What's New in Orlando for Meetings & Conventions: Q1 2025 Preview with Orlando Event Leaders
February 20, 2025
Fans of fiction and fantasy are not the only ones patiently waiting for the opening day of Universal Orlando Resort's Epic Universe on May 22. Organizers with events and trade shows planned in Orlando, Fla., in the back half of 2025 are clamoring to offer new experiences to their exhibitors and attendees.
From the much-anticipated opening of new attractions like Epic Universe to substantial expansions at the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC), Orlando continues to lead as a hub for meetings and conventions. In fact, the OCCC hosted 189 events that attracted 1.7 million attendees during its last fiscal year, according to an economic impact report by PFM Consulting Group.
OCCC currently offers two concourses with a total of 7 million square feet of space and 47 nearby hotels. Funding has been approved for additional meeting space and a new ballroom, with construction expected to begin in 2025 and be completed by 2028.
Related: On Site in Orlando: What’s New & Trending for Trade Shows
At PCMA Convening Leaders, TSNN’s Danica Tormohlen caught up with three top Orlando event leaders––Visit Orlando President and CEO Casandra Matej, OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester and Visit Orlando Chief Sales Officer Lisa Messina—to find out what else is new and trending for events in Orlando in 2025.
Read six takeaways from our conversation or watch the full interview here.
1. A Destination for Meetings and Conventions
"2025 is a big year for us," said Matej, emphasizing Orlando's commitment to the meetings and conventions market. The city's major convention district on International Drive (known to locals as I Drive) offers not only state-of-the-art facilities and hotels but also unique offsite venues like Pointe Orlando that are walking distance from OCCC. These locations promise attendees a distinctive experience, enabling connections and interactions beyond typical conference settings. “In that district alone, there are well over 175 restaurants and nightlife for people to enjoy,” Matej said.
On April 3, Blue Man Group will return to Orlando with a new residency show. The multi-sensory performance will take place in a custom-built 578-seat theater located beneath the towering 400-foot Orlando Eye, the centerpiece of ICON Park’s entrance. Group packages and add-ons, including VIP Experiences and Meet & Greets, will be available.
2. Hotel and Venue Enhancements
New attractions like Epic Universe play a vital role in enhancing the meeting and convention landscape. "Universal will open up its next largest theme park," said Matej, noting its importance as an offsite venue for events, mere footsteps from the convention center. “Two hotels at Epic Universe have already opened, and we're going to have three by the end of 2025,” she said. “That's an additional 1,500 rooms that our conventions can tap into.”
Those new hotels include Universal Stella Nova Resort and Universal Terra Luna Resort, adding 1,500 guest rooms to Universal Orlando Resort’s hotel portfolio, raising the total to 11,000 rooms across 11 hotels. The new properties feature 750 double-queen guest rooms with spaceship-styled windows, a variety of dining options, and amenities including resort-style pools, fitness centers, game rooms, recreation rooms and more.
Opening in May, Universal Helios Grand Hotel with a dedicated entrance into the new Universal Epic Universe, is already available for booking meetings and events. The Loews hotel will offer 4,648 square feet of versatile space, 500 rooms and 35 suites, and feature tablets for guests to digitally control elements of the room from lighting to room service. The hotel will feature a rooftop bar, a three-meal restaurant, a pool bar and a grab-and-go station.
3. Expanding Capabilities at the Convention Center
Tester outlined significant expansion projects at OCCC that are expected to break ground by 2026 with enhancement to the North-South Building. The ambitious Project 5A, featuring a new 100,000 square foot ballroom and 44,000 square feet of meeting space, is designed to attract more events. "We can layer more events on," said Tester, as the center continues to evolve to meet industry demands. “Probably this time next year we'll be selling it.”
The OCCC recently added high-speed electric vehicle (EV) charging to its campus with the opening of Orlando Utilities Commission’s (OUC) ReCharge Mobility Hub. Located near its North Concourse, the hub provides charging for visitors and guests in the Convention Center District.
4. Orlando's Record-Breaking Momentum
Echoing the sentiment, Messina pointed out, "We're the No. 1 meetings and conventions destination," with ongoing visitor surges. She attributes this success to the new offerings—like the Evermore Resort and the Conrad Hotel that opened in 2024—and plans for further developments in the convention district by Hilton and Hyatt. Stay tuned.
Evermore Orlando Resort and Conrad Orlando begin their second year of operations in 2025. Evermore Orlando Resort features a 20-acre sandy beach centered around the 8-acre crystalline Evermore Bay and includes a range of 2- to 11-bedroom vacation homes and The Boathouse, a 2,500-square-foot meet venue. Located at Evermore Orlando Resort, the Conrad Orlando is the destination’s first Hilton luxury brand and features 433 rooms, a spa, numerous dining options – including its signature rooftop experience – and 65,000 square feet of flexible indoor-outdoor meeting space.
5. Accessibility and Innovation
Matej highlighted Orlando's unmatched accessibility, stating that "getting to Orlando has never been easier." In addition to increased airlift, the introduction of the Brightline Light Rail enhances connectivity, providing seamless travel from South Florida directly into Central Florida.
6. Events on the Horizon
Orlando's convention calendar is packed with notable upcoming events, such as the Lions Club International, which is slated for July. Originally planned for Mexico City, the convention opted for Orlando, showcasing the city's appeal. Tester describes it as "the Super Bowl of giving back," with every participant engaged in community service, highlighting the positive impact these events have on Central Florida.
OCCC kicked off 2025 with a number of events that return to venue each year, including the PGA Show, a RX-owned trade show for the golf industry, and VMX, an annual association trade show for the veterinary industry. For the first time in several years, AHR Expo, a trade show for the air conditioning, heating, and refrigeration industry, returned to OCCC from February 10-12 and will return in three years.
Related: TSNN Trade Show Recap: Record-Breaking VMX 2025 Celebrates the ‘HeArt’ of Veterinary Medicine
Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.
Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.
Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.
The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.
MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.
MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.
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