ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – It is no secret that Orlando and Orange County are a top tourist destination. During the pandemic, the industry hit rock bottom, but 2022 is off to a very strong campaign.


What You Need To Know

  • February 2022 was the third best month ever for Orange County TDT Collections

  • OIA saw 7.1 million travelers i in February

  • Visit Orlando reports hotel occupancy rate for February at 72%

January of this year, Orange County collected $22.4 million in tourism development tax. In February, the latest report shows it topped January by $5.9 million.

Not only did February out do January by nearly $6 million dollars, but it did it with three fewer days in the month.

February’s collection this year was $28.3 million dollars, which is a 173.9% increase from the previous February.

On a Wednesday evening near Millenia, the Dead Lizard Brewing Company is starting to get busy. Business since the start of the year has really begun to rebound.

“The first part of 2020, before things started going down, we were on a trajectory to have one of our best years ever,” Dead Lizard Brewing Company Owner Richard Dine explains. “This year we are smashing that. we are at least 30% on top of that.”

 

February was a record month for many in the county, topping $28 million in TDT collections.

“That is the best February in the history of the tourist development tax,” Orange County Comptroller Phil Diamond says. “That is also the third best month we have ever had for any month, ever.”

The buzz at the brewery for February was new faces from far places. 

“The question is always, hey where you guys from,” Dine details when speaking to new customers in the bar. I have noticed a ton of people not from around here.”  

Orlando International Airport saw the same.

 

In January, there were 3.4 million passengers. For February, the number jumped to 7.1 million. Domestic travel was up over 72% from February The previous year.

“You never really realize until it starts happening,” Dead Lizard Beerista Brae Chambers says behind the bar. “Then your eyes are opening and you are like man, these tourists are really bailing us out here.”

With no sign of business slowing down for spring break or the upcoming months, the brewery remains optimistic that business will remain stout.

Country Comptroller Phil Diamond says March is typically the best month of the year. As for how the hotels did, according to Visit Orlando, the occupancy rate for February averaged about 74%, in January it was just 59%.

That 74% mark in February was the second highest level since the start of the pandemic.