ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orange County Board of County Commissioners has approved a tourist development tax to fund a $560 million enhancement of the Orange County Convention Center.
According to a media release, the project’s initial phase will see improvements to the center’s North-South Building, including an enclosed, air-conditioned connection between the North and South concourses. The expansion will also see an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, a new 80,000-square-foot ballroom, and a new grand entrance.
“We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building, which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” says OCCC executive director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money.”
With the tax approved, OCCC officials will re-engage the design process, which was paused in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the media release, the initial project design is at 50 percent.
Property officials will also pursue funding for a further expansion, which includes a 200,000-square-foot multipurpose venue when tax reserves are high enough to finance the project.
