January 19

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Allen Bense Reviews Work of Florida Tax & Budget Reform Committee
Fred Leonhardt kicked off the second day of the Community Leadership Conference by introducing the Honorable Allen Bense, former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives and Chairman of the Florida Tax and Budget Reform Commission.  The commission, which is mandated by the Florida Constitution to meet every 20 years, is charged with reviewing Florida’s existing tax and budget structure to determine if revisionsare necessary or required.  Placement of any changes on the ballot requires a 2/3rd vote of the 25-person commission, whose members are appointed by the Governor, President of the Senate, and Speaker of the House.  This Commission will end it work in May 2008.

Bense updated CLC participants on the work of the Commission.  While they have reviewed property tax issues, they have held off on any recommendations for revisions until after the scheduled January 29th statewide vote on property tax reform.  Bense expressed concerns about efforts by some Commission members to repeal sales tax exemptions.   The Commission is also evaluating the way in which property is now assessed based on its “highest and best use.”  Bense anticipates that recommendations designed to protect small businesses from the onerous consequences of such uniform property assessment will result.

Orlando CVB Showcases Global Travel Marketing Strategy
Mark McHugh, Chair of the Board of Directors for the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc. and Gary Sain, President and CEO of the Orlando CVB provided an overview of where Orlando sits in the global marketplace as far as leisure visitation as well as meetings and conventions. They also identified key initiatives the community can assist to make us more competitive, including supporting legislative initiatives of the Discover America Partnership that is working to make the United States more welcoming to visitors and business people; enhancing transportation throughout our region and in the convention district; joining with the Orlando EDC to pursue key meetings and conventions, as well as more international air service; and keeping the focus on crime.

Mark McHugh, Chair of the Board of Directors for the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc.
and Gary Sain, President and CEO of the Orlando CVB
Click here for more photos from January 19

Research by Travel Horizons shows that 65 percent of Americans are not planning on visiting Orlando in the future. And, with more and more global competition as demonstrated by the spending to attract visitors to their countries (Greece is number one, spending on average $142 million), Orlando will have to fight harder to increase its numbers and market share of visitation. This is critical to continue to grow and nurture Central Florida’s number one industry and one that contributes close to $30 billion to the local economy.

The international market holds great potential because, on average, visitors stay longer and spend more. For Orlando, even though international visitors comprise only 5 percent of total visitation, they contribute 17 percent in spending. Key international markets for the Orlando CVB are the United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Germany. These markets receive the greatest amount of dollar investment. Secondary markets include Colombia, France, Italy, Spain and Japan. China, with the new agreement between the United States and China, will hold greater potential in the future.

Booking meetings and conventions is equally as important as driving leisure visitation. The Orlando CVB has booked meetings out until 2029 -- from National Association of Homebuilders with more then 100,000, to corporate groups such as Microsoft and McDonalds. The Orlando CVB is currently embarking on developing a new brand platform for the meetings and conventions side. For many people, coming to Orlando for a meeting and convention can be the first way that people experience the destination. This can lead to the ability for local leaders to meet the heads of the companies or vendors that are part of the show.

The key takeaway from the morning was that Travel and Tourism is Economic Development. Attached is the presentation which shares the information on competition, how the Orlando CVB markets the area both internationally and in the United States, and the strong focus the organization has on bringing meetings and conventions to the area.

Click link to view Presentations from today.

Central Florida Leadership Survey - David Hill

Jacob Stuart