Experience Kissimmee's Commitment to Sustainability

Kissimmee, FL — (August 25, 2025) Experience Kissimmee is proud to highlight its impactful partnerships with various organizations and government entities dedicated to preserving the environment and promoting eco-friendly practices in the community.

Most recently, Experience Kissimmee, in collaboration with Osceola County and Trees4Travel, planted 200 trees at Pioneer Village, an open-air museum that showcases Osceola County's history. This initiative, along with the support of the Chairwoman and the Commissioner for Osceola County, demonstrates the government’s support and commitment to Experience Kissimmee’s vision for enhancing the environment.

Trees4Travel

The partnership between Experience Kissimmee and Trees4Travel spans nearly two years and has been promoting reforestation worldwide. To date, the two organizations have supported high-integrity reforestation initiatives that prioritize ecosystem restoration and biodiversity, involving local communities by planting more than 140,000 diverse tree species in locations such as Mozambique, Kenya, Nepal, and Haiti. Each tree is also paired with clean energy solutions through hybrid climate contributions, resulting in a reduction of nearly 24,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions via United Nations renewable energy projects.

Contributing to these numbers are several key initiatives. Every meeting that pre-qualifies for the “It Pays to Meet in Kissimmee” cashback destination incentive also has trees planted on behalf of the meeting organization, creating a direct link between business events and environmental impact. At trade shows and events, Experience Kissimmee provides a thoughtful alternative to eco-conscious, multi-use giveaways – by scanning a QR code, participants can request a tree to be planted through Trees4Travel.

Global Destination Sustainability (GDS) Index Participation

In 2024, Experience Kissimmee and Osceola County became the first participants in Florida to join the Global Destination Sustainability (GDS) Index, and one of just a handful in the United States. The GDS assessment highlights the organization’s strengths and provides a blueprint for prioritizing areas of opportunity as Experience Kissimmee continues its journey toward destination stewardship.

Fill it Forward Initiative

To reduce plastic waste and encourage the use of reusable water containers, Experience Kissimmee has partnered with Fill it Forward. Each water refill in the Experience Kissimmee office is logged and results in a charitable contribution to its annual non-profit support recipient. Since launching in December 2024, this program has resulted in 1,731 refills, diverting 52 pounds of waste, saving 980kWh of power, reducing 1,680 pounds of emissions, and preventing 11 pounds of ocean pollution.

TerraCycle Recycling Program

Experience Kissimmee has introduced a lanyard recycling program in the office using TerraCycle’s collection and recycling system to prevent plastic waste from entering landfills. TerraCycle separates the lanyard and badge holders into their constituent parts for recycling and reuse.

E-Waste Recycling

On the electronics and information technology (IT) side, the organization has launched an E-Waste Recycling program with Urban E Recycling. The collection box at the Kissimmee office accepts most electronics, preventing them from ending up in landfills. This includes cell phones, laptops, monitors, cables, and everyday household batteries. Urban E Recycling will then responsibly recycle the components down to raw materials.

Sustainability-Minded Organization Memberships

Experience Kissimmee leverages memberships in sustainability-minded organizations to share insights, network with like-minded colleagues, establish best practices, and advance the tourism industry’s sustainability journey. The organization’s memberships include Sustainable Events Network Florida & Caribbean and Tourism Cares.

Staff Travel Policy Enhancements

In addition to compensating staff for business travel emissions, Experience Kissimmee has adopted sustainability options in its official travel policy, including electric vehicle (EV) charging reimbursement and ridesharing "green" option authorization.

Sustainable Travel Promotion

Experience Kissimmee makes it easy for eco-conscious travelers to find businesses in Osceola County with sustainable practices. Its Sustainable Travel landing page features outstanding eco-minded businesses and attractions in the destination.

For more information on Experience Kissimmee’s sustainability efforts, please visit Experiencekissimmee.com/travel-styles/sustainable-travel.