Visit Orlando Exec Provides CSR Insights at PCMA

During PCMA's recent 2013 Annual Meeting in San Diego, a Visit Orlando executive led a session on corporate social responsibility (CSR). Tammi Runzler, senior vice president of convention sales and services, provided her personal and professional insights during an education session titled CSR: Not Just Once a Year. Runzler explored how to successfully integrate a volunteer program, and then develop it into a meaningful element of a company's culture by convincing decision makers of its overall value. Attendees learned how to match a suitable program to their organization as well as individuals. There was also a discussion among the participants about what specific types of CSR programs they had used in the past, challenges and how these obstacles were overcome.

 Visit Orlando's Tammi Runzler leads a group CSR discussion at PCMA on Jan. 11.

Meeting Makeover Winner Announced

Here's some great news to start off 2012 — the winner of our recent Meeting Makeover contest is Kelly Toepper. She is representing the Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics (APGO), who will meet at Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek on March 7-10, 2012. Her group was awarded $50,000 in goods and services to help revamp their upcoming annual meeting in Orlando, which is expected to draw more than 950 attendees during the four-day event.

Our Meeting Makeover content, which ran from July 4–September 30, encouraged planners to write a short essay about why their Orlando meeting needed a makeover.

Way to go Kelly and APGO!

Orlando is Tops

Orlando is one of the world's top destinations for 2012, according to an article posted on CNN.com. Based on recommendations from four of the world's top travel experts, the undiscovered Orlando and our vibrant food scene is a must-see. Robert Reid, U.S. travel editor for Lonely Planet, urged visitors to discover Orlando's popular lakes, museums and scenic neighborhoods, like the bohemian "Milk District." Read more.

CSR: Not Just Once a Year

Tammi Runzler, senior vice president of convention sales and services at Visit Orlando will lead a session at PCMA's 2013 Annual Meeting: Convening Leaders in San Diego on corporate social responsibility (CSR). During the past several years, Runzler has been fortunate to have been involved with CSR, both professionally and personally.

Taking this a step further, Runzler recently took a more hands-on role with helping others. After visiting Haiti more than a half-dozen times over the course of the previous year, she started My Neighbor's Children with two friends. This charitable group is dedicated to helping the world's impoverished children, particularly those in Haiti. You can read more about its mission in this recent Corporate Meetings & Incentives profile.

Her PCMA session is titled "CSR: Not Just Once a Year." She'll explore how to successfully integrate a volunteer or CSR program beyond holding an annual event, developing it into a meaningful and inseparable element of your corporate culture. You'll learn how to match a suitable program to your organization and the individual participants. And she'll also discuss how to measure ROI and then leverage it to ensure buy in from your executive leadership.

The session is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 11 at 10:15 a.m. Watch this video for a message from Runzler herself.

Orlando Embraces Faith-Based Groups

Orlando didn't become one of the top business travel destinations in the country by chance. There are a number of reasons why small and large events, tradeshows and conventions all meet here on a regular basis. Some might say it’s our wide range of affordable hotel options. Or the abundance of meeting space for any size of event. It could also be the free marketing services Visit Orlando provides to help build attendance.

For faith-based groups, Orlando is especially well positioned. We initially made our name as the family vacation destination, with entertainment options for all ages. That alone has drawn in many respected religious organizations and speakers looking for a positive location for an event. Like Joel Osteen — pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston — who recently brought his A Night of Hope tour to Orlando. Other religious groups that have held events in Orlando during the past year include the Black Adventist Youth Directors Association, Church of God, the Southern Baptist Convention and Potter's House.

But don't just take our word about our destination’s ability to understand and assist faith-based groups. The acclaimed Women of Faith 2012 event is making a stop in Orlando, and provides an excellent testimonial on how we are here to serve.

"Central Florida is a great location for Women of Faith and our attendees. It meets all of our needs for the event. We're excited to return to Orlando and the new Amway Center," said Amanda Parsons-Garcia, operations manager with Thomas Nelson Live Events.

Orlando Celebrates the Holidays

With the holidays upon us, Orlando is gearing up for multiple celebrations. The destination provides a variety of seasonal festivities and events that will appeal to faith-based attendees. Here are three that represent Orlando’s holiday spirit, and offer true meaning to the season.

Candlelight Processional at Epcot. This annual event tells the story of Christmas with words and music. These dramatic performances — which take place Nov. 25-Dec. 30 at the American Gardens Theater — includes a mass choir, 50-piece orchestra and celebrity narrators such as Edward James Olmos, Isabella Rossellini, Trace Adkins and Blair Underwood. Find out more.

The Singing Christmas Trees at First Baptist Orlando. An Orlando tradition going back almost three decades, The Singing Christmas Trees feature a choir, a full orchestra, dance and display of more than 250,000 lights. Performances are on select evenings in December. Find out more.

Seasonal Christmas Rates for Groups at the Holy Land Experience. Discounted tickets are available for groups through Dec. 15, which includes special Christmas lights and music. Find out more.

Visit Orlando Exec Helps Impoverished Children

Visit Orlando has a long history of advocating for corporate social responsibility (CSR). We fundamentally believe in it as an organization, and we are actively involved with a number of charitable and volunteer groups. Of course, we also position Orlando as the ideal destination for meetings that include a CSR component, like the recent MPI WEC 2011.

Taking this a step further, a member of our executive management team has developed her own charity. Tammi Runzler, senior vice president of convention sales and services at Visit Orlando, started My Neighbor's Children with two friends. This charitable group is dedicated to helping the world’s impoverished children, particularly those in Haiti. Find out more.

New Robotic-Surgery Training Center Expands Options

A world-renowned robotic-surgery training center in Orlando recently expanded its educational options for physicians, researches and clinical leaders. The Nicholson Center at Florida Hospital Celebration Health opened the new Institute for Global Training and Education in early October. The 54,000-square-foot training facility includes six daVinci robots, more than 40 fully-equipped endoscopic surgical stations, two 935-square-foot operating rooms, as well as a medical simulation and robotics center.

The expansion also encompasses a full conference center that is equipped to provide instructional medical training for up to 500 physicians, while broadcasting surgical sessions to facilities around the world. The center already trains more physicians on the daVinci robot than any other location in the world, and is now poised for future growth and educational opportunities. And more medical meetings, too.

"We think Orlando could be the epicenter for medical health care, education and simulation research and that professionals from around the world will come to Orlando to be better tomorrow than they are today," said Gary Sain, president of Visit Orlando. "That helps medical tourism; that helps business relocation; that helps all these businesses — not only in the tourism district, but also downtown Orlando. It's an economic driver."