50 Most Powerful People of 2026 In Orlando: Tourism & Transportation
Meet the most powerful people in the Tourism and Transportation category.
- Joe Schott | President, Walt Disney World Resort
- Karen Irwin | President & COO, Universal Orlando Resort
- Lance Lyttle | CEO, Greater Orlando Aviation Authority
- Mark Tester | Executive Director, Orange County Convention Center
- Casandra Matej | President & CEO, Visit Orlando
- Frank Santos | President and CEO, Rosen Hotels & Resorts
- Michelle Maikisch | Executive Director, Central Florida Expressway Authority
- Nicole Martz | President & CEO, Sanford Airport Authority
- Captain John W. Murray | CEO, Canaveral Port Authority
1. Joe Schott | President, Walt Disney World Resort
Keeping Orlando among the world’s premier tourism destinations means giving visitors fresh reasons to return while preserving the experiences generations of families already love, according to Joe Schott.
As president of Walt Disney World Resort and an Orlando native, Schott is helping lead a period of major investment and expansion. Disney Experiences has announced plans to invest $60 billion in its parks, resorts and cruise business over 10 years, with a significant share of that work taking place in Central Florida.
“We are building new experiences, investing in what guests already love, and continuing to strengthen the role Walt Disney World plays in Central Florida,” Schott said.
The investment will bring new attractions, expanded resorts, refreshed classics and entirely new lands. It also will create opportunities for contractors, suppliers, skilled tradespeople and cast members. Disney’s daily operations already support thousands of small businesses, including hundreds based in Central Florida that provide everything from specialty popcorn and prop construction to paintwork on Cinderella Castle.
“We love working alongside them, and it’s an honor to grow together,” Schott said.
Schott, who began his Disney career in operations, believes hospitality and convenience are as important as new attractions. With families increasingly turning to technology to simplify travel, Disney plans to test a new vacation-planning experience on DisneyWorld.com. The service will allow guests to compare options and rates across multiple dates, helping them spend less time organizing and more time anticipating their trips.
His greatest inspiration, however, comes from Disney’s cast members.
“They are the heart of Walt Disney World,” Schott said.
Disney continues to expand employee resources, including its Center for Living Well clinics, on-site child care, financial services and discounted food. A third Center for Living Well location is being added, giving more employees convenient access to medical care, prescriptions and eyewear.
That commitment extends into the community. In 2025, Disney cast members contributed more than 240,000 volunteer hours and supported nearly 1,200 organizations through the Disney VoluntEARS program.
With an estimated 80 percent of cast members living within 25 miles of Walt Disney World, Schott sees Disney’s workforce as inseparable from the community it serves.
“When we talk about shaping how millions of people experience Central Florida, it starts with the people who call this community home,” he said.
$40.3 billion in economic impact across the state and a quarter-of-a-million total jobs. That’s something I am incredibly proud of.”
2. Karen Irwin | President & COO, Universal Orlando Resort
Karen Irwin is helping redefine Orlando as a destination where visitors can spend an entire vacation — and still leave wanting more.
As president and chief operating officer of Universal Orlando Resort, Irwin oversees a rapidly expanding tourism powerhouse that includes Epic Universe, Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, Volcano Bay, CityWalk and a growing hotel portfolio.
Following the debut of Epic Universe and three new hotels, Universal continues to add attractions, entertainment and dining. New experiences include Celestial Goodnight, a nighttime spectacular at Epic Universe, and Universal Nights, an after-hours event launching this fall. Upcoming projects include Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift at Universal Studios Florida and Category 10, a three-story CityWalk venue inspired by country music star Luke Combs.
“What excites me most is that each of these additions expands the ways guests can experience our destination,” Irwin said. “Whether through new attractions, entertainment, dining or special events, we are continually creating fresh reasons for guests to return and discover something new.”
Irwin sees Universal’s growth as part of Orlando’s broader evolution. Beyond its theme parks, she points to the area’s culinary offerings, live entertainment and sports venues as essential parts of the visitor experience.
“The opportunity is to pair that breadth of experience with the service and personal moments that make a trip feel truly special,” she said.
Her influence also extends beyond Universal’s gates. Irwin has advocated for transportation improvements connecting Orlando International Airport, the Orange County Convention Center and the International Drive tourism district. Universal has committed significant financial and land support to the proposed Sunshine Corridor, while the opening of Epic Universe helped spur an expanded Kirkman Road extension with dedicated bus lanes.
“Projects like these may not be the flashiest part of tourism, but they shape the first and last impression of a trip,” she said.
Irwin also emphasizes collaboration among airports, hotels, restaurants, attractions and entertainment districts. She considers tourism development taxes critical to keeping Orlando competitive and visible to travelers worldwide.
Even amid Universal’s ambitious growth, Irwin remains focused on the people behind the experiences.
