Visit Orlando CEO Casandra Matej stood behind the organization's financial decisions in a meeting with Orange County officials yesterday. This response followed allegations from the Orange County Comptroller’s audit suggesting misclassification of approximately $20 million in funds over a five-year span. According to FOX 35 Orlando, Matej claimed, "Every dollar is accounted for, whether it's public or TDT."
The audit, which arose concerns earlier in July, pointed to $3 million in tourism tax funds from 2023 that were allegedly misused on items like skyboxes at the Kia Center, office décor, and even staff sneakers. The exact consequences of these findings are still uncertain, as is whether Visit Orlando will face any formal penalties or if operational changes will take place. Meanwhile, the community has mixed reactions. Some, according to Matej's statement to FOX 35 Orlando, acknowledge the economic impact Visit Orlando has had on the region, while others suggest that tourism revenue should more directly enhance the lives of industry workers.
During the Orange County Board of Commissioners meeting, local union representative Chared Aguirre expressed discontent. According to a ClickOrlando interview, Aguirre, of Local 737 — a union for over 19,000 hospitality workers — stated, "Our taxpayer dollars shouldn’t be misused." Aguirre also stressed that the benefits from the thriving tourism industry are not adequately reaching the frontline hospitality workers. Furthermore, Orange County Commissioner Mayra Uribe highlighted the blending of TDT dollars with private funds as a key issue from the comptroller’s audit.
Discussions about the future management of tourism tax revenue are ongoing, with Commissioner Uribe advocating for contract adjustments that will provoke a clearer delineation between permissible and non-permissible spending. Meanwhile, Mayor Jerry Demings has indicated that the board will need time to develop a proper response to the audit results. "We need to fix it because we need to make sure that this can’t ever happen any more in the future," Uribe was quoted as saying in the ClickOrlando report.
