Seminole County commissioners were so divided over a plan to market the county as "Orlando North," they held off voting on the issue at Tuesday’s Board of County Commissioners meeting.
“Orlando North” has sparked a lot of opinions.
“Are you to believe that for a second that we would want our beloved county to be related in any way, form or fashion, with Orlando?” said David Leavitt, a Seminole County resident.
The county’s tourism development council wants county commissioners to adopt the “Orlando North” name and logo. It would not change the county’s “Florida’s Natural Choice” logo, but would be used in advertising to people outside of Central Florida. County leaders said people across the country, and even in other parts of Florida, don’t know where Seminole County is geographically located.
And at least two county commissioners said piggy-backing off Orlando’s name will help bring more tourism money to the county.
“The number one tourist destination in the world – you should leverage that? And identify with that? Is that something I need a survey about? No. Of course not. This is the smart thing to do,” said District Two Commissioner John Horan.
The proposal is designed to steer web users looking at destinations in greater Orlando towards Seminole County. But one resident pointed out that a church, Orlando North in Altamonte Springs, already owns the orlandonorth.com web address.
“I want to make sure whatever we’re going after is the right thing, and right now I just don’t see it,” said District One Commissioner Bob Dallari.
County commissioners decided to hold off voting on the issue Tuesday. They now want to meet with county tourism leaders to explore some alternatives to “Orlando North.”
Commission Chair Brenda Carey said she would like Seminole County to be clearly mentioned in whatever branding county leaders decide on.
“And I just think that we could have a name that would, just flip it – Seminole Orlando North Convention and Visitor’s Bureau,” said Commission Chair Brenda Carey.
Commissioners discussed how they’ll need to move quickly on looking at alternatives to “Orlando North.” The county’s new sports complex is under construction, and county leaders hope to begin bringing thousands of people to the county for events at the complex, which is set to open in 2016.