitive in an ever-evolving market. As we celebrate the close of this week, we reaffirm our commitment to advocating for policies, partnerships, and opportunities that empower our small business community to grow and thrive. Their success is our success - and together, we continue to shape a dynamic and welcoming hospitality landscape for visitors from around the world.
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CFHLA Engineers’ Council Hosts
Record-Breaking Clay Shoot Tournament
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This year’s record-breaking fundraising event was sponsored by Greater Florida Electrical Contractors, and featured more than 170 registered players and 23 sponsors. Additionally, the entire proceeds from this fundraising event benefited the CFHLA Foundation and the Engineers’ Council charities and workforce development initiatives, including the Engineers’ Council Scholarships.
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Thank You to Our Event Sponsors Including:
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Live Auction & Map Sponsor:
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In-Kind Golf Cart Sponsor:
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Additionally, thank you to each of our game station sponsors, station sponsors, and liquor donors. To see the complete list of sponsors, please CLICK HERE.
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Lastly, congratulations to our tournament winners!
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CFHLA Celebrates Grand Opening of
Newly Renovated Headquarters
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Thank you again to all of our members, partners, industry leaders, and sponsors who joined us this week for our grand opening and official ribbon-cutting of our newly renovated CFHLA headquarters!
This refreshed space marks an exciting new chapter in our 46-year history. It was designed with our members and team in mind - creating a welcoming environment for continued collaboration, innovation, and future growth across the Central Florida region.
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We are grateful to the many members who partnered with CFHLA and helped make this renovation possible, including Busy Bean Coffee of Central Florida, Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, Common Sense Office Furniture, Greenery Productions, Inc., PCPI Services Inc., Xpodigital, Clean Tec Services, and Munyan Painting, Roofing and Restoration.
Additionally, a special thank you to the entire CFHLA team, whose hard work, creativity, and teamwork helped make the event and renovation a success. Lastly, a special recognition was given to Thomas Ramgadoo, CFHLA’s “Office Construction Manager,” whose leadership, oversight, and dedication throughout the renovation process helped transform the vision into reality.
As we cut the ribbon, we celebrated more than a renovated office - we celebrated the future of Central Florida hospitality and each of you, the people who continue to move our industry forward.
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Orlando Selected to Host Olympic
Qualifier Series on Road to 2028
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This week, our partners at the Greater Orlando Sports Commission announced that four world-class cities were chosen by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to host the Olympic Q-Series (formerly the Olympic Qualifier Series) in an exciting and expanded format on the road to the LA28 Olympic Games.
Tokyo, Shanghai, Montreal and Orlando will each host one stop, with Orlando being the final stop of this series on June 8-11, 2028. The Olympic Q-Series will feature:
- 3x3 basketball
- Beach volleyball
- BMX freestyle
- Climbing
- Flag football
- Skateboarding
CFHLA was thrilled to collaborate with the Greater Orlando Sports Commission, Visit Orlando, and several other regional partners in order to bring the 2028 Olympic Q-Series to Orlando. This historic opportunity further solidifies Central Florida’s position as a premier global destination capable of hosting the world’s most prestigious events.
We also look forward to the tremendous international exposure, strong economic impact, and lasting legacy it will create for our community and the Central Florida region.
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JW Marriott Bonnet Creek Inspires Future
Hospitality Leaders at Olympia High School
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Recently, the JW Marriott Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa visited students at Olympia High School as part of CFHLA’s Adopt-A-School Program. During the visit, Kate Eames, Director of HR, and Allison Moore, HR Generalist, shared valuable industry insight and inspired students to explore exciting careers in hospitality.
Their engaging presentation gave students a firsthand look into the hotel industry and left many even more excited about future opportunities in hospitality. Thank you to JW Marriott Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa for your continued partnership and commitment to supporting and inspiring the next generation of hospitality professionals!
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CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR MAY
MEMBERS OF THE MONTH
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CFHLA is proud to recognize our May Lodging Member of the Month, Richard Hess, Hotel Manager at Hilton Orlando. This recognition reflects his exceptional leadership, dedication, and passion for CFHLA and the broader Central Florida Hospitality Industry. Richard’s contributions have not gone unnoticed, as he has actively supported and participated in several CFHLA signature events and recent selection into the inaugural NextGen Leadership Council. Furthermore, his continued engagement and willingness to contribute his time and expertise have played an integral role in helping move our organization and the industry forward.
We are equally proud to recognize our May Allied Member of the Month, Kim Dvorscak, VP of Client Relations for Xpodigital, for her outstanding involvement as a CFHLA VIP Member! Additionally, her ongoing support of our community-wide initiatives, as well as participation and sponsorship of so many annual CFHLA signature events, has been a tremendous help to the association. She’s truly helped CFHLA reach new heights! Not to mention, we are thankful for the in-kind donation of the new digital TV’s that look fantastic in our CFHLA office!
It is through these positive contributions and continued partnership that we are eager to recognize both of them this month!
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BMS CAT Orlando supports CFHLA because hospitality is a cornerstone of Central Florida’s economy, and we believe in standing alongside the owners, operators, and teams who keep this region moving. CFHLA provides a collaborative platform where preparedness, resilience, and partnership intersect—values that align directly with our mission to protect properties, operations, and reputations when it matters most.
The initiative that matters most to us is proactive risk mitigation and rapid recovery - helping hospitality partners prepare for the unexpected and recover quickly from disasters, so businesses, employees, and guests remain safe and confident. We are especially committed to education, readiness, and response planning that minimizes downtime and long-term impact.
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Check out the latest hospitality employment opportunities in Central Florida.
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About CFHLA
6675 Westwood Blvd #210, Orlando, FL 32821
The mission of the Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association is to represent the Central Florida Hospitality Industry, by setting the standard of excellence through advocacy, collaboration, education, recognition, and service.
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