| Bookings are up this season. In fact 2010 might | | | | economy able to thrive? |
| be one the biggest years yet, according to Pete | | | | It has a lot to do with accessibility: there's |
| Werner, owner of Dreams Unlimited, an | | | | something for everyone in Orlando, on just about |
| Orlando-based travel agency. "We've definitely | | | | any budget. And vacation homes, now offering |
| seen an improvement this year over last. The | | | | more choices and bigger savings than ever, are a |
| beginning of the year was a little dicey for us | | | | big reason for that. |
| because what we've noticed is, with the | | | | When Florida's housing market slumped in 2008, |
| economy, people are not booking their trips as far | | | | Orlando had a unique advantage: Attractions. The |
| out as they have previously. So we got a little | | | | biggest, best, and the most well known |
| nervous January and February. But then March, | | | | attractions in the world. So Orlando's homes, |
| April and May were just gangbuster months for | | | | though they'd lost value, still played an important |
| us. We're seeing some solid growth. We're on | | | | economic role by providing cost-effective lodging |
| track to have our best year ever," Werner told | | | | for the vacationing public. And because vacation |
| the Orlando Sentinel, on June 13th. | | | | homes are cost-effective, families keep coming, |
| On the other side of the tourism coin, corporate | | | | even in tough economic times. |
| dollars are still flowing steadily into an | | | | And now, with Florida's coasts threatened by the |
| ever-growing list of attractions. The 'Wizarding | | | | spill, some beach-goers are electing to head inland |
| World of Harry Potter' opens this weekend, and | | | | for this summer's getaway. And Orlando is of |
| several new resorts are under construction, | | | | course, inland. |
| including the Peabody, a thirty-two-story hotel and | | | | Summer 2010 is already one of the biggest |
| convention center off International Drive. Vacation | | | | seasons on record for vacation bookings, |
| rental home development also remains strong | | | | especially vacation homes. And with new |
| throughout the area, with plenty of new property | | | | attractions and no shortage of affordable |
| coming available each month. So despite all the | | | | accommodations, all signs suggest the bookings |
| negative fanfare about the economy and now the | | | | will keep coming. Perhaps the economy isn't all bad |
| environment, how is Orlando's tourist-centric | | | | news these days. |