Orlando hotel occupancy dips after visitors multiply

The Orlando area welcomed 66 million visitors last year, 5 percent more than in 2015. But in this year’s first quarter, hotel occupancy rate declined 1.5 percent from last year, according to hospitality data provider STR.

First-quarter attendance was down at the Florida theme parks of Walt Disney Co. and SeaWorld Entertainment. Universal Parks and Resorts reported “stable” attendance at its theme parks in the January-March period. The leading theme parks in the Orlando area opened no new major attractions last year, but several new rides are expected to open in summer and boost attendance, including a Disney ride based on the movie “Frozen.” [Orlando Sentinel] — Mike Seemuth