donald stephens
Orlando Hotel Market: Recovery and Evolution
Donald C. Stephens Jr. | February 7, 2024
By Donald C. Stephens, Jr. Orlando, nicknamed the City Beautiful, was one of the first of the top 20 U.S. hotel markets to recover from the pandemic. As average hotel rates and revenue now exceed historic peaks, demand continues to ramp up. Orlando hosted 74 million visitors in 2022, a 25% increase over 2021, representing 98% of the 2019 level while maintaining its leadership position as America’s most visited destination. With back-to-back double-digit visitor growth, local officials expect the visitor count to surpass 80 million by 2025. The economic impact of tourism in Orlando was estimated at $87.6 billion for 2022. ...
HVS Central Florida 2020 State of the Hotel Market
Donald C. Stephens Jr. | February 24, 2020
By Donald C. Stephens Jr. Orlando has long been distinguished as an iconic vacation destination by continuing its ranking as the No. 1 destination in the United States, according to Visit Florida. Since 2013, Orlando has reigned as the nation’s “Most Visited Tourist Destination.” With multiple factors driving Orlando’s appeal, hotel investors and developers are curious as to what is on the horizon for the hospitality market in Central Florida. With a variety of hotels and attractions in the Metro Orlando pipeline, and major international brands continuing investment in the market, the metrics point toward continued success in 2020 ...
