Orlando Hotel Tax Hits Record High in January

Tourist Development Tax collections surge as conventions, Universal's Epic Universe boost hotel demand.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Orange County, Florida reported a record $35.3 million in Tourist Development Tax (TDT) collections for January 2026, up $2 million from the same month a year earlier. This marks the tenth straight month of record-setting TDT revenue for the county, putting it on pace for another record-breaking year. County leaders and hotel executives attribute the surge to anticipation around the opening of Universal Orlando's Epic Universe, a packed calendar at the Orange County Convention Center, and higher average daily room rates.

Why it matters

The Tourist Development Tax is a key source of funding for tourism promotion, the convention center, and other venue projects in Orange County. The record-breaking collections signal a strong rebound in Orlando's tourism industry following the pandemic slowdown, with implications for the region's economy and future investments.

The details

According to the Orlando Sentinel, the $35.3 million in TDT collections for January 2026 represents a roughly $2 million increase over the same month in the previous year. This marks the tenth consecutive month of record-setting TDT revenue for the county. Comptroller Phil Diamond told the Sentinel that the county is 'on pace for another record year,' with fiscal-year collections running about $12 million ahead of last year. The strong performance is attributed to a combination of factors, including anticipation around the opening of Universal Orlando's Epic Universe, a robust event calendar at the Orange County Convention Center, and higher average daily room rates.

  • Orange County posted a record $35.3 million in TDT collections for January 2026.
  • This marks the tenth straight month of record-setting TDT revenue for the county.
  • Fiscal-year TDT collections are running about $12 million ahead of the previous year.

The players

Phil Diamond

Orange County Comptroller who reported on the record-breaking TDT collections.

Casandra Matej

President of Visit Orlando, who stated that hotel demand is already pacing ahead of last year, with March bookings up about 6% and April running roughly 9% higher.

Orange County Convention Center

The venue that has hosted a steady stream of trade shows, sports tournaments, and major exhibitions, contributing to the surge in hotel demand and TDT revenue.

Universal Orlando

The theme park company that is opening its Epic Universe attraction, which is generating anticipation and driving increased hotel demand.

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What they’re saying

“Right now, we're on pace for another record year.”

— Phil Diamond, Orange County Comptroller (Orlando Sentinel)

“Hotel demand is already pacing ahead of last year, with March bookings up about 6% and April running roughly 9% higher.”

— Casandra Matej, President of Visit Orlando (Orlando Sentinel)

What’s next

County officials are debating how much of the tourism windfall to invest in major projects versus how much to save in case the travel market turns choppy again.

The takeaway

The record-breaking Tourist Development Tax collections in Orange County signal a robust rebound in Orlando's tourism industry, with implications for the region's economy and future investments in tourism-related infrastructure and promotion.