New Harry Potter Attraction Expected to Drive Orlando Hotel Bookings

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(ORLANDO, FL) -- After five years of planning and development, today Universal Studios Florida officially opens to the public The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

It is a 20-acre area inspired by J.K. Rowling's compelling stories and characters that features multiple themed attractions, shops and a restaurant and brings the magic of Harry Potter to life.

Even though it is one of the most highly anticipated entertainment experiences of 2010, the question many are asking is this: will this new attraction drive new hotel bookings for Central Florida's tourism machine?

According to Gary Sain, CEO of the Orlando Convention and Visitors Bureau, the answer is "yes"!

"The Harry Potter brand has more than 300 million fans worldwide--so we know there is great anticipation to see, feel, touch and live this imaginative world.  Tour operators and travel companies in the United States, the UK, and Brazil in particular have reported increases in Orlando inquiries and Orlando bookings with many hotels around the Universal Orlando Resort reportedly sold-out for dates around the grand opening time period."

Sain further commented, "We typically see a visitation increase when major new attractions open in our destination, and signs point to similar results for the opening of this fantastic new experience."

Last year, Orlando was the most visited city in the U.S. with 46.6 million visitors.  For 2010, demand for hotel rooms during Spring Break (defined as the week before and week after Easter) was 4.6% above last year's Spring Break.  Demand for the month of March was up about 12%, and for Q1 was up about 7.5%.

"I am a big Harry Potter fan, so it was thrilling to experience such a realistic adventure capturing the essence of the Harry Potter books and movies," said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer.  "I am sure this new attraction at Universal Studios will attract Harry Potter fans from all over the world and provide a boost to our Central Florida economy."

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