An influential group of Central Florida hoteliers issued their first round of endorsements in the 2026 Election Cycle.
Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association’s (CFHLA) Political Action Committee (PAC) and Political Committee (PC) is endorsing incumbent Orange County Commissioner Mike Scott in District 6, and incumbent Osceola County Commissioner Viviana Janer in District 2. For Seminole County, the group is endorsing incumbent Commissioner Jay Zembower in District 2 and incumbent Commissioner Amy Lockhart in District 4.
“The CFHLA PAC and PC is excited to endorse this outstanding group of bipartisan local candidates for the 2026 election cycle,” said Jay Leonard, General Manager of the Wyndham and Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista Disney Springs Resort Area and Chairman of the CFHLA PAC and PC, in a statement. “These candidates understand how critical the tourism and hospitality industry is to our local economy and the important role it plays in supporting local residents and visitors, small businesses, and the long-term prosperity of our region.”
The endorsements come ahead of the Aug. 18 Primary and the Nov. 3 General Election.
CFHLA represents more than 148,000 hotel rooms in Lake, Orange, Osceola, Polk and Seminole counties as well as more than 500 suppliers.
“Each of these local candidates has been a tremendous partner to Central Florida’s tourism and hospitality industry and has demonstrated strong leadership on the issues that matter most to our residents,” CFHLA President and CEO Robert Agrusa said in a statement. “Their willingness to tackle challenges head-on, support policies that drive economic growth, and enhance our quality of life has helped our region continue to attract record-breaking visitation while ensuring Central Florida remains the premier destination to live, work, play, and visit.”
Tourism is big business in Orlando which welcomed an estimated 76.7 million visitors in 2025 — the most ever in the city’s history.
