Kissimmee, FL (April 8, 2025) — In celebration of Earth Month and with Earth Day approaching, Experience Kissimmee is proud to highlight its impactful partnerships with various organizations and government entities dedicated to preserving our environment and promoting eco-friendly practices in our community.
On April 4, 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. Chairwoman Viviana Janer, District 2 Commissioner for Osceola County, and District 1 Commissioner Peggy Chaudhry attended the event, demonstrating Osceola County's support and commitment to Experience Kissimmee’s vision for improving the environment.
"I want to thank Osceola County and Trees4Travel for their steadfast support in our sustainable tourism efforts,” said Jason Holic, Chief of Destination Stewardship at Experience Kissimmee. “It is immensely gratifying to witness the culmination of a year's planning in this project. Our collaboration is a testament to what we can achieve together for the betterment of our environment."
Additionally, Nico Nicholas, CEO of Trees4Travel, a part of the ZEERO Group, lent a hand to planting trees at the event. 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 103,203 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 16,936 tons of greenhouse gas emissions via United Nations renewable energy projects.
"Experience Kissimmee's support for planting indigenous trees at the Pioneer Village is such a positive contribution to Kissimmee and all of Osceola County," said Nico Nicholas, CEO & Co-Founder, ZEERO Group. "It was a great experience to be involved with that in a hands-on way. All over the world, nature is threatened by unsustainable development. Local projects like these ensure that communities are involved in preserving and restoring trees - to the benefit of all."
To collect these numbers, Experience Kissimmee offers tree plantings instead of disposable promotional items at select trade shows and events. Attendees can scan a QR code and submit a request to have a tree planted on their behalf through Trees4Travel’s network.
Additionally, meetings and groups that qualify for the "It Pays to Meet in Kissimmee" incentive program are eligible for partial emissions compensation. One tree is planted for each actualized room night, and a certificate is generated for the meeting planner. For example, a meeting generating 500 room nights will result in 500 trees being planted.
All approved staff business travel emissions are compensated using the Trees4Travel emissions calculator. Each tree planted is accompanied by an investment in United Nations Certified Emission Reduction Carbon Credits.
Other sustainability efforts for Experience Kissimmee include:
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 our strengths and provides a blueprint for prioritizing areas of opportunity as we continue our 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 our annual non-profit support recipient. Since launching in December 2024, this program has resulted in 936 refills, diverting 28 pounds of waste, saving 529kWh of power, reducing 907 pounds of emissions, and preventing 5 pounds of ocean pollution.
O-Town Compost Collaboration
In 2025, Experience Kissimmee launched a waste diversion program with O-Town Compost to collect compostable food waste and kitchen scraps from our office. This material is composted and distributed to local farmers, promoting a circular food system in Central Florida.
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.
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. Our memberships include Sustainable Events Network Florida & Caribbean and Tourism Cares.
Staff Travel Policy Enhancements
In addition to compensating for staff business travel emissions, Experience Kissimmee has adopted sustainability options in our 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. Our Sustainable Travel landing page features outstanding eco-minded businesses and attractions in the destination.
For more information on our sustainability efforts, please visit Experiencekissimmee.com/travel-styles/sustainable-travel.
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About Experience Kissimmee:
Celebrating a decade of success, Experience Kissimmee, the official tourism authority for Osceola County, Florida, is dedicated to creating economic opportunities by driving tourism to the region. Known as the Vacation Home Capital of the World®, Kissimmee offers a wide variety of accommodations, with convenient access to world-famous theme parks and just minutes from Orlando International Airport (MCO). With a vision to be a trailblazer in destination marketing, Experience Kissimmee promotes Central Florida’s diverse tourism experiences to the world. By welcoming millions of visitors each year, whether for leisure, business, or sports events, the organization is committed to support local economic growth and continues to position the region as a premier travel destination. For more information, visit experiencekissimmee.com.
About Kissimmee:
Located at the heart of Florida, Kissimmee is 25 minutes from Orlando International Airport (MCO), close to world-famous theme parks and attractions, offers a variety of shopping and dining locations, and provides access to natural spaces" and outdoor adventures carefully preserved natural spaces and outdoor adventures. Also known as the Vacation Home Capital of the World®, Kissimmee has approximately 50,000 options of accommodations, including sprawling hotels and resorts, and more than 30,000 vacation homes ranging from two-bedroom condos to 15-bedroom mansions.