There is a strong appeal to International Drive, whether it is the impressive economic and tourism impact, its educational opportunities, or its diversity in development.<\/p>\n
To celebrate this growth and vision, Orange County Mayor Demings<\/a> hosted the inaugural State of I-Drive on January 31, 2020 at the Orange County Convention Center<\/a>. The event was co-hosted by the I-Drive Improvement District<\/a> and had nearly 400 attendees from across the spectrum of the hospitality and tourism industries. If you missed it, here are five key takeaways from the State of I-Drive:<\/p>\n I-Drive Equals a Dynamic Vision and Growth<\/strong><\/p>\n International Drive (I-Drive) is an 11-mile area, which stretches from South Orlando to the tourism corridor of unincorporated Orange County. Some fast facts on I-Drive:<\/p>\n The Convention Center: The Center of Hospitality \u2026 and Economic Impact<\/strong><\/p>\n The Orange County Convention Center<\/a> (OCCC) hosted 1.5 million attendees last year, which left a $3 billion economic impact in Central Florida. That represents approximately $2,200 dollars in economic impact per attendee.<\/p>\n As part of the County\u2019s Corporate Social Responsibility Programs, the Center has donated more than $2.3 million worth of goods to local organizations. For example, the Global Pet Expo donated pet supplies worth $60,000 to the Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando<\/a>.<\/p>\n To meet the expanded needs of clients, OCCC design plans are also underway for a $605-million expansion of the Convention Center\u2019s North\/South building, which will break ground in the fall of 2020. The expansion will ultimately bring total exhibit space at the Convention Center to 2.3 million square feet.<\/p>\n Partnership is Key<\/strong><\/p>\n I-Drive is home to some of the world\u2019s best hotels and restaurants that provide a one-of-a-kind experience for guests. Part of that \u201cI-Drive experience\u201d is to ensure that visitors feel welcome and safe. In 2018, an ambassador program was created through a partnership between the I-Drive Business Improvement District and the Orange County Sheriff\u2019s Office<\/a> to provide visitor\u2019s information, direct traffic and augment services provided by local law enforcement.<\/p>\n\n