Corridor In The News

Tourism, tech and film/TV industries optimistic for 2012

by Richard Bilbao
Friday, December 30, 2011

The tourism industry couldn’t be any happier as 2012 approaches after record visitation of 50 million people in 2010 and even more visitors in 2011 expected to be accounted for once the final numbers are tallied.

“Next year should be a good year as Orlando continues to prove it will do better than other destinations because it offers a value to visitors. People may still not be able to afford the extravagant vacations such as Europe or New York, yet Orlando wins as another option because we have reasonably priced hotel rooms and theme park prices based on the amount of entertainment value they possess,” said Scott Smith, a tourism and hospitality expert and professor at the University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management.

In addition, 2012 will continue to push local attractions to adapt marketing efforts to a changing global economy — including the struggling European market where large numbers of visitors typically come from — and embrace a strong Latin American market.“Next year, attractions will have to have a focus on new markets to succeed. We all know the European market is soft. As a result, we are putting 25 percent of our resources in marketing to Latin America because there’s a lot of traveler activity there,” said Jason Schulke, CEO of Orlando Balloon Rides in Orlando.

Paul Proly, vice president and general manager with the Arabian Nights dinner attraction, agreed 2012 looks strong for his attraction and others in Orlando. “If the airlines can make the prices more affordable, I’m hopeful it can be even better.”

Film, TV and digital media
Orlando’s film industry is going to be a busy one in 2012.

The local slate of work already includes a $5 million feature film dubbed Numba One, by local filmmaker Michael Attardi, that will employ 30 or more crew members starting in February for about 23 days.

Projects like these will keep the local film industry busy, said Mark Simon, president of Animatics & Storyboards Inc. in Orlando.

“I’ve seen more local movies and TV series and pilots in 2011 than I had seen in any of the past 10 years. And I’m getting lots of calls on productions for the upcoming months, so I think 2012 is going to be a great year,” he said.

In addition, the film industry will be in its third year under a five-year, $242 million economic incentive program that has granted tax credits to productions of all sizes.
And Central Florida municipalities are taking steps to create incubators to help foster the growth of digital media, film and production companies.

Winter Garden announced earlier this year it will create a digital media incubator cluster to foster the growth of digital media companies that also specialize in film and television. The cluster is expected to start operation in 2012.

Technology
Growth is the buzzword for Central Florida’s technology companies in 2012.
Take Orlando-based Voxeo Corp., a telecommunications technology company, which will add 100 new workers to its 100-employee downtown office over the next five years. The company plans to add at least 20 new positions in 2012.
Voxeo also plans to grow its office synergy with the creation of a small-scale technology company incubator that will add four new companies to its 60,000-square-foot space in downtown Orlando.

“Our goal is to attract young, upstart companies that can foster growth in the local technology industry and create a cooperative workplace where companies can work together and benefit form one another,” said Jonathan Taylor, founder of Voxeo.
In addition, business opportunities are expected to spin off from new contracts coming in 2012 such as $300 million in simulation training contracts from the U.S. Navy’s Orlando office.

“Growing technology companies continue to shape our innovation economy. Through initiatives such as UCF’s business incubation program and the Florida Economic Gardening Institute, we’ll see expansion in our high tech industry clusters in 2012,” said Randy Berridge, president of Florida High Tech Corridor Council.

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