Why Here?
Central Florida offers a variety of theme parks, expansive beaches and world-class golf at properties like the Streamsong Resort (above), which has become a prime destination for serious golfers since it opened last year. For overnight groups, a new 216-room lodge opened this past January.
On the Fly
Orlando International Airport has begun work on a $1.2 billion expansion and renovation that calls for construction of a new 16-gate terminal complex, a 3,500-space parking garage and a cell-phone waiting lot. The project is set for completion in 2017.
Record Crowds
Orlando welcomed 59 million visitors last year, setting an all-time record for visitors to any U.S. destination. The latest economic-impact figures for the city will be released later this year, but they're expected to increase from the more than $52 billion that travel and tourism brought in for 2012.
ORLANDO
• The Orange County Convention Center is undergoing a $187 million renovation, to finish in 2018, that is adding new furniture in public concourses and a new flexible ballroom space. The 2.1 million-square-foot facility received LEED certification for existing buildings last October.
• The Westin Orlando Universal Boulevard recently opened a 5,576-square-foot conference center and event space. The 315-room property now has a grand total of 13,685 square feet of function space.
• The Kessler Collection opened its latest boutique property, the 214-room Castle Hotel, last October. A modern version of a European-style castle, the hotel has a pool, a spa, a lounge, two outdoor terraces and more than 8,000 square feet of function space.
• In February, Grande Lakes Orlando announced a multiphase renovation at its two properties. In July, the 582-room Ritz-Carlton Orlando will open Highball & Harvest, a new casual dining restaurant serving Southern-inspired and locally sourced menu items, while the 1,000-room JW Marriott Orlando also plans to add a new restaurant featuring ingredients from the 13,000-square-foot on-site Whisper Creek Farm and signature craft beer brewed by the hotel's executive chef. The complex also is renovating its more than 150,000 square feet of indoor meetings space, to be completed by year's end.
• Universal Studios Florida is opening a new Harry Potter-themed area that will bring to life some of the experiences and shops found in and around London as portrayed in the books and films. This new space will connect to the neighboring Potter-themed attraction in the Islands of Adventures park via the new Hogwarts Express train.
• The Alfond Inn, a 112-room boutique hotel in Winter Park, just north of Orlando, was awarded an AAA Four Diamond rating in April. The property, which opened last September, includes 10,000 square feet of meeting space, a pool, a restaurant, a fitness center and dozens of museum-quality pieces of artwork on loan from the Alfond Collection of Contemporary Art at Rollins College.
• The Villas of Grand Cypress Golf Resort completed a $14 million renovation early last year that included new furnishings and technology in guest rooms and the addition of a new fitness center. The 146-room property has 10,480 square feet of meeting space.
• Last September, the 800-room Rosen Plaza Hotel opened the new Gary Sain Memorial Skybridge, connecting the property to the Orange Country Convention Center's West Building. The $2.5 million project was named for the Visit Orlando president and CEO who died in 2012. The hotel has more than 60,000 square feet of function space.
• Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando recently completed a $22 million renovation of its 750 guest rooms, which now feature Italian-inspired furnishings and designs. The resort has more than 42,000 square feet of meeting space.
• The new Element Orlando North will debut next July, becoming Starwood's third such property in the eco-centric brand to open in the Sunshine State. The 151-room hotel, designed for LEED certification, will feature a fitness center, an outdoor saline swimming pool and a 977-square-foot meeting room.
MEETING HOTELS: Downtown Orlando properties include the 290-room Sheraton Orlando Downtown and 247-room Grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando.
Along International Drive and near to the Orange County Convention Center are the 1,641-room Hyatt Regency Orlando; 1,417-room Hilton Orlando; 1,334-room Rosen Centre Hotel; 650-room Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando Resort, a Loews Hotel; and 582-room Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes.
In the general vicinity of Orlando International Airport are the 510-room Florida Hotel and Conference Center, 486-room Orlando Airport Marriott, 347-room DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando Airport and 288-room Holiday Inn Orlando-International Airport.
