Experience Kissimmee

We are proud to share highlights from our final quarterly staff meeting of the year, which took place at Osceola Heritage Park. The event was a celebration of our achievements and an opportunity to recognize our outstanding team with service awards. We were honored to be joined by Osceola County Commissioner Richard "Ricky" Booth and Silver Spurs Rodeo Big Boss Randy Booth. Special thanks to the Booth family for treating us to a wonderful lunch featuring Grandma’s famous banana pudding. We were also thrilled to hear an update on how our previous donations helped transport their horses for the Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena last January. In addition, our team participated in a community service activity, where we packed 120 backpacks for Osceola County’s division of A Gift for Teaching, along with 120 snack bags, to ensure students have the resources they need during the school day. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this event meaningful and impactful. #MyKissimmee #GetBold

The 2025 Beach Dodgeball World Cup will make its debut in Kissimmee, Florida, from April 3-6, 2025. This exciting event will feature over 600 participants from more than 15 countries, marking the first time Kissimmee has hosted this international event. The choice of Kissimmee further positions our destination as a versatile hub for world-class sporting events. Island H2O will be the venue for this landmark occasion, showcasing the region’s expanding sports tourism scene. Previous World Cups have been held in cities such as Manchester, New York, and Cairo. Read the full release here: https://lnkd.in/eRkh2nVt #KissimmeeSports #2025BeachDodgeballWorldCup #SportsTourism #MyKissimmee

Today, we’re excited to launch the second season of ?Vámonos a Kissimmee! on our digital platforms. This four-part social media series, premiering in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, showcases beloved Hispanic icons as they delve into the vibrant essence of Kissimmee. Join them as they explore the city’s local attractions and rich cultural experiences. Meet Our Stars: - Bárbara Bermudo: The prominent Hispanic media figure and previous host of Primer Impacto enjoys a special visit to Kissimmee, celebrating her daughter Sofía's birthday. - Hirving "Chucky" Lozano: The renowned Mexican soccer player enjoys family-friendly activities while showcasing the best of Kissimmee. -Marjorie de Sousa: The Venezuelan actress, model, and TV personality embarks on local adventures with her son, family, and friends. - Juan Guarnizo: The dynamic online gaming personality brings his signature energy and humor to a series of entertaining local adventures. Follow the series on our Instagram (@experiencekissimmee) and join us in celebrating the diverse cultures that make Kissimmee shine! https://lnkd.in/gB-7adAj #HispanicHeritageMonth #MyKissimmee #GetBold

Experience Kissimmee had the honor of co-hosting a Power Hour Lunch with Visit Orlando, in collaboration with U.S. Travel Association, as part of the "Travel Works for America" campaign. This gathering brought together 20 key tourism leaders from Central Florida to discuss important issues impacting the tourism industry. We were privileged to have Congressman Darren Soto (FL-09) join us to share insights on U.S. Travel policy priorities, including: - Reducing visitor visa and customs wait times - Promoting major sporting events - Supporting H2B visas - Fully funding the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism - Advancing identity verification technology We are thankful for the opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue on these critical topics that will help drive the continued growth of our region. #TravelWorksForAmerica! #MyKissimmee #VisitOrlando #TourismMatters #TravelPolicy #CentralFloridaTourism

The Experience Kissimmee staff was honored to win two bronze awards at the Flagler Awards for our Internet Advertising and Out-of-Home marketing campaigns at the 2024 Florida Governor's Conference on Tourism, hosted by Visit Florida at the Tampa Convention Center. The Internet Advertising Award recognized our Spring 2023 Campaign, strategically targeting three primary visitor personas with a common preference for booking vacation homes over hotels. This tailored approach allowed us to connect more deeply with travelers seeking personalized and home-like experiences in Kissimmee. The Out-of-Home award was for our Winter Holiday Campaign 2023, which encouraged consumers to give the gift of adventure and relaxation all in one place: Kissimmee, the ideal spot for a warm holiday vacation. This campaign creatively showcased Kissimmee as the perfect destination for those looking to escape the cold and enjoy a festive holiday in the Florida sunshine. Named after American industrialist Henry Flagler, the Flagler Awards are an annual statewide competition recognizing outstanding Florida tourism marketing. Established in 2000, they honor the countless individuals and organizations helping maintain Florida's position as one of the world's most popular travel destinations. #MyKissimmee #GetBold #FlaglerAwards #Tourism

