Orlando Warehouse Space: Central Florida Distribution Hub and Tourism-Driven Demand

Eric Penaranda serves as senior vice president and market officer for Link Logistics in Orlando, where he oversees warehouse and industrial properties serving diverse Central Florida industries. With Orlando positioned in the geographic center of Florida, Eric helps businesses leverage the region's statewide distribution advantages, major airport connectivity and unique tourism-hospitality demand drivers. Link Logistics’ Orlando portfolio includes both established warehouse facilities and new developments, offering businesses strategic access to Florida's 23 million residents and the 75+ million annual visitors flowing through the region. In this Q&A, Eric discusses Orlando warehouse space for lease—what drives demand, how new developments are improving connectivity and why Orlando serves multiple distribution models.

What drives demand for industrial real estate in Orlando?

Eric: Orlando is uniquely positioned in the center of Florida. When users are looking for statewide distribution—connecting to major population centers and the 23 million people residing in Florida from the Panhandle all the way down to South Florida—Orlando is right in the middle of it all. If a company wants to house an operation and reach all of Florida's major cities within a one-day roundtrip with no overnight stays, Orlando logistics real estate is ideal for statewide distribution.

We also serve strong local consumption and local distribution. Orlando is a major tourist hub—Orlando International Airport sees roughly 60 million travelers per year, and Orlando as a market sees 75 million visitors per year. We have the second-largest convention center in the country, plus major theme parks such as Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort and the new Universal Epic Universe, creating significant warehouse demand. Link Logistics’ infill-focused Orlando warehouse portfolio is strategically positioned to support location-sensitive users supplying Universal, Disney, regional hotels and the convention center.

The Orlando market has a very dynamic, diverse user base and is not limited to one specific industry driver. The market serves a wide spectrum of users ranging from bulk third-party and statewide logistics operators to local consumption, manufacturing, tourism and aerospace. 

Can you explain Orlando's industrial submarkets and how they serve different needs?

Eric: Each Orlando submarket serves a unique purpose, driven by proximity to key transportation routes and customer destinations. Traditionally, the southeast submarket serves airside cargo, the convention center and statewide logistics operators given its location near the airport and key interstates connecting to major Florida metros. 

The southwest is best positioned to serve local distribution and consumption given its proximity to theme parks, hotels and major residential pockets. Distribution beyond local destinations is inefficient from the southwest submarket because it experiences the heaviest tourism traffic in Orlando.

What emerging trends should businesses know about in Orlando?

Eric: New construction projects throughout Orlando are focusing on infill locations with excellent connectivity to transportation corridors. There is increased emphasis going into location and access to interstates now. For companies evaluating Orlando, the new developments offer better regional distribution connectivity than ever before. Location relative to transportation infrastructure has become a key differentiator.

Link Logistics’ Mahogany Pointe development is a great example, as it’s positioned approximately one mile from a major interstate and two miles from Orlando International Airport’s airside cargo. With businesses prioritizing location, Mahogany Pointe is uniquely positioned to provide value to users focused on logistics efficiency. 

How does Link Logistics support companies looking for warehouse space in Orlando?

Eric: We're able to support organic growth as a result of our portfolio diversity. We have both newly developed warehouse properties and existing buildings across a wide variety of submarkets, which gives us flexibility to accommodate customers as they grow and evolve.

Just last year, we supported a major last-mile logistics provider’s growth with an expansion and relocation to a submarket that better meets their evolving logistics requirements.  

Looking ahead, what makes Orlando compelling for businesses evaluating warehouse space?

Eric: It's a growing market with diverse industries and strong fundamentals. Population growth has been a great story here—the Orlando region has grown to a population of approximately 3 million people. Orlando International Airport expanded in 2022, adding a dedicated international terminal. The theme parks continue to expand and evolve. Universal Epic Universe is Orlando’s newest and most modern tourist attraction. Brightline rail now connects Orlando to South Florida, with a planned expansion into Tampa. These infrastructure improvements create more connectivity and opportunity.

The fundamentals that drew businesses to Orlando in the past—location, tourism demand, population growth—are accelerating, making the market increasingly attractive for warehouse and distribution operations.

Explore available warehouse and distribution space in Orlando to learn more about industrial real estate opportunities in Central Florida.