ORLANDO, Fla. — Business travel is on the rise as COVID-19 cases continue to drop.
One convention that came to town expected 50,000 attendees but ended up surpassing that by 20,000.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
December was a record-breaking month, the strongest December ever for tourist development tax collections, which are the taxes paid by tourists who stay in Orange County hotels.
“People are ready to come out, they’re ready to do business, they’re ready to do it face to face,” said Maria Triscari, the CEO of the International Drive Resort Area Chamber of Commerce.
Triscari said projections for conventions over the next year are only looking up, which is not surprising to people like business traveler George Arrants.
READ: See where you can find Central Florida’s cheapest gas
“I think those of us that are business travelers fell right back into our routines and stuff like that,” Arrants said.
The I-Drive Chamber said it is watching high gas prices to see if they impact the resurgence of business and leisure travel, but they believe the pent-up demand to travel for leisure and business will keep things going strong at least through spring break and summer.
READ: ‘We don’t know how we’re going to make it’: Rising gas prices impacting ride-share drivers
Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
©2022 Cox Media Group