In Lake Buena Vista, near Walt Disney World Resort, are the 2,004-room Orlando World Center Marriott, 1,338-room Caribe Royale All-Suite Hotel & Convention Center, 1,149-room Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort, 815-room Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress and 490-room Sheraton Lake Buena Vista Resort.
In Kissimmee and Celebration are the 1,406-room Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center, 718-room Radisson Resort Orlando Celebration, 334-room Embassy Suites Orlando-Lake Buena Vista and 115-room Bohemian Hotel Celebration. In Reunion is the 320-room Reunion, a Salamander Golf and Spa Resort.
To find and compare hotels, and send RFPs, visit mcvenues.com.
CONVENTION CENTER: Orange County Convention Center; exhibit space, 2.1 million square feet; number of meeting rooms, 74; (407) 685-9800 or (800) 345-9845; occc.net
AIRPORT TRANSIT: Orlando International Airport, about 13 miles southeast of downtown Orlando and 14 miles east of the Orange County Convention Center/International Drive. Transfer cost by taxi, $35 to downtown, $33-$39 to the convention center/International Drive; by shuttle, $19 to downtown, $20 to the convention center/International Drive
TAXES: Orlando/Orange County: room tax, 6%; sales tax, 6.50%; total taxes on hotel rooms, 12.5%
Walt Disney World Resort hotels in Orange County: room tax, 6%; sales tax, 6.5%; total tax on hotel rooms, 12.5%
Disney properties in Osceola County: room tax, 6%; sales tax, 7%; total tax on hotel rooms, 13%
GROUP VENUE: The Hilton Orlando recently opened The Promenade, a new multifunctional outdoor event venue spanning more than 50,000 square feet, accessible in any combination of four spaces: the 10,500-square-foot elevated Sky Terrace patio; the 9,800-square-foot Grande Lawn; an 8,200-square-foot circular plaza with several water features, and a 4,500-square-foot garden surrounded by trees and flowers. For large parties, the entire space can be rented to accommodate up to 3,000 people. The 1,417-room Hilton Orlando also has 175,000 square feet of indoor function space. (407) 313-4300; thehiltonorlando.com
CONTACT: Visit Orlando, (407) 363-5872 or (800) 972-3304; visitorlando.com
Expansion Train
Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort has finished its largest expansion ever with the opening of the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train in Fantasyland. The coaster joins several other new attractions and dining options.
Off-Peak Snacking
Select Epcot eateries -- like La Cava del Tequila in the Mexico Pavilion and Spice Road Table in the Morocco Pavilion -- are open and serving small bites and beverages after hours through Sept. 15.
• The Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort, below, will open this August with 444 guest rooms, a Tom Fazio-designed golf course, a full-service spa and several dining options. For planners, the property will offer 37,750 square feet of function space.
• Disney is launching the MyMagic+ program, which will allow visitors at Walt Disney World Resort to book dining reservations, reserve access to select attractions and more. The initiative includes a dedicated website, a mobile app, Disney FastPass+ service and bands that attendees wear on their wrists.
• Last July, Disney's 1,260-room Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa opened a new spa facility with 10 treatment rooms and a raft of services including water therapy, myriad massages and facials, and more.
• The California Grill at the 655-room Disney's Contemporary Resort reopened last September following an extensive renovation and refreshed menu that emphasizes seasonal ingredients. For groups, the restaurant has two private dining rooms able to host 70 and 50 people, respectively. The nightly fireworks in the Magic Kingdom can be seen from the restaurant, which sits atop the resort.
• Coming to Disney's Animal Kingdom in 2017 is a new attraction inspired by the hit movie Avatar. The site will bring to life the mythical world of Pandora and its floating mountains and bioluminescent rainforests, along with live entertainment and a new night safari.
• Downtown Disney is undergoing an expansion and a transformation into Disney Springs. The project, when complete in 2016, will feature new private event options for groups.
MEETING HOTELS: Properties at Walt Disney World Resort are divided into two main categories: Disney-owned and -operated, and third-party properties designated as official Walt Disney World hotels.
Disney-owned and -operated properties include the 1,921-room Disney's Coronado Springs Resort, 1,260-room Saratoga Springs Resort, 867-room Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, 655-room Disney's Contemporary Resort, 621-room Disney's Yacht Club, 576-room Disney's Beach Club and 428-room Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort.