“We can build incredible worlds, attractions and entertainment, but the most meaningful moments often happen when a team member helps a guest feel seen, welcomed or celebrated,” she said. “This business is ultimately about people.”
3. Lance Lyttle | CEO, Greater Orlando Aviation Authority
As MCO welcomes record passenger traffic, it also faces concerns about parking, baggage handling, lengthy walks and aging facilities. Lyttle said the airport’s long-term improvement plan directly addresses those challenges through expanded garages, upgraded baggage systems, new moving walkways and renovations to terminals A and B.
“So, we hear our passengers, and the community, and are addressing these challenges,” Lyttle said.
Plans call for as many as 8,000 additional parking spaces through expansions of garages A and C. A parking guidance system will direct drivers to available spaces, while reserved parking will allow travelers to secure a spot before arriving.
“The biggest opportunity is to use MCO’s growth to make the journey more predictable,” Lyttle said.
Technology will play a central role. Lyttle anticipates using artificial intelligence, virtual reality and augmented reality to improve retail offerings, signage and wayfinding. MCO also plans to test emerging aviation technologies, including a proposed vertistop near the train station for electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft.
Lyttle believes the airport’s success should be measured by more than passenger totals. He monitors cleanliness, accessibility and satisfaction through international airport-rating programs, along with financial performance and employee engagement.
Above all, he wants MCO to deliver a distinctive sense of place. Its blend of light, water, sky and foliage helps create what airport leaders call “The Orlando Experience.”
4. Mark Tester | Executive Director, Orange County Convention Center
Mark Tester is working to broaden Orlando’s global identity by connecting its strengths in meetings, sports, dining, entertainment and cultural experiences.
At the center of that effort is the Orange County Convention Center’s Grand Concourse Expansion. Scheduled for completion in 2029, the project will add 44,000 square feet of meeting space and a 100,000-square-foot ballroom to the North-South Building.
“This project is much more than adding square footage,” Tester said. “It is about giving our clients greater flexibility and positioning the OCCC to compete for larger events for decades to come.”
Tester also points to the AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships as an example of Orlando’s collaborative strength. The world’s largest volleyball tournament is also the convention center’s largest event, bringing thousands of athletes, teams and families to the city each summer.
“We are helping create experiences people remember while generating opportunities for local residents and businesses.”
As attendance and event activity increase, Tester says conventiongoers are seeking meaningful connections and memorable experiences beyond the show floor. The OCCC is responding with flexible spaces for education and networking while helping visitors discover more of Orlando.
Mobility remains a priority. Tester supports continued investment in transportation connecting the airport, International Drive, hotels, attractions and the convention center.
5. Casandra Matej | President & CEO, Vist Orlando
Casandra Matej is responsible for marketing America’s most-visited destination to travelers worldwide while representing 1,600 businesses across Orlando’s tourism economy.
In 2026, Visit Orlando announced a record 76.7 million visitors for 2025, including 70.3 million domestic travelers. Matej is now working to sustain that momentum amid economic uncertainty, changing international travel patterns and intensifying competition from destinations around the world.
Her long-term strategy is guided by the Destination Orlando 2035 Tourism Master Plan, which seeks to strengthen the visitor economy while improving residents’ quality of life. Priorities include transforming the convention center district through better mobility, dining, entertainment and walkability.
“To stay competitive with destinations like Las Vegas, we must reimagine the district as more than a meeting space,” Matej said.
Matej also sees an opportunity to encourage visitors to explore more of Central Florida, from its neighborhoods and culinary offerings to arts, sports and outdoor recreation. Expanding that experience could increase return visits, extend stays and distribute tourism’s economic benefits across more businesses and communities.
Her work requires close coordination with hotels, attractions, restaurants, transportation providers, cultural organizations and local governments. Visit Orlando also serves as an advocate for an industry that supports hundreds of thousands of jobs and generates tax revenue for public services, infrastructure and community programs.
Matej’s influence extends beyond attracting visitors. She is helping shape how Orlando grows as a destination while ensuring tourism remains connected to the people and businesses that call the community home.
For Matej, remaining the world’s leading tourism destination means offering both first-time visitors and loyal guests new reasons to return.
6. Frank Santos | President and CEO, Rosen Hotels & Resorts
Frank Santos is guiding Rosen Hotels & Resorts into a new era while preserving the culture of service and philanthropy established by the company’s late founder, Harris Rosen.
Santos, who worked alongside Rosen for nearly four decades, sees his leadership role as a responsibility to build upon that legacy. His priorities include maintaining operational excellence, supporting associates and ensuring the company remains a force for good in Orlando.
“Harris built Rosen Hotels & Resorts from the ground up with a determination for excellence in service to his guests, associates and community,” Santos said. “It has been my goal to uphold that same culture.”
The company continues its philanthropic work through five Rosen foundations and invests more than $5 million annually in educational opportunities for Central Florida students.
