Orange County hotel tax revenue is booming with $37.7M in a record-topping April

Orange County’s hotel tax revenue reached the highest level ever seen in April — the latest boom in tourism for the theme park capital of the world.

April brought in $37.7 million, up nearly 14% from April 2025, Orange County Comptroller Phil Diamond said.

“April 2026 produced another record-breaking month for Tourist Development Tax (TDT) collections,” Diamond said. “This was the highest April on record and extends our record breaking streak to 13 consecutive months of year-over-year growth.”

The April record stemmed in part from Spring Break travelers from the Northeast and a busy time at the Orange County Convention Center, according to Visit Orlando.

“The Orange County Convention Center reported a 7% increase in citywide attendance from last year, with a balanced mix of both major youth sporting events, such as the Allstar World Championships and the ASICS Florida Volleyball Challenge, alongside significant business and industry events like the ISA International Sign Expo and Aviation Week MRO Americas,” Visit Orlando President and CEO Casandra Matej said.

The TDT is a 6% countywide tax on hotel rooms and short-term stays that generates big money used to keep growing tourism.

TDT revenue has gotten a boost from the arrival of Epic Universe, Universal’s new theme park that opened in 2025.

Looking ahead, Orlando’s tourism is trending 4% ahead from May through July compared to 2025, Matej said.

Could Orlando get a bump from the FIFA World Cup coming to Miami this Summer?

“It is too early to gauge the impact on travel to our destination,” Matej said.

Theme parks are gearing up for more events to draw in visitors this Summer and Fall.

SeaWorld Orlando’s Expedition Odyssey: Fire & Ice ride is now open, and the theme park debuts the nighttime Electric Ocean June 12 to Sept. 7. Legoland Florida is celebrating the FIFA World Cup 2026 Experience from June 11-July 19 and the Lego Festival from July 20 to Aug. 16.

Disney World’s annual Epcot International Food and Wine Festival starts Aug. 27. And Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights returns for its 35th year starting Aug. 28.