Third-party properties include the 1,509-room Walt Disney World Dolphin, 1,014-room Buena Vista Palace Hotel & Spa, 814-room Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista, 756-room Walt Disney World Swan, 394-room Royal Plaza in the Walt Disney World Resort and 229-room DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Orlando-Lake Buena Vista.
To find and compare hotels, and send RFPs, go to mcvenues.com.
AIRPORT TRANSIT: Orlando International Airport, about 20 miles northeast of Walt Disney World Resort. Transfer cost by taxi, about $50. Disney's Magical Express provides Walt Disney World Resort guests with free airport shuttles in addition to advance check-in for those traveling with participating airlines.
TAXES: Walt Disney World Resort properties in Orange County: room tax, 6%; sales tax, 6.5%; total tax on hotel rooms, 12.5%
Disney properties in Osceola County: room tax, 6%; sales tax, 7%; total tax on hotel rooms, 13%
GROUP VENUE: The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort can handle most any size meeting, thanks to its total of 329,000 square feet of function space, including 128,190 square feet for outdoor events. The resort also offers several private dining experiences, including a room that can accommodate up to 100 guests at Kimonos, which serves authentic Japanese cuisine. (888) 828-8850; swandolphinrestaurants.com
CONTACT: Walt Disney World Resort, (321) 939-7129; disneymeetings.com
Tempting Tampa
The 137-room
Epicurean Hotel opened late last year, a collaboration with Tampa's famous Bern's Steak House. The property features rustic, culinary-themed design elements like hemp chandeliers, food-themed artwork and butcher-block-style cabinets in guest rooms. Elevage, the hotel's signature restaurant, serves dishes such as lobster and bacon hash, a 100-day dry-aged strip steak and lamb shoulder lasagna. Additional in-house F&B outlets include a pâtisserie, a rooftop bar serving handcrafted cocktails and a lobby bar. The property also offers approximately 5,200 square feet of function space and a new 2,800-square-foot spa. (813) 999-8700;
epicureanhotel.com
The Aloft Tampa Downtown will open next month in the former Mercantile Bank building. The 130-room property will include a terrace pool deck and 685 square feet of meeting space. (813) 898-8000; aloft.ht/RniuKT
The 130-room Le Méridien Tampa is scheduled to open this month with 4,800 square feet of meeting space. The hotel is in a restored 108-year-old federal courthouse and features an outdoor pool, a fitness center and several dining options. (813) 221-9555; lemeridientampa.com
DAYTONA BEACH
• The Shores Resort and Spa is undergoing a $3 million renovation of its room furnishings, carpet, pool deck, restaurant and more. The 212-room property has more than 20,000 square feet of meeting space.
• In May, Hard Rock International announced plans for a new Hard Rock Hotel to open in Daytona Beach in 2016. The beachfront complex will have 250 guest rooms, 100 condominium units and a signature Hard Rock Café. Stay tuned for further details.
• The 143-room Hyatt Place Dayton Beach-Oceanfront opened last October. Features include an oceanfront pool and pool bar, 800 square feet of meeting space and free Wi-Fi throughout.
MEETING HOTELS: Properties in Daytona Beach with significant meeting space include the 744-room Hilton Daytona Beach/Ocean Walk Village, 323-room Plaza Resort and Spa, 244-room Daytona Beach Resort and Conference Center, and 212-room Shores Resort and Spa.
CONVENTION CENTER: Ocean Center Convention & Entertainment Complex; exhibit space, 167,980 square feet; number of meeting rooms, 31; (800) 858-6444; oceancenter.com
AIRPORT TRANSIT: Daytona Beach International Airport, four miles west of downtown. Transfer cost by taxi, $12
TAXES: Room tax, 6%; sales tax, 6.5%; total tax on hotel rooms, 12.5%
GROUP VENUE: The 212-room Shores Resort and Spa offers space for beachfront events. The two-level ocean terrace can host up to 250 for a reception, where attendees can relax around cozy firepits while roasting s'mores. (386) 767-7350; shoresresort.com
CONTACT: Discover Daytona Beach, (386) 255-0415; daytonabeach.com