Mayor to lead Orange County tourism group to London
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings will lead a Central Florida delegation to London next month to promote tourism here.
The first-year mayor and Roseann Harrington, his chief of staff, will accompany an entourage of Visit Orlando staff to the annual World Travel Market trade show.
During his four-day junket, Demings is expected to meet with tourism and airline executives, including representatives of British Airways, Norwegian Airlines and Virgin Atlantic Airways.
He also has scheduled appointments with writers who cover international consumer travel.
“Overseas tourism is of the utmost importance to Orange County,” Demings said. “Almost 10% of our total number of visitors are international travelers.”
Britain is the top overseas tourism market for Orange County.
Demings pointed out UK visitors on average spend twice as much as domestic travelers.
“We plan to keep encouraging them to come to Orange County,” he said.
The World Travel Market gathering, set for Nov. 4-6 in the United Kingdom’s capital city, presents the mayor and Central Florida tourism leaders with “a unique opportunity to develop international business for the Orange County Convention Center,” according to a memo from County Administrator Byron Brooks. Demings will be part of the ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the show.
He has previously visited London twice, once for pleasure and once as a member of Florida Sheriffs Association.
The discounted trip will cost county taxpayers $1,900 each for Demings and Harrington. The funds will be paid from the economic development, trade & tourism division’s budget.
Brooks’ memo noted the business-class travel and hotel accom