Visit Orlando TDT Insights for March 2024

Published

2 years ago

May 6, 2024

Based on today’s announcement on the tourist development tax collections for March 2024, below are a few additional insights from Visit Orlando’s President and CEO, Casandra Matej.

Winter Marketing Initiatives Drive Spring Success: At Visit Orlando, we are pleased to see such a strong result in March TDT collections after enhancing our holiday and winter marketing initiatives. At the end of 2023, we extended broadcast TV elements of our campaign to take advantage of live TV viewership during the holiday season with a “Give the Gift of Travel” message to push spring travel through advertising spots running during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, ABC’s Christmas Parade and NBC’s Christmas in Rockefeller Center holiday special. We continued the momentum in the new year by expanding our Winter Doesn’t Exist campaign to target winter-weary U.S. and Canadian travelers to travel to Orlando.

New Summer Campaign: Beginning on April 8th, Visit Orlando launched campaigns to target both drive markets within Florida and 12 key out-of-state markets to stimulate travel demand for summer. Under the Unbelievably Real brand, the summer campaign features new out-of-home high-impact billboards in heavily populated areas of Washington, D.C., Boston, Baltimore, Charlotte, Atlanta and New York. This includes a 7-story 3-D digital billboard in New York City strategically placed in Times Square. Additional TV, billboard, digital and social media ads also push summer messaging with the call to action “See yourself here this summer,” driving to VisitOrlando.com for vacation inspiration across the destination.

Nico Gramatica’s Four Field Goals Lift USF Past FIU as Bulls Turn to Army

Published

9 hours ago

September 11, 2026

FNN SPORTS

USF kicker Nico Gramatica, No. 7, during the 2026 USF Spring Game in Tampa, Florida.

USF kicker No. 7 Nico Gramatica prepares for a play during the Bulls’ 2026 Spring Game in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Nisey Spruill/Florida National News)

Bulls kicker scores 13 points as Brian Hartline earns his first victory as USF head coach

TAMPA, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — Nico Gramatica delivered a big opening-night performance for South Florida, accounting for 13 points as the Bulls defeated FIU 19-9 and gave first-year head coach Brian Hartline his first victory at USF.

Gramatica connected on four field goals — from 37, 53, 30 and 29 yards — and converted an extra point. His 53-yarder highlighted a performance that provided the Bulls with points when drives stalled and helped USF maintain control of the season opener.

USF kicker No. 7 Nico Gramatica prepares for a play during the Bulls’ 2026 Spring Game in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Nisey Spruill/Florida National News)

Gramatica Gives USF an Early Boost

Gramatica’s performance adds another chapter to a familiar football name in Tampa.

The USF kicker is the son of former Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Martin Gramatica, but Nico continues to establish his own identity with the Bulls. His four-field-goal performance provided a strong start to the season and demonstrated his ability to convert from long range.

His 13 points accounted for more than two-thirds of USF’s scoring against FIU.

Bulls Defense Forces Three Turnovers

USF’s defense also played a major role in the victory, forcing three FIU turnovers while the Bulls finished the game without committing a turnover.

That combination helped USF protect its lead and gave Hartline a victory in his first game leading the program.

For a team beginning a new era, winning the turnover battle and limiting mistakes provided an encouraging foundation.

Brian Hartline Era Begins With a Win

The 19-9 victory marked Hartline’s first win as USF’s head coach and gave the Bulls early momentum as they begin the 2026 season.

While Gramatica provided much of the scoring and the defense created turnovers, USF now faces a different challenge: taking that formula on the road.

USF Turns Its Attention to Army

The Bulls travel to West Point, New York, to face Army on Saturday, Sept. 12, at noon in USF’s first road game and first American Conference matchup of the season.

After opening the Hartline era with a victory in Tampa, the Army matchup will provide an early test of how the Bulls respond away from home and against a conference opponent.

For USF, the objective is straightforward: build on the opener and keep the early-season momentum moving.

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– Nisey Spruill is a reporter and photojournalist for Florida National News (FNN), covering major news, sports and special events across Florida and nationwide. Contact sports@FloridaNationalNews.com

Business

Addition Financial Foundation Awards $175,000 to 10 Central Florida Nonprofits

Published

2 days ago

September 10, 2026

FNN NEWS

Members of the Addition Financial Foundation’s 2026 Community Giving Class are recognized during the fifth annual Community Giving Celebration at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando. The foundation awarded $175,000 in unrestricted grants to 10 Central Florida nonprofits supporting communities across the region.

