Audit Details Visit Orlando’s Misuse of Tax Funds

A comprehensive audit by Orange County found that Visit Orlando misused millions in tourism development tax (TDT) funds by misclassifying public money as private and spending on non-tourism-related items, including a $75,000 dinner in New York and a $12,210 car allowance. The audit determined at least $3.5 million must be reimbursed to TDT accounts due to stricter regulatory requirements. Auditors criticized Visit Orlando’s return-on-investment claims and procurement practices, highlighting persistent failures in county oversight stretching back several years. Visit Orlando acknowledged some audit recommendations have been addressed but expressed reservations about certain findings. County officials are calling for increased accountability and transparency in the use of public funds. The incident has intensified scrutiny of how tourism tax revenues are managed in one of the nation’s largest tourist destinations.