On Location: Kissimmee unveils bold growth plans, tells Canada: "We're here to stay"

"We have a tremendous amount of new growth, and a lot of new products coming out of the ground in the next two, three years," DT Minich, president and CEO of Experience Kissimmee, told media and buyers at the second annual Expedition Kissimmee, which took place Nov. 17-21 in Florida.

PAX was part of the five-day program that brought together just over 100 attendees from 18 countries to experience the destination's latest developments, from luxury vacation homes and seasonal attractions to natural adventures beyond the theme parks.

Halfway through a packed week of airboat rides, EPCOT thrills, and vacation home tours, participants returned to Margaritaville Resort Orlando - home base for the week - for the Expedition Kissimmee Marketplace and press conference.

READ MORE: On Location: Beyond theme parks - Expedition Kissimmee spotlights fresh activities

Minich, along with his team, pulled back the curtain on what's next for the destination and showcased why the area offers much more than theme park access.

New properties and attractions

In the 11 years since going private, Experience Kissimmee has grown from 30 to 68 employees and from three to 17 international offices – with VoX International, representing the destination in Canada.

But it's not just the tourism board expanding. As PAX explored the area throughout the week, the destination's continuous growth was visible everywhere – vacation homes under construction, new accommodations taking shape, and new tourism initiatives launching.

According to Experience Kissimmee, the destination's first five-star hotel, Mysk – a Dubai brand managed and operated by Loews Hotels – will anchor a major development featuring a full-scale Nickelodeon hotel and a large-scale dining and shopping promenade similar to Disney Springs. The final phase is expected to be completed in 2026.

Adding to the latest development is Ovation, a nearly 80-acre mixed-use project at the northeast corner of I-4 and Highway 192, directly across from the community of Celebration. Set to open in 2026, Ovation will bring more than 800,000 square feet of retail, dining, and entertainment space, anchored by a 500-room hotel.

On the luxury end, the ette hotel has earned a MICHELIN Key for the second consecutive year, recognized for its design, elevated service, and guest experiences.

For travellers seeking a more active retreat, the newly opened Kompose Boutique Resort offers a lazy river, sauna, jacuzzi, pickleball and basketball courts, mini golf, and fitness areas – all just minutes from Central Florida's top theme parks.

According to Experience Kissimmee, theme park additions for 2026 include SeaWorld Orlando's SEAQuest: Legends of the Deep, a suspended family dark ride taking guests through immersive underwater ecosystems, and LEGOLAND Florida Resort's Galacticoaster, the world's first indoor, family-friendly space-themed coaster – the largest investment in the resort's history.

Walt Disney World will unveil reimagined experiences including Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets at Disney's Hollywood Studios, an upgraded Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom Park, and Zootopia: Better Together at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park. Old Town Entertainment District will also celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2026.

Additional opportunities on the horizon include the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with friendly matches expected in the region and visitors potentially travelling between Miami and Orlando via Brightline, the high-speed train.

PAX also got a festive preview of Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center’s latest holiday theme, Experience a New Holiday Tradition: ICE! featuring Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer™ running through January 7, 2026.

The self-guided tour welcomes guests into a winter wonderland (yes, it’s 9 degrees in Florida!) with life-size ice sculptures, including one over 32 feet long, and even an ice slide which PAX tried out - plus light shows, acrobatic performances, and family activities. Closed-toed shoes are required, and coats are provided before entering. 

Attention foodies

The event also highlighted Kissimmee's culinary credentials. 

"We are one of the most diverse counties, actually in the country," Minich explained, noting that 56 per cent of the population is Hispanic.

"We've got amazing Colombian food, and we've got amazing Mexican food and Caribbean food and Brazilian food, Peruvian food, and most of these restaurants are mom and pop."

That diversity is what Kissimmee is now inviting travellers to experience through its food.

The destination recently expanded its culinary footprint with the Latin Culinary Trail, launched during National Hispanic Heritage Month in September in partnership with Atlas Obscura's Gastro Obscura, a platform dedicated to showcasing off-the-beaten-path restaurants and authentic culinary experiences.

The trail features 20 handpicked restaurants, cafés, and food trucks celebrating Osceola County's Hispanic and Latino food culture.

PAX got a delicious taste of what's on offer throughout the week, including a Spanish Cuban fusion lunch at Columbia Restaurant and sampling various local dishes at the welcome event block party at Promenade at Sunset Walk.

Vacation Home Capital of the World® lives up to its name

With 32,000 vacation homes ranging from two bedrooms to 22 bedrooms, you can say that Kissimmee has earned its Vacation Home Capital of the World® trademark – and these are not Airbnb properties, Minich emphasized.

"We have trademarked the term vacation home capital of the world. We even verified that, we have more vacation homes here in Osceola County than anywhere else in the world," Minich said.

According to Experience Kissimmee, over 90 per cent of these homes are managed by professional management companies and most were purpose-built as vacation rentals in gated communities with resort-style amenities.

PAX toured four vacation homes at Reunion Resort & Golf Club, located just southwest of Orlando, within 6 miles (10 km) of Disney and 30 miles (48 km) from Orlando International Airport (MCO).

The properties ranged from a 6,700-square-foot, 5-bedroom home (sleeping 10) to an impressive 11,446-square-foot, 10-bedroom estate (sleeping 25). And let's just say, these aren't your typical vacation rentals.