Fifth annual Community Giving Celebration recognizes organizations serving families, students and communities across the region

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) — The Addition Financial Foundation honored 10 Central Florida nonprofit organizations Wednesday during its fifth annual Community Giving Celebration, awarding $175,000 in unrestricted grants and providing recipients with year-round organizational support.

The breakfast and awards ceremony was held at Addition Financial Arena on the University of Central Florida campus, bringing together representatives from the nonprofit, government, education and business communities.

Established in 2021, the foundation is the philanthropic arm of Lake Mary-based Addition Financial Credit Union. Each organization selected for the 2026 Community Giving Class was nominated by an Addition Financial team member based on its work in communities served by the credit union.

10 NONPROFITS RECEIVE COMMUNITY GIVING GRANTS

Three organizations — Central Florida Community Arts, Children’s Safety Village and Embrace Health — each received $20,000 grants. Seven additional nonprofits received $15,000 each: Empowered Girls Inc., First Tee Central Florida, Foundation for Foster Children, Gentian Creek Preserve, Prospera, Save a Life Pet Rescue and Tech Sassy Girlz.

The grants are unrestricted, allowing the organizations to direct the funding toward areas they determine will have the greatest impact.

“The Community Giving Celebration gives us an opportunity to shine a light on nonprofit organizations that are addressing important needs and creating meaningful change across our community,” said Cristina Lehman, executive director of the Addition Financial Foundation.

Lehman said the foundation’s involvement extends beyond the grants, including connecting organizations with volunteers, resources and opportunities throughout the year.

ADDITIONAL $5,000 AWARDS PRESENTED

Two additional $5,000 awards were presented during the celebration.

The Greatest Investment Girls Empowerment Program, a previous Community Giving Class participant, received one award. Save a Life Pet Rescue received another following a vote by Addition Financial team members who contribute to the foundation.

In addition to financial support, the 2026 class will receive volunteer assistance from Addition Financial employees, complimentary use of the organization’s community room and workshops on topics including media relations, fundraising and grant writing.

YEAR-ROUND COMMUNITY INVESTMENT

The Community Giving program is designed to build relationships between Addition Financial and nonprofit organizations beyond a single grant cycle.

This year’s recipients work across a range of areas, including arts and culture, child safety, health, youth development, education, foster care, environmental conservation, entrepreneurship, animal rescue and technology education.

Through unrestricted grants and continuing support, the foundation said the program is intended to help nonprofits strengthen their operations while expanding their impact throughout Central Florida.

Central Florida News

Osceola Magic Acquire Au’Diese Toney’s Returning Player Rights in Three-Team Trade

Published

2 days ago

September 10, 2026

FNN SPORTS

Osceola sends Patrick Gardner’s returning player rights to Noblesville Boom and 2027 second-round pick to Mexico City Capitanes

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — The Osceola Magic acquired the returning player rights to guard/forward Au’Diese Toney from the Noblesville Boom in a three-team trade, General Manager Kevin Tiller II announced Wednesday.

As part of the transaction, Osceola sent the returning player rights to Patrick Gardner to Noblesville and dealt a 2027 second-round pick to the Mexico City Capitanes.

TONEY RETURNS TO MAGIC ORGANIZATION

The move brings Toney back to the Orlando Magic’s NBA G League organization.

Toney played for the then-Lakeland Magic during the 2022-23 season before the franchise relocated to Osceola County and became the Osceola Magic.

Across three NBA G League seasons, Toney has appeared in 85 regular-season games, including 55 starts, averaging 10.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.0 steal per game.

He has shot 50.9% from the field and 41.4% from 3-point range during his G League career.

Toney also brings international professional experience after playing in Romania, Greece and Canada.

FROM PITTSBURGH TO ARKANSAS

A Huntsville, Alabama, native, Toney spent three seasons at the University of Pittsburgh before transferring to the University of Arkansas for his final collegiate season.

He appeared in 115 college games, making 102 starts, and averaged 9.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game.

WHAT RETURNING PLAYER RIGHTS MEAN

The transaction gives Osceola Toney’s NBA G League returning player rights. It should not be characterized as an NBA contract with the Orlando Magic or necessarily as Toney joining Osceola’s active roster immediately.

For Osceola, the trade adds the rights to an experienced G League player who is already familiar with the Magic organization while moving Gardner’s rights and a future draft asset to complete the three-team transaction.