Convention Center says events are back; Project 5A construction underway as TDT revenues surge

Mark Tester, executive director of the Orange County Convention Center, told commissioners the center’s event calendar is strong, with multi-year bookings and several large conventions scheduled that are supporting increased revenues and an optimistic outlook for FY27.

Tester said the center is proposing a FY27 operating budget above $100 million and requested 10 new hourly FTEs to help service later and longer events, particularly amateur athletics and other multi-day shows. He described capital work underway, including renovations to North/South meeting rooms, food courts, restrooms and escalator/elevator replacements, and said Project 5A (the Grand Concourse expansion) is under construction, on schedule and on budget; piles are in and foundations are scheduled for completion this fall.

Ray Walls reviewed Tourist Development Tax (TDT) collections and allocations. Walls said FY26 collections were trending well above budget and that the county expects to amend the current-year revenue budget to exceed $400 million. For FY27 the county is budgeting $400 million conservatively and plans standard allocations: Visit Orlando marketing (about 30% of first 4 pennies, roughly $115M gross), city venue payments (including Camping World Stadium renovation debt and Kia Center support) and convention center debt/capital (including Project 5A). Walls highlighted a healthy TDT reserve (about $430M) and said some FY27 expenditure numbers will be adjusted after the recent Project 5A bond close.

Commissioners asked how the county’s broader budget pressures (including possible property-tax reform) could affect tourism infrastructure and whether TDT rules could be revisited; staff noted statutory constraints and existing agreements but agreed there are interdependencies among public safety, roads and visitor-related services.

What’s next: staff will bring required rate/resolution items and CIP updates (and a near-term revenue amendment) to the board as numbers are finalized.