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Greetings,
As we wrap up another successful quarter at the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC), I want to take a moment to reflect on the recent contributions our customers and attendees made to the Orange County community.
The second quarter of our 2024-2025 fiscal year was extraordinary – welcoming 62 events, with 629,000 attendees, creating an economic impact of $1.5 billion. In January, the PGA Show teed up a strong start, bringing in 33,000 attendees and generating an $81.2 million economic impact. Later that month, the North American Veterinary Community hosted its annual Veterinary Meeting and Expo (VMX) with 30,000 attendees and $76 million in economic impact. VMX 2025 not only supported the advancement of the veterinary profession, but also raised 10,000 for the Pasadena Humane Wildfire Relief Fund. In February, MEGACON Orlando, one of the Center’s largest events, set another record with 180,000 tickets sold, generating an impressive $456.5 million economic impact for Orange County.
Beyond the numbers, the Center’s commitment to community impact remains strong. During this quarter, the OCCC hosted the Second Annual U.S. Hunger MLK Day of Service, where volunteers packed one million healthy meals for food relief efforts across Central Florida and contributed 100,000 meals to assist with California’s wildfire relief efforts.
Sustainability efforts also took center stage with the Great Solar Giveaway, in which 5,800 decommissioned solar panels were donated in partnership with the Ideas For Us, allowing more than 120 residents to benefit from reusable energy. Additionally, we were proud to host a full-scale security exercise in partnership with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Orange County Fire Rescue and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, bringing together nearly 400 participants, including 150 first responders. These efforts have allowed the Center to further assess its security protocols and responsiveness, ensuring a safe environment for all staff, attendees and guests.
Looking ahead to the rest of the year, our momentum continues. The Center of Hospitality is preparing for a dynamic third quarter, with 50 events on the horizon, bringing more than 450,000 attendees to the OCCC that will generate an estimated $1 billion in economic impact to the region. None of this would be possible without the dedication of our diligent team, the collaboration of our gracious partners and the unwavering support of our strong community.
Together, we are not only driving economic success for our communities, but we are also making a positive, lasting impact on the lives of those around us.
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