Have you heard of FLOP FEST?! We're also talking road project updates, lost Orlando landmarks, and so much more. Come hang out, ask questions, and be informed!

Today we're discussing a great mix of real estate, theme park, and things to do in Orlando! Come hang out, ask questions, on Orlando Real Live!

What does tourism actually do for the people who live in Orlando?

In this episode of Orlando Real, Ken sits down with the President & CEO of Visit Orlando Cassandra Matej to go behind the scenes of one of the most visited destinations in the world and break down the massive impact tourism has on Central Florida.

Ken and Cassandra talk about Orlando's 76.7 million annual visitors, the $98.7 billion economic impact of tourism, how visitor spending helps fund infrastructure and public services, and why Orlando continues to compete with destinations around the world.

We also dive into the future of Orlando tourism, Disney, Universal, SeaWorld, the Orange County Convention Center, how we brought in Michelin Guide restaurants, local businesses, Magical Dining, transportation and what it will take for Orlando to reach 80 million visitors.

Whether you live in Orlando, own a Central Florida business or just love seeing what's next for the city, this conversation gives you a completely different perspective on the tourism industry driving the region.

Casandra Matej is president and CEO of Visit Orlando, the official marketing organization for America’s most visited destination and Theme Park Capital of the World. She leads the branding, marketing and selling of the destination on a global scale, representing 1,600 member companies across Orlando’s tourism landscape. Learn more at https://www.visitorlando.org/ This episode is brought to you by The Pozek Group. Thinking of selling or buying a home anywhere in Greater Orlando? We’d love to help! Reach out at https://pozek.com/youtube or email [email protected] to get started.

Orlando Schools Ranked, Leu Gardens Plans Shelved, and a controversial project moves forward

Did you know Orlando has two airports? Most people don't. In this episode, Ken Pozek goes behind the scenes at Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) to see how the "Orlando North" airport is growing, why travelers love flying out of it, and what makes it different from Orlando International (MCO).Airport leadership takes us on an exclusive tour sharing details on who flies out of Sanford, why airlines choose it, how the airport pays for itself without taxes, and why its private TSA screening kept lines moving during the government shutdown. Along the way we meet the airport's fire and police teams, check out the flight school training 650 pilots, and talk about the $3.5 billion economic impact this "city without a permanent population" has on Central Florida.

This week we're talking H-Mart Expansion, PopStroke SHARKS, and what's next for Disney World and your questions answered!

In this episode of The Orlando Real, Ken Pozek sits down with David Beattie, a former political pollster and current Executive Director of the Florida Research Development Alliance. They unpack the political changes in Central Florida, including the change in voter turnout, AI and data integration, as well as behavior motivations across 63 local races across Orange and Osceola counties with major shifts in open commission seats and upcoming mayoral races.

David shares insights into the evolution of political data, moving away from traditional standalone polling toward modern AI-driven "social listening" and holistic data integration. They explore why local government budgets, like Orange County's massive $9 billion budget, have a far greater impact on residents' day-to-day lives than federal offices, despite suffering from chronically low voter turnout. Tune in as this episode gives a masterclass in how data, authenticity, and local engagement shape the community we live in.

David Beattie is the current Executive Director of the Florida Research Development Alliance, a network of research development and research administration professionals from Florida universities, colleges, and other institutions engaged in research. Together, their goal is to help enable Florida’s research institutions to work together and lead to further investment in Florida’s growing research enterprise. Learn more at www.fl-rda.org This episode is brought to you by The Pozek Group. Thinking of selling or buying a home anywhere in Greater Orlando? We’d love to help! Reach out at https://pozek.com/youtube or email [email protected] to get started.

Major Orlando Projects, Halloween in Orlando, and your Q&A

We sat down with Michelin Star chef, and Orlando legend, Mike Collantes. On this episode of The Orlando Real Podcast, Ken Pozek and Dillon O'Brien sit down with the Michelin chef behind Soseki, Sushi Saint, Perla's Pizza, and the new Nomikai by Sushi Saint coming to ICON Park.Best sushi in Orlando? Best omakase? What's it like to earn a Michelin star? What should you order at Sushi Saint? Is Orlando actually a good food city? Chef Mike Collantes answers all of that and more.Mike Collantes is an acclaimed chef with over 20 years of hospitality experience, best known in Orlando for earning a Michelin star at Soseki Modern Omakase in 2022 and launching Sushi Saint, which received a Bib Gourmand within three months of opening. With four Sushi Saint locations across Florida and New York City and a growing portfolio of concepts under 86 Hospitality Group, he continues to shape the culinary landscape in Orlando and beyond. Learn more at www.mikecollantes.com/ and stay up to date on all of his projects  on Instagram at www.instagram.com/chefmike_collantesThis episode is brought to you by The Pozek Group. Thinking of selling or buying a home anywhere in Greater Orlando? We’d love to help! Reach out at https://pozek.com/youtube or email [email protected] to get started.00:00 Chef Mike Collantes: Who is he and what's his story?01:20 Soseki & Orlando's Omakase Wave02:43 How Did Soseki Win Its Michelin Star?03:26 Why Does a Michelin Star Even Matter?06:22 Building a Restaurant Group08:22 What Is Nomikai by Sushi Saint at ICON Park?09:00 Local Chefs in Tourist Orlando09:33 How Does a Chef Come Up With a New Concept?13:00 Orlando Chefs: Rivals or Allies?13:56 What Does Downtown Orlando Need to Fix?17:11 What Should You Order at Sushi Saint?20:49 How Do You Design a Restaurant?21:38 Modern Sushi vs Tradition24:56 Banana Pizza: Does It Work?28:46 Why Is Orlando's Food Scene Blowing Up?29:25 Sushi Saint vs Soseki: What's the Difference?31:02 Chef Mike's Death Row Meal32:39 What Do Most Chefs Get Wrong About Business?35:16 When Did Orlando's Food Scene Take Off?41:27 Are Developers Pushing Out Local Restaurants?43:09 "Mayor Mike" Fixes Downtown47:00 Will Orlando Get a Three Michelin Star Restaurant?

We're unpacking a ton of news this week from tourism, to e-bikes, to conservation. Come hang out as we discuss all things real estate, theme parks, and LIFE in Orlando.