Orlando, nicknamed the City Beautiful, was one of the first of the top 20 US hotel markets to recover from the pandemic and as average hotel rates and revenue now exceed historic peaks, demand continues to ramp up.

Orlando hosted 74 million visitors in 2022, a 25% increase over 2021, representing 98% of the 2019 level while maintaining its leadership position as America’s most visited destination.

With back-to-back double-digit visitor growth, local officials expect the visitor count to surpass 80 million by 2025. The economic impact of tourism in Orlando was estimated at $87.6 billion for 2022.

Orlando hotels have benefited from a relatively rapid economic turnaround. The market leaped forward in 2023, with RevPAR exceeding the 2022 performance as we enter 2024. When adjusted for inflation, the results are less impressive; nonetheless, the turnaround represents a considerable achievement, particularly considering that the recovery is still in progress for international travel, group business, and convention channels.

Corporate-group bookings are expected to pace ahead of last year, balancing softer leisure demand and smoothing out weekday valleys. Meanwhile, leisure travel is resuming seasonal patterns.

Furthermore, Orlando's hotel market has evolved into a year-round destination owing to several factors, one of which is the substantial growth of regional sporting activities. This expansion has led to an increased demand for hotel accommodations, especially during the off-season, which has shifted seasonal trends.

Additionally, the return of international travel to Orlando, which accounted for 7% of total visitation in 2022, has bolstered demand during otherwise low-demand periods. This trend has resulted in higher occupancy levels and average rates, especially toward the back half of the year.

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