TORONTO — A beautiful, white Christmas tree stood front and centre at Experience Kissimmee’s media preview in Toronto last night to remind travellers that when it comes to holiday spirit, Kissimmee has it in spades.
The destination’s sunny weather, convenient flights and, of course, its close proximity to Orlando’s theme parks were all highlighted as top reasons for Canadians to visit this holiday season. Plus, with accommodations typically priced lower than those in downtown Orlando, and several attractions like Seaworld offering special holiday events and décor, there’s no better time than the holidays to book a family vacation to Kissimmee.
“Typically most Canadians travel to Kissimmee between November to April to escape the winter, which is one of our peak times in terms of visitation,” said Denise Graham, Account Manager at VoX International, which represents Experience Kissimmee in Canada. “Canada is very important to us – it’s our #1 international market – and with the great lift coming out of Canada this winter, we’re anticipating continued strong numbers.”
From June 2017 and June 2018, Kissimmee welcomed one million visitors, a 16.77% increase overall, and of that total 16.9% were Canadian.
Winter visitation will likely get a boost from Swoop’s new 3x weekly Hamilton-Orlando service, which starts Oct. 17, as well as Flair Airlines’ new flights out of Edmonton and Winnipeg starting this December. Graham also noted that Air Canada is increasing its Orlando service out of Toronto to 6x per day.
Snowbirds, which continue to be a growing market for Kissimmee, are sure to take advantage of the increased airlift, not to mention the 22,000 vacation homes in the area. As the ‘Vacation Home Capital of the World’, Graham told Travelweek that over 50% of the destination’s monthly stats are booked at these rental homes, which are commissionable to agents and range from two-bedroom villas to 17-bedroom sprawling properties with bowling alleys and lazy rivers.
“The weakness of the Canadian dollar is leading Canadians to look for ways to save money,” she said. “To stay in a rental home, which is a home away from home, is a great economical choice for families.”
Kissimmee, Florida is located just a stone’s throw from Disney’s theme parks, and 35 minutes from Legoland. Among its many new attractions is a Margaritaville resort opening in 2019.
For more information on travel to Kissimmee, go to ExperienceKissimmee.com.
