florida Orlando Find inspiration through creative corporate responsibility
Making a difference In the CSR Lounge at PCMA’s Convening Leaders in Orlando in January, attendees brought 290 pounds of supplies — more than $30,000 worth — for A Gift for Teaching. Attendees also volunteered at Clean the World and Coalition for the Homeless (left).
The theme-park capital of the world, the coun- try’s most-visited destination, and home to the second-largest convention center in the United States — Orlando knows how to set the bar high. And with affordable airlift and lodging and unrivaled attractions, it’s no won- der why planners bring their events back to Orlando time and again. Recently, Orlando has been setting the bar in a new way — redefining how a corporate social responsibility (CSR) program can truly make a difference, not just in the lives of those who benefit, but for the meeting attendees who are giving back. “Whether it was working with the Orange
County Convention Center on donation pro- grams or partnering with Clean the World, the destination took these initiatives seriously and provided a positive experience for all,” said Julie Larson, project manager for meet- ings and events for McDonald’s Corporation.
The talented team at Visit Orlando can
design and customize CSR programs to suit meetings of any size. For example, Orlando- based Clean the World, a nonprofit that col- lects, recycles, and sanitizes hotel soaps to distribute to needy populations, often works with groups. Attendees can participate in a number of ways, like cleaning and packing soap in the organization’s recycling plant in downtown Orlando. “Meeting planners know Orlando for our
fun attractions and sunny weather, but our destination has become synonymous with giving back,” said Tammi Runzler, senior vice president of convention sales and services at Visit Orlando. “For us, corporate social responsibility is now just as important a piece of the puzzle as meeting space or any other aspect of a meeting.”
AT A GLANCE Convention facilities • The Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) offers 2.1 million square feet of exhibition space.
Hotel rooms • More than 115,000, including 11,000 within walking distance of the OCCC
Attractions • More than 100 attractions, including Walt Disney World Resort, SeaWorld Orlando, and Universal Orlando Resort; 12 shopping malls and outlet centers; 176 golf courses; and 5,000-plus restaurants and ample nightlife in downtown Orlando, the convention district, Pointe Orlando, and along “Restaurant Row”
For more information: Visit Orlando — (800) 643-0482; orlandomeeting.com