“Education is a game changer,” Santos said. “Business leaders should invest in childhood education, mentorship programs, internships and scholarships.”
Santos believes those investments will become increasingly important as Orlando manages continued growth. Tourism will remain the foundation of the local economy, he said, while health care, education and other industries attract new residents, talent and investment.
He identifies infrastructure, affordable housing and transportation as the area’s most pressing challenges.
“Our associates should not have to spend three hours a day using public transportation to get to and from work,” Santos said. “Our success should benefit everyone.”
Santos expects Orlando to remain one of the world’s premier travel destinations as theme parks introduce attractions and the Orange County Convention Center works to stay competitive.
7. Michelle Maikisch | Executive Director, Central Florida Expressway Authority
Michelle Maikisch wants transportation infrastructure to do more than move vehicles. It should connect communities, support economic growth and improve daily life across Central Florida.
That philosophy guides the Central Florida Expressway Authority’s State Road 408 improvement project between Tampa Avenue and Interstate 4. The corridor carries more than 164,000 vehicles through downtown Orlando daily. The project will add an eastbound lane while supporting neighborhood improvements near Camping World Stadium, including new sidewalks, lighting, utilities and landscaping.
Regional collaboration also is advancing the proposed State Road 452 Seminole Connector, which would directly link State Road 417 and Orlando Sanford International Airport. Developed with Seminole County, the project has moved from decades of discussion into design. It eventually could improve airport access and reduce traffic on nearby roads.
CFX also plans to incorporate a multiuse trail alongside the new State Road 516 between Orange and Lake counties. Working with Lake County, the agency intends to connect Horizon West Town Center and Valencia College’s new campus with Florida’s Coast-to-Coast Trail system.
Looking ahead, Maikisch believes the proposed Sunshine Corridor deserves sustained regional attention. The SunRail extension would connect Orlando International Airport with the Orange County Convention Center and tourism district.
She points to the recently completed Wekiva Parkway as evidence that transformative projects require patience, investment and regional leadership.
8. Nicole Martz | President & CEO, Sanford Airport Authority
Nicole Martz is transforming Orlando Sanford International Airport into a broader engine for aviation, real estate development and economic growth.
In 2026, three hangar developments were underway as Martz worked to attract additional private investment to the airport’s available property. The projects strengthen business aviation, create opportunities for new employers and diversify revenue beyond commercial passenger service.
SFB offers nonstop service to destinations across the United States and Canada while generating an estimated $3.5 billion annual impact on Florida’s economy. Its 530 acres of developable land represent one of Seminole County’s largest remaining opportunities for commercial growth.
Martz is approaching that opportunity with the perspective of both an attorney and a certified planner. Her strategy emphasizes development that complements airport operations while generating jobs, lease revenue and lasting value for the surrounding community.
She is also advancing plans for improved road access connecting the airport more directly with State Road 417. Better connectivity could make SFB more convenient for travelers, employees and businesses while supporting future development throughout the airport property.
Martz must balance those long-term ambitions with the airport’s daily responsibilities, including passenger service, business aviation, flight training, public safety and infrastructure maintenance. She is also working to modernize the traveler experience and position SFB as an efficient alternative gateway to Central Florida.
Under her leadership, SFB is becoming more than an airport for leisure travelers. It is emerging as a center for aviation businesses, private investment, new employment and long-term economic development in Seminole County.
9. Captain John W. Murray | CEO, Canaveral Port Authority
Captain John W. Murray is overseeing one of the most ambitious periods of investment in Port Canaveral’s history.
In 2026, the port advanced major projects to accommodate record cruise demand. Cruise Terminal 5 is nearly doubling in size to 170,000 square feet, while a new $93 million, 13-story parking garage will add approximately 3,700 spaces. Together, the projects represent an investment of nearly $175 million and have supported more than 2,000 Central Florida construction jobs.
Construction also began on a $95 million expansion of Cruise Terminal 10. Scheduled for completion in November 2027, the facility will grow to more than 145,000 square feet and accommodate ships carrying as many as 7,000 passengers.
“We’ve taken everything we’ve learned about cruise operations to create a terminal that is highly functional and visually beautiful,” Murray said.
The projects are part of Port Canaveral Advantage, a nearly $1 billion capital improvement program spanning facilities, infrastructure and technology. The port is home to seven major cruise brands, 18 homeported ships and more than 1,000 annual sailings. More than 80 percent of its cruise passengers arrive by car, making efficient parking, traffic flow and passenger processing essential.
Murray’s responsibilities extend far beyond cruising. He must balance cargo operations, commercial fishing, recreation, military activity and maritime assets supporting SpaceX and Blue Origin. As commercial space activity grows, the port increasingly serves as a transportation and logistics hub for recovering and processing rocket equipment.
That breadth makes Port Canaveral both a global tourism gateway and an essential component of Central Florida’s expanding space economy.
