Test your knowledge about Orlando with our list of fun facts about the country’s No. 1 meeting destination (Orange County Convention Center pictured).
As a professional meeting planner, you already know that Orlando is a fantastic place to host meetings, conventions and events of any size or purpose. Why else would Cvent rank us as the country’s No. 1 meetings destination for five straight years?
But meeting in Orlando doesn’t just mean a state-of-the-art convention center, ease of access, endless accommodations and meeting space, and the world’s greatest theme parks and attractions. It also means you’re meeting in a destination that you could spend a lifetime exploring without ever uncovering all of its secrets.
To help you discover some that are of particular note to meeting planners and attendees, we’ve compiled the following list of fun facts about meeting in Orlando — some of many reasons why your organization will want to return here time and time again!
Orlando Meeting Fun Facts: Did You Know…?
- The Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) directly connects to nearly 5,200 hotel rooms via covered walkway bridges, making Orlando one of the most connected meeting destinations in America. All told, 7,639 hotel rooms are within 1 mile of the OCCC.
- Speaking of the OCCC, if the 1,450-foot-tall Willis Tower in Chicago was placed on its side, it would fit lengthwise inside the OCCC’s exhibition space — and that includes the antenna atop the Windy City icon!
- Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando hosts “Musica della Notte” (aka “Music of the Night”) at its Harbor Piazza every night starting at sunset. This musical celebration showcases a unique blend of classic opera, romantic and festive music, and “popera” favorites — a wildly popular musical style that bridges the gap between pop and opera.
- At Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek, onsite restaurant deep blu Seafood Grille serves 5,171 crab cakes annually.Additionally, Executive Chef Jonathan McCann was the Head Chef for the Lord Mayor of the City of London where he orchestrated many events, including one for her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
- Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress spans 1,500 acres and boasts 391 tons of sand on the beach.
- The four statues on top of Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort — two 56-foot-tall dolphins and two 47-foot-tall swans — each weight 60,000 pounds.
- Hilton Orlando has hosted a circus on their outdoor Promenade with 1,600 attendees, complete with a zip line, motorcycle ball, free fall, Nerf combat competition, live bands and more. Imagine the events you could host with a precedent like that!
- Rosen Hotels & Resorts has the only kosher catering service in Orlando, Zayde’s Kosher Catering. You’ll find it at Rosen Plaza Hotel, but it also supports other Rosen properties in Orlando.
- The Alfond Inn uses its operating profits to endow The Alfond Scholars Program at Rollins College, providing scholarships for students for many years to come. The Alfond Inn is located in Winter Park, about 20 minutes from downtown Orlando.
- Orlando is home to the first Waldorf Astoria® built outside of New York City. We also have the largest Four Seasons Resort in North America. Both are in the Walt Disney World Resort area.
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