Our Industry Partner Relations (IPR) team recently hosted an interactive "Mastering PartnerNet" training session at our office. This in-depth workshop aimed to equip our partners with essential skills needed to navigate the PartnerNet portal effectively, improving their website listings in the process. Partners learned how to analyze Views and Clicks, assess performance, and make data-driven decisions, like adding offers or improving images to boost traffic. We also demonstrated how to leverage reports and research to optimize their Trip Advisor and Google Business listings through our partnership with Miles Partnership. This session not only equipped partners with valuable tools but also served as a great networking opportunity to connect with others in the industry who are actively engaged with Experience Kissimmee. Find out more opportunities for our partners here: https://lnkd.in/e_W8rSUK #Mykissimmee #Partnershipsmatter #Alwayslearning

We're celebrating Kissimmee's "Destination Verified" seal of approval by Wheel the World! Thirty of our partners welcomed Wheel the World staff for in-person accessibility measurements and assessments to showcase their inclusiveness and better serve their guests' needs. Each partner also received access to an online training academy to ensure staff know how to welcome and accommodate travelers with disabilities. To see which partners have received this important seal, look for the window cling or visit our business listings at https://lnkd.in/e7UFFwe7. #mykissimmee #accessibletravel #partnershipsmatter

Last week, Experience Kissimmee rolled out the red carpet for the premiere of The Kissimmee Experience! Hosted at Studio Movie Grill at the Promenade at Sunset Walk, the event featured incredible local vendors, each adding their unique flair to make the evening special. We were thrilled to have two amazing guest talents, Ashley Eckstein (the voice of Ahsoka Tano from Star Wars: The Clone Wars) and Chandler Riggs (Carl from The Walking Dead), join us, along with show's host Jennifer Bonner. We would like to thank DT Minich, President & CEO of Experience Kissimmee, for his inspiring opening remarks on why this show is such a game-changer for sharing Kissimmee's charm with the world. The room was filled with hospitality professionals, partners, and key stakeholders who were just as excited as we were to bring this project to life. Episodes of The Kissimmee Experience are now live at https://lnkd.in/eVfygTKs and on YouTube. #Tourism #Hospitality #TheKissimmeeExperience #MyKissimmee #StreamingNow

We are thrilled to share the success of our recent "Kissimmee Day," a travel agent training event in Bogotá, Colombia! Hosted by our representation company, AVIAREPS Colombia, the event welcomed 70 dedicated travel agents who are passionate about bringing the magic of Kissimmee to their clients. Thanks to our incredible sponsors—LATAM Airlines, Copa Airlines, Zimple Rentals (Alamo Rent a Car GSA), and TravelKit (Travel Insurance)—we were able to create an unforgettable experience. The venue was transformed into an immersive showcase of Kissimmee's vacation homes, complete with unique photo opportunities on an airboat and a roller coaster. It was a true taste of the excitement that awaits visitors in Kissimmee! Colombia remains a key market for Kissimmee, ranking as the fifth highest in international visitor numbers. We are excited to continue building these valuable connections and to welcome even more Colombian travelers to our destination. #TravelAgents #MyKissimmee #DestinationMarketing #Colombia #Tourism

During the 2024 Florida Society of Association Executives (FSAE) Annual Conference, participants engaged in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. Together, they collectively assembled 162 Build-a-Buddy plush animals and generously donated 1,306 pairs of socks to Help Now of Osceola, demonstrating the conference's dedication to our community. Additionally, through an interactive virtual tree drawing activity, 589 trees will be planted in collaboration with Trees4Travel. For information on similar giveback opportunities while meeting in Kissimmee, the Big, Bold Heart of Florida, please contact the Experience Kissimmee Meeting Sales & Services Team. #MyKissimmee #GetBold #FSAE24 #OmniChampionsGate #CSR #Sustainability #Trees4Travel