Orlando

ORLANDO 

Local Update
• The 1,470-room Hilton Orlando unveiled 11,000 square feet of new meeting space, prefunction space and an additional registration desk. The expansion encompasses the new Key West and Key Largo meeting rooms, which are divisible by up to eight separate spaces, all adjacent to the existing 15,000-square-foot Florida Ballroom.

• The Element Orlando is scheduled to open in mid-2016. The eco-friendly hotel, less than a mile from Universal Studios Orlando, will feature 151 guest rooms, a 750-square-foot meeting room, a fitness center, complimentary breakfast and free Wi-Fi.

• LakeHouse, a new restaurant at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress, is now open for business, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. With soaring ceilings, natural light and views of Lake Windsong, the project is the result of a $2.8 million makeover of the former Cascades restaurant.

Universal Orlando 
• This fall, Universal Orlando will debut its fifth on-site hotel, the 1,000-room Loews Sapphire Falls Resort, which will be connected to the Loews Royal Pacific Resort. Sapphire Falls will have 115,000 square feet of meeting space; together, the properties will offer 247,000 square feet for meetings and 2,000 guest rooms.

• Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort will open two new towers comprising 400 guest rooms, adding to the property's current 1,800 rooms upon projected completion in 2017. This expansion will bring the total number of rooms at Universal to 5,600. Cabana Bay amenities will include two swimming pools, a lazy river, a 10-lane bowling alley, and walking proximity to Universal Orlando's theme parks and Universal CityWalk.

• Universal's Islands of Adventure will reopen the Incredible Hulk coaster this summer. Closed for refurbishment in 2015, the ride will feature a smoother coaster experience, enhancements to its storyline and a more immersive and high-tech feel.

• Also debuting this summer is Skull Island: Reign of Kong. The return of this legendary character to Orlando will be experienced by park guests in a king-size ride vehicle that will traverse a colossal attraction without the guide of traditional ride tracks -- living up to King Kong's moniker of "Eighth Wonder of the World."

Walt Disney World 
• The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel has completed half of its extensive, multiphase $125 million redesign. The Swan's 758 guest rooms and public spaces alrerady have been renovated, while the Dolphin's 1,509 guest rooms and public areas will be upgraded by 2017. The resort offers a total of more than 329,000 square feet of meeting space.

• The expansion of Disney Springs (the former Downtown Disney) is slated for completion this year. The outdoor venue has four distinct neighborhoods to explore -- The Landing, Marketplace, West Side and Town Center -- and will have more than 150 retail, dining and entertainment outlets. New restaurants that have recently opened include The Boathouse, Morimoto Asia, and the aviation-themed Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar.

• On Earth Day, April 22, a sweeping, immersive, animal-themed theatrical production, "Rivers of Light," will premiere as the first-ever nightly show at Disney's Animal Kingdom. With the the new waterside show, the park will transition from a day-into-night attraction, aglow with new experiences and entertainment celebrating marvels of nature, epic storytelling, innovative effects and a festive street party. 

Meeting Hotels: Within walking distance of the Orange County Convention Center are the 1,639-room Hyatt Regency Orlando, 1,417-room Hilton Orlando, 1,334-room Rosen Centre Hotel and 800-room Rosen Plaza Hotel.

To find and compare Orlando area properties, and to 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.

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 Venues: The Orlando Eye, a 400-foot-tall Ferris wheel within the new I-Drive 360 entertainment complex, features enclosed, temperature-controlled capsules -- each holding up to 15 guests -- offering expansive views of the Orlando area. A hospitality suite at the attraction accommodates up to 100. Including the surrounding real-estate, on-site events for as many as 2,500 guests can be arranged. (866) 228-6444.

The gears are turning on the creation of Universal Orlando's newest culinary concoction, the Toothsome Chocolate Factory & Savory Feast Emporium. The chocolate wonderland is set to open later this year at Universal CityWalk. The restaurant will bring together a specially created menu and an array of gourmet-level chocolates set in a 19th-century inspired, Steampunk chocolate factory. The venue will feature a wide variety of dishes, from all-day-brunch crépes and quiches to unique takes on classic steak, seafood and pasta dishes. Of course, dessert is the star of the menu, with over-the-top delights including a collection of artisan milkshake such as Bacon Brittle, Chocolate x5 and Red Velvet. (407) 363-8000.

Contact: Visit Orlando, (800) 643-0482.