“We’re No. 1.” At least, that’s what local officials are saying following the results of two travel surveys.

Spring finds Orlando in seasonal transition — not quite tropical but with plenty of warm temperatures and sunny skies, especially as compared to the rest of the country.

Beautiful weather aside, a pair of recent industry professional studies suggests business and leisure travel to the destination is beginning to recover. Both the meeting planner and travel trade groups that were polled in separate surveys ranked Orlando as the top location to book travel to this year.

According to the METROPOLL XIII survey, corporate and association meeting planners across the United States named Orlando as the overall convention site of choice for a host of compelling reasons. The survey also found that more planners intend to hold a meeting in Orlando than any other North American location during the next three years. The biannual study, conducted by Gerard Murphy & Associates since 1983, polls a large sample of industry professionals to determine the way major meeting destinations are selected, as well as the perceptions or reputations of each. The survey covered 40 cities, including Atlanta, Chicago, Las Vegas, San Diego, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.

Among the additional rankings for Orlando: first overall as a convention destination; the No. 1 destination among corporate meeting planners; in the top 10 on 15 out of 25 travel destination attributes; first for 15 of the 21 convention center attributes.

“It’s rewarding and quite an honor to be recognized by nationwide meeting professionals with such high marks and praise,” comments Gary Sain, president and CEO of the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Our entire meetings community has come together and worked tirelessly for many years to earn the respect and trust as a top meetings destination. This recognition of our efforts, along with [those of] our incredible hotel partners, the Orange County Convention Center team and the rest of the destination service providers, in delivering the highest-quality meetings experience at a good value, is validation that we are making a positive, discernible difference in the meetings industry.”

Of the more than 60 total attributes covered in the METROPOLL survey, Orlando received the most top rankings regarding the Orange County Convention Center and its related services. These included convention center reputation, easy-to-work-with labor crews, Internet and audiovisual facilities, banquet and food service, access to nearby hotels, sufficient exhibit space, reasonable exhibit setup and service costs, and adequate seating for large sessions.

Plus, industry perceptions of leisure travel — what made Orlando famous to begin with — hasn’t gone unnoticed. After seven years at the No. 2 slot, Orlando was ranked as the top domestic destination being booked, according to the annual Travel Leaders Survey. More than 500 leaders, owners, managers and industry experts were polled throughout the United States during the final weeks of 2009 regarding travel trends for the upcoming year. Las Vegas previously held the top ranking from 2003 though 2009.

“[Orlando’s] landing at number one shows the remarkable resiliency [and] strength in family-oriented destinations,” says Roger E. Block, president of Travel Leaders Franchise Group. “Overall bookings are starting to trend higher, optimism is definitely on the rise and a significant number of leisure travelers are taking advantage of current hotel prices and ‘trading up’ to more luxurious accommodations, which are all good signs.”
While forecasts for visitation during 2010 vary, these industry research insights bode well for Orlando. At the very least, travel professionals are thinking about, and discussing, Orlando’s positive qualities with colleagues and, more importantly, clients. And that’s always a good thing.

Editor’s note: To learn more about the way Orlando markets the destination to global meeting, convention and trade show groups, go to www.VisitOrlando.com/cvb.