January revenue of $9 million topped the $8 million collected in last year's comparable period and marked the sixth straight month collections have been up over last year.

"Collections for January were very strong, coming in ahead of last January's collections by 16%," says Haynie. "Cumulative collections this fiscal year are 9% ahead of cumulative collections for last fiscal year, as well as almost 7% above budget projections."

The monthly collection numbers in Orange County, Central Florida's largest county, are watched closely by real estate developers, lenders and appraisers as a key barometer of the local hospitality industry's health. Haynie and her staff watch the collection numbers even more closely to make sure the county's annual bond payments of $78 million are met. The bonds were issued to pay for the $750-million expansion last year of the two million sf of exhibition space at the 35-year-old Orange County Convention Center.