Orange County commissioners are expected to discuss Tuesday a revised contract with destination-marketing agency Visit Orlando that addresses a scathing July audit of its use of taxpayer money \u2014 but not everyone is certain the revisions will do the trick.<\/p>\n
An amended pact was yanked from the commission agenda last month after some commissioners protested they hadn\u2019t had sufficient time to look over the proposed changes hammered out by county staff and Visit Orlando, which primarily operates on tourist-tax revenue.<\/p>\n
Since then, the proposed revisions have been revised some more.<\/p>\n
But Commissioner Kelly Martinez Semrad protested again last week \u2014 noting that as of Thursday she hadn\u2019t seen a final draft. She sent an email to County Administrator Byron Brooks asking to delay the discussion, which he mostly rebuffed.<\/p>\n
The tension underscores the high stakes surrounding the Visit Orlando contract, which funnels a staggering $100 million annually to the agency to promote Central Florida\u2019s tourism industry.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen more than $100 million in public funds are on the line, \u2018trust us\u2019 is not a strategy. Transparency is,\u201d Semrad said.<\/p>\n
The agency says the area welcomed 75.3 million visitors in 2024, asserting its place as the nation\u2019s top tourist destination and enriching the local economy as well as the entertainment giants whose theme parks are the area\u2019s biggest attractions. Nevertheless, the industry itself contributes just a small fraction of Visit Orlando\u2019s budget.<\/p>\n
In a Friday email to Semrad, Brooks assured her that staff representing county government, the Comptroller\u2019s Office \u2014 which conducted the audit \u2014 and Visit Orlando had been working together during the week on contract language that would address the findings of auditors, who had concluded Visit Orlando mistakenly classified public funds as private funds, which have far fewer spending restrictions.<\/p>\n
The late discussions were \u201csimply to fine tune the proposed amendments,\u201d Brooks explained. \u201cSo, what remains for [the Board of County Commissioners] consideration as it relates to the proposed amendments to the agreement are a few relatively minor or procedural tweaks\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
The audit said at least $3.54 million and possibly much more had been misclassified, and as a result, some of the money had been improperly spent. Among the questionable spending listed in the audit were hefty expenditures on car allowances and office furnishings.<\/p>\n
The proposed rules would require that Visit Orlando classify money it receives from any event funded with tourist tax revenues as public funds subject to spending restrictions rather than private money it may spend as it wishes. The agency also must develop written standards for identifying and handling these reclassified revenues. The procedures are subject to county review and approval.<\/p>\n
A preliminary draft also included rules forbidding Visit Orlando from lobbying the Legislature without prior county commission approval, another issue flagged in the audit. The agency in the past has been accused of lobbying against the county\u2019s interests, particularly on state rules governing the allowable uses of tourist tax funds.<\/p>\n
But a revision posted late Friday removed the contract\u2019s new restrictions on lobbying.<\/p>\n
Semrad, a faculty member at the University of Central Florida in the Rosen College of Hospitality Management, said Brooks\u2019 explanation did not change her view.<\/p>\n
\u201cCounty Administration calls the remaining changes minor. Perhaps they are,\u201d she said. \u201cBut it is not their job to decide what is minor for elected officials who must be accountable to taxpayers. Our job is to read the contract, ask questions, and vote with confidence, not on faith.\u201d<\/p>\n
Audit says Visit Orlando broke rules on spending public money<\/a><\/p>\n Asked about the discussions, Casandra Matej, president and CEO of Visit Orlando, said her staff has been working diligently with the county to address the audit recommendations.<\/p>\n \u201cVisit Orlando remains committed to the process, and we look forward to a resolution that will help us return our full focus to our mission to inspire, promote and grow global travel to Orlando for economic and community benefit,\u201d said Matej, hired in 2020 to lead the agency.<\/p>\n Visit Orlando receives some contributions from private companies in the tourism industry but most of its budget comes from taxes paid by tourists who stay in hotels and home-sharing rentals. The Tourist Development Tax, known as TDT, is a 6% surcharge on the cost of a hotel room or other short-term lodging option in Orange County, including a home-sharing rental like Airbnb.<\/p>\n Viewed as a gauge of the tourism industry\u2019s health, the tax generated a record $389.9 million in calendar year 2025.<\/p>\n