The larger homes come loaded with features that had the media group doing double-takes – themed kids' rooms like Avengers, Barbie and Toy Story, arcades, private movie theaters, bowling alleys, indoor or outdoor half-court basketball, and spa facilities.

For the mega-mansions, guests can request just about anything. According to Minich, this includes having a Rolls Royce or Maserati waiting in the garage, personal chefs, butlers, grocery pre-stocking (some guests have sent lists totaling $3,000 to $4,000 in groceries and liquor), and multiple daily maid services. 

Even celebrities have taken notice of vacation homes - Lady Gaga once rented two homes at once, Minich shared: "One for herself and her beloved dogs, and one next door for her team."

Maintenance crews were also servicing two of the four homes during the tour, a good sign that properties are being maintained between guests.

The homes work for more than just family vacations. Minich pointed to corporate retreats as an example – groups of 10 to 15 members can hold PowerPoint presentations in the movie theater and informal meetings by the pool.

Each bedroom in the larger homes offers ensuites with "huge" bathrooms and walk-in closets, and guests can activate individual door codes for privacy – just like a hotel room.

"There's usually two or three different living room areas and you can do breakout sessions and then have like team building," Minich explained, making them perfect for corporate retreats or board meetings where everyone needs their own space but wants to come together for meals and activities.

Reunion Resort properties also offer access to three signature golf courses (designed by golf legends Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus), a five-acre water park with lazy river, tennis courts, dining venues and free transportation to theme parks.

According to Experience Kissimmee, vacation homes offer various options to meet any budget. Two-bedroom condos start from $75 US per night, while large 15-bedroom houses start from $350 US per night. 

For families and multi-generational groups who can split costs among multiple households, the savings can be significant.

For clients wanting a luxurious experience, mansions start from $2,000 per night. With add-on options such as housekeeping, personal chefs, and grocery delivery, Experience Kissimmee shared there is an option to fit every budget and style.

On the other end of the spectrum, PAX experienced ultimate luxury at the closing event held at the Grand Palm Oasis at Reunion – a whopping 16,909-square-foot mega-mansion with a guest capacity of 32 and nightly rental rates ranging between $3,500 to $6,300 US depending on season.

Expedition Kissimmee participants were wowed as they stepped through the tall, modern glass entrance and quickly spread out to explore every level. Throughout the evening, guests lounged by the pool, hung out in the open-concept living area, belted out karaoke in the theater room, competed in bowling matches, and even shot hoops on the outdoor half-court.

Over the years, the vacation home product needed some education with tour operators and travel agents, Minich explained, since many initially thought they were Airbnb-style individual rentals rather than professionally managed properties in resort communities.

The good news for agents: the vacation homes are commissionable, "just like booking a hotel," Minich noted.

Canada: “We’re there to stay”

When PAX asked Minich about fall and winter visitation data - the critical months he identified back in July at Toronto's Hotel X as the real test of Canadian sentiment due to the Canada-US political climate - he said complete statistics are still being compiled but offered cautious optimism.

Experience Kissimmee confirmed Canadian visitation dropped approximately 15 per cent from the previous year, though the decline was less severe than anticipated.

"Some sentiment studies that we've worked on and seen are showing more positive outlook from the Canadian visitors," Minich said, noting the Ontario advertising controversy added another complication. "We're cautiously optimistic, I would say."

Minich's commitment to Canada goes beyond business strategy - it's personal.

"I've also lived in Canada. My sister was born in a little town called Hinton, Alberta, just halfway between Edmonton and Jasper," he shared.

That dedication also showed through the pandemic when Experience Kissimmee kept all its international offices and staff in place to monitor market conditions.

"Once you establish yourself in a market, you do not give up on that market," Minich said. "We're there to stay. Canada's always been our number one international market and we're not about to leave."

Addressing the current Canada-U.S. tensions, Minich emphasized who really suffers when visitation drops: 

"A boycott only hurts our frontline employees. That's who it hurts, because their hours and their salary is based on how busy the hotel or their restaurant or the shop is."

The destination's commitment extends to its partnerships with Canadian carriers and tour operators.

Air Canada Vacations' Nancy Jeronimo, who attended Expedition Kissimmee as a buyer, confirmed the renewed momentum.

"Over the last few months, we've noticed renewed confidence in cross-border tourism with a gradual return to popular theme-park destinations like Orlando," she told PAX.

"With Air Canada flights from Montreal and Toronto up to 7 times a week, Halifax up to 3 times a week, and Quebec City twice a week, Canadian travellers are choosing Kissimmee as their vacation destination for the upcoming winter."

Jeronimo also shared with PAX that ACV's Kissimmee offerings include Encore Resort at Reunion, Margaritaville Resort Orlando & Cottages, Melia Orlando Celebration, and a wide selection of vacation condos, townhomes, and private homes.

Experience Kissimmee said it is maintaining its marketing investment, agent training programs, and airline partnerships as the crucial winter season approaches.  

As Minich, put it, "This is what sets (Kissimmee) apart - man-made wonders and natural beauty." Whether you want to stand in the shadows of the world’s most famous castle or kayak through the serene waters beneath 400-year-old Cypress trees, Experience Kissimmee says it offers the perfect mix of adventure and magic for every traveller. 

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