Expedition Kissimmee puts the spotlight on the Vacation Home Capital of the World

Over 115 buyers and travel professionals from 17 different source markets, including Canada, are in Kissimmee, Florida this week for Expedition Kissimmee, an immersive FAM program and trade show showcasing the Vacation Home Capital of the World.

Along with destination updates, networking opportunities and a marketplace to connect with 45 local partners, the group has been getting a taste for what the destination offers from spotting alligators on an airboat ride at Wild Florida Adventure Park to fulfilling the need for speed on rides like Test Track and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT.

The Experience Kissimmee executive team at Expedition Kissimmee now underway at Margaritaville Resort Orlando

For DT Minich, the president/CEO of Experience Kissimmee, one thing that sets the city apart from the likes of Orlando or Orange County, is its diversity of manmade and natural wonders.

“This is the only place in the world where you can stand in the shadow of the world’s most famous castle, and 30 minutes away, you can be kayaking in the shadow of 400 year old cypress trees,” shared Minich during a press conference yesterday. “So it’s the best of manmade attractions and Mother Nature made attractions. And that’s what really sets us part.”

The group arrives at Wild Florida Adventure Park to go alligator spotting on an airboat ride through the Headwaters of the Florida Everglades

Among new developments, Kissimmee is set to get its first five star property, the high-end Mysk brand from Dubai, which is managed and operated by Kempinski. Part of the new development will also feature a Nickelodeon™ Hotels & Resorts Orlando.

“They will anchor a huge shopping and dining promenade [Everest Place], similar to Disney Springs,” he shared.

Denise Sterling, Air Miles; Jazmin Jimenez, the new account manager for Experience Kissimmee in the Canadian market with Vox International, and Nancy Jeronimo, Air Canada Vacations

Plans are also underway for a major mixed-use Ovation development complete with a four-star 500 room hotel, as well as entertainment and restaurant spaces.

Although there have been some “hiccups and bumps and pushback from our Canadian friends, but that’s to be expected,” this year, Minich pointed out that Canada remains the largest market for travel to Kissimmee, driven by the strength of the drive market.

A small but mighty delegation from Canada is on location for Expedition Kissimmee

“We don’t know exactly where we’re sitting right now but some of the early bookings and some of those indicators are showing that a lot of Canadians will be coming back to Central Florida, to Kissimmee, so we’re very optimistic about the winter. You’re just now starting to get your cold weather, I know you had a snowfall recently, so that doesn’t hurt things when you get really cold weather up north and people realize we’re in for a long winter here. So we’re cautiously optimistic I would say.”

Notably, he shared that Kissimmee claimed Travel and Leisure’s #1 spot as the most affordable vacation spot this year.

The group meets Guardians of the Galaxy characters at Disney’s EPCOT before getting to ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

With over 32,000 verified vacation homes, Minich pointed out that Kissimmee has trademarked the term Vacation Home Capital of the World.

“We have everything from 2-3 bedroom condominiums all the way up to 20-22 bedroom mansions and everything in between,” he said, noting that the likes of Lady Gaga and other celebrities rent out these units. Some units have unique features like bowling alleys or a three-storey rocket ship.

The group strikes a pose at EPCOT after watching fireworks at Luminous – The Symphony of Us

The group will get to experience an elite vacation home for themselves tonight as the closing event for Expedition Kissimmee will take place at an undisclosed location that promises to be grandiose.

With the World Cup taking place in Miami next year, Minich anticipates that families and vacationers will combine a game with a theme park stay, which will bode well for the destination. For travel advisors, he said clients can easily travel between the two cities via the highspeed Brightline train.

Over 115 buyers and travel professionals from 17 different source markets are taking part in Expedition Kissimmee

Another project he’s passionate about is the New Latin Culinary Trail, developed in partnership with Atlas Obscura.

“We have all these amazing countries represented, all these amazing stories and all this amazing food,” he said. “The map shows different flags like a Colombian flag to indicate a Colombian restaurant. It’s been a huge success so far.”

There are currently 20 restaurants featured and that will be rolled out to 40 by next June.