ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Plans for another addition to the Orange County Convention Center have been put on hold, according to county Mayor Jerry Demings, due to the economic fallout from the coronavirus.County tourism-related projects like the convention center expansion are funded in part by taxes generated from hotel stays in Orange County, known as tourism development tax, or TDT collections.Beginning in March, organizers began canceling their conferences and events at the Orange County Convention Center.
Shortly thereafter, hotels and Orlando-area theme parks began closing due to the coronavirus pandemic. As a result, the county’s TDT collection experienced a record-low intake for the spring and summer months.