Meetings continue to play a pivotal role in the Orlando community with support that goes beyond the trade show floor (The PGA Show at the Orange County Convention Center pictured).

Meetings and conventions do more than create opportunities for association, corporate and incentive groups to come together for a few days of collaboration, education, inspiration and networking. For Orlando, they are vital economic engines that drive investment and growth, talent accelerators that support workforce development, and community builders that strengthen local economies.

As we acknowledge Global Meetings Industry Day on May 6, read on to discover how your Orlando meeting contributes to the local community and ways to make the most of these opportunities for your next event.

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Meetings Strengthen the Local Workforce

Choosing Orlando as your meeting destination directly contributes to job creation and supports employment opportunities for local residents. Activity at the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) employs more than 28,000 people, spanning a wide range of professions — from audiovisual engineers, caterers, event managers and show designers to musicians, photographers and videographers. Behind the scenes, countless others play essential roles as accountants, security personnel, marketing and communications managers, truck drivers, and more, all working together to make events successful and strengthen the community.

Meetings Strengthen the Local Economy and Community

Every year, Orlando hosts a variety of major citywide events that significantly impact the local community and economy. For this fiscal year the OCCC’s projected economic impact is $5 billion, across 185 events with a total of 2.3 million attendees.

So far in 2026, some of the most prominent conventions include MEGACON Orlando with a record-setting 195,000 attendees, the NAHB International Builders’ Show and NKBA Kitchen & Bath Industry Show with over 115,000 participants combined, and the PGA Show, which also experienced record attendance with over 34,000 on hand. Additionally, VMX 2026, the world’s largest veterinary conference, brought in 29,000 attendees, making each of these events important drivers of activity and growth for the city.

Beyond supporting local businesses and employing thousands, meetings bring charitable support to the Orange County community. For example, events at the OCCC alone, over the past year have donated:

• 60,000 pounds of food to local food banks,
• $73,000 worth of items and supplies to local charities, and
• 25,000 bags of essential school supplies to local children.

Also, attendees have:

• Packed more than 1 million meals for families in need, and
• Raised more than $575,000 for local nonprofits.

Meetings Strengthen Small Local Businesses

Meetings play a powerful role in helping local businesses grow, as 1,200 businesses are positively impacted by activity from the OCCC.

Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream is a sweet example as meetings have helped open doors to new customers and opportunities for this locally owned brand.

Impacts can also be felt away from the trade show floor. Lawrence Bellido’s career began with a position at the Orange County Convention Center, where he gained valuable experience in customer service while working at shows and conventions. He now leverages those skills as a real estate agent with Keller Williams Advantage III Realty in Orlando, consistently applying the lessons learned from his early days to serve his clients effectively.

Having shared a glimpse into the tremendous impact organization make by meeting in our destination, we appreciate your ongoing support and eagerly anticipate working with you on your next Orlando meeting.