Holiday Matsuri 2023
Saying Goodbye Is Never Easy
It was a bittersweet year for Holiday Matsuri. While the Orlando, Florida based anime convention enjoyed one of its best years ever, it also had to say a fond farewell to the Orlando World Center Marriott (OWCM). After eight years at that location, it’s finally moving on to bigger and better things.
Holiday Matsuri, or Holmat as it’s often called, has delighted anime enthusiasts since 2011 and has moved locations a few times - from a DoubleTree hotel, to an Embassy Suites, and then the Caribe-Royale which is adjacent to the OWCM. Holmat has been at the Marriott since 2016, just eight years of conventions. Well, it’s held seven events there thanks to the pandemic. That’s a fraction of time compared to some conventions, but it was long enough to enamor attendees.
The sprawling Marriott branded resort was as much a part of the identity of the convention as anything. Notable features like the large outdoor pool, Hycube hydroponic garden, and spacious convention center were much enjoyed and appreciated by attendees. It was an oasis of anime fun and celebration in the warm Florida weather at a time of year when much of the country is under ice and snow.
But all good things must come to an end. Holiday Matsuri had worn out its welcome and was forced to find a new home. Apparently the rowdy behavior of some attendees was just too much for the hotel management and they decided not to renew their contract with Holiday Matsuri. Whatever the threshold of tolerance is for drunk weebs and raunchy parties, Holiday Matsuri attendees managed to reach it. When the dates of the 2023 convention were announced, it was obvious that something was amiss between Holiday Matsuri and the OWCM. Holmat was forced to hold its 2023 event just before Christmas on the odd days of Wednesday through Friday. Most conventions are held Friday through Sunday, so this was indeed very odd. Being held on weekdays meant that some people were unable to attend due to work. It was also too close to Christmas for some attendees who had family obligations.
The OWCM is booked with conventions for much of December. Marriott could have offered the weekend prior, but it was given to a volleyball tournament instead, or something like that. It’s almost like the hotel gave the con the middle finger of dates. Additionally, the hotel required attendees to pay a non-refundable deposit due by September 1st, but I think they rolled that back after people complained.
There was some conjecture about why Holiday Matsuri was forced to move. Reports circulated that parts of the pool had been damaged by attendees and that law enforcement was called to break up room parties. Despite the economic boost that a convention of this size must be to a hotel, there’s a breaking point where it just isn’t worth it, or at least it would be less hassle to book a different convention. This isn’t to say that anime convention attendees are more rambunctious than other types of conventions. I’ve always held the belief that a dentist convention could be just as rowdy as an anime convention. When you gather together a bunch of like-minded people at a vacation resort, they’re likely to vibe and loosen their inhibitions and do things they normally wouldn’t do. If you think orgies only happen at anime cons, think again 😬. At the size of Holiday Matsuri, estimated at 20,000 attendees, the Marriott had finally had enough.
With a history of negative incidents and having reached a substantial size, Holiday Matsuri had no other option than to schedule its 2024 convention at a new location. Undoubtedly Holmat did its research when looking for a new venue. There are only so many locations in the Orlando area capable of holding an event of this size. Some people suggested the nearby Gaylord Palms hotel. The Gaylord is a luxury line of hotels from Marriott which feature impressively large atriums with glass ceilings and extensive theming. There are at least three anime conventions held at Gaylord resorts: Katsucon in National Harbor, Maryland is held at the Gaylord National, NanDesuKan at the Gaylord Rockies in Denver, Colorado, and WeebCon in Dallas, TX at the Gaylord Texan. Holmat could occupy the fourth of five Gaylord resorts, but it wouldn’t solve any long term problems and would really just be a side step. In the first place, the Gaylord Palms isn’t any larger than the OWCM. In fact, it has fewer guest rooms and only slightly more convention space. Issues with attendee behavior wouldn’t necessarily be any better at this location and their relationship with this hotel would likely sour as it did with the OWCM.
Changing locations is a lot of work for staff. It requires new planning at all levels of the event. Entry points, locations for various events, signage, hotel blocks, etc. Holmat needed a more permanent location and that’s where the gigantic Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) came into play. Home to large events like Megacon, the civic convention center can be a permanent home for Holiday Matsuri. It's the largest convention center in Orlando and is dedicated to holding events. It’s a big change for the con though. Gone is the grand pool with surrounding faux rock formations. The late night gatherings of attendees at the hotel lobby lounge likely won’t happen anymore. Holiday Matsuri just won’t be the same con again.
It’s not the first con to experience a change like this. Most conventions go through multiple changes of venue during their run and it’s not uncommon to completely change cities. Otakon did this when it moved from Baltimore to Washington, D.C.
Cosplayers and photographers are the ones most likely to miss the OWCM. It had interesting and recognizable features that made it a fun place to take photos. Unique shooting locations like the Hycube are no more (even at the Marriott since it officially closed in 2023). Instead we have a grand, boring, soulless shell of a building which doesn’t inspire excitement. It has the personality of a painted wall and the heart of a concrete floor. It’s known for its size and not much else. I’ve heard from multiple people that they will likely not attend Holiday Matsuri again simply because of the new venue.
It’s not all bad news though. Moving to a new space offers new opportunities and resolves past issues. Holiday Matsuri reached capacity at the OWCM. Attendees booked every room and overflowed to nearby hotels. A line of vehicles stretched from the lobby drop off point all the way to the traffic intersection blocks away. The parking garage was beyond full and required satellite parking lots and shuttles to be organized at great expense to the con.
There were many events at capacity in the OWCM and attendees were turned away at the door. The popular Cosplay Deviants contest left an estimated 100+ attendees outside with no way to enjoy it. Hallways were crowded and hotel staff were likely overwhelmed or at least annoyed by attendees' shenanigans. Moving to a facility designed to handle large crowds enables Holiday Matsuri to grow and expand in ways that are impossible at the previous location. The OCCC has more parking available, multiple hotels connected to it, and plenty of square footage for events.
The move to the OCCC can be viewed as a positive instead of a negative, but it all depends on your interests. If you enjoy cosplay and photography, you might be disappointed by the OCCC. If you enjoy all of the other activities that anime conventions offer, you might enjoy it more. Bigger isn’t always better, but at least you won’t have to worry about finding a seat at a panel or waiting in long lines for entry. These kinds of things can be easily mitigated at a large convention center.
Despite plans for a new venue, the 2023 event went on as usual at the OWCM. Artists and vendors tended their booths, gamers gamed, and people participated in the cosplay contest. There were raves, concerts, guest panels and a maid cafe. Photographers and cosplayers climbed the rock formations despite numerous announcements to not do so. For many it was a final goodbye to a beloved location. In reality, Holiday Matsuri is starting a new chapter and is in a position to become a larger, better, and more enjoyable event. No matter where you stand on the choice of venue, it will be interesting to see what happens next.
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