August 20, 2019
By Featured Venues & Destinations
There’s a reason Orlando has been ranked by Cvent as the No. 1 meeting destination in the United States. While some top destinations may rest on their laurels, Orlando does just the opposite: the region’s business leaders are always innovating and investing. Therefore, no matter how many times you’ve been to The City Beautiful, there’s always something new to see — and Orlando’s lodging spots are no exception. Here are some of the latest hotel expansions and renovations.

Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Resort

The hotel’s Dolphin lobby is undergoing a $12 million redesign. After being completed this fall, the new lobby will be transformed into a sleek contemporary space, featuring new dining and beverage choices. The renovation marks the completion of the property’s $140 million-dollar, multi-year renovation to completely transform all 2,267 guest rooms in the resort. Renowned Manhattan design firm ICRAVE created the concept for the new space, drawing on inspiration from the lobby’s iconic dolphin fountain.

Marriott Downtown Hotel

Within walking distance of the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, the redesigned Marriott Orlando Downtown Hotel offers complimentary Wi-Fi and smart TVs with access to Netflix, YouTube and a hand-picked selection of TED Talks. The hotel has more than 17,000 square feet of meeting space and 11 naturally lit breakout rooms.

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort and Disney’s Yacht Club Report

The lakeside, American Southwest-themed resort, Disney’s Coronado Springs, is currently undergoing an expansion that will include a new 15-story tower. The expansion will add 500 new guest rooms, featuring suites and concierge-level services, as well as a boardroom and two multi-purpose rooms. The new tower includes rooftop dining with panoramic views of Lago Dorado, the resort’s centerpiece lake. The resort has 220,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space on one contiguous level. Disney Yacht Club Resort, known for its nautical touches and sophisticated amenities, is also adding 28,000 square feet of shared convention space. The new construction will bring the total amount of flexible meeting and event space at this popular resort location to 100,000 square feet.

Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace

Located at Disney Springs, the 1,011-room hotel has been relaunched following a multimillion-dollar renovation. Formerly known as Buena Vista Palace Resort & Spa, the property has unveiled new guestrooms, modernized its lobby bar and restaurants, and revamped meeting spaces. Groups can also enjoy easy access to Disney Springs with a connected pedestrian bridge to the dining, shopping and entertainment destination.

Doubletree by Hilton Orlando at SeaWorld and Doubletree by Hilton Universal Orlando Resort

Located next door to SeaWorld Orlando, the 1,004-room resort is in the midst of a significant expansion to add additional indoor and outdoor meeting space. Once completed, the hotel will have 100,000 square feet of event space, including a 20,000-square-foot ballroom. The Doubletree by Hilton near Universal Orlando Resort has invested over $30 million to upgrade the lobby and completely update their guest rooms, as well as public and function space.

Coming Soon:

If these exciting changes aren’t enough, Universal and Loews will debut Universal’s Aventura Hotel in the summer of 2018. The 16-story resort will include 600 guest rooms and five unique cuisine options. One highlight: A rooftop bar and grill, where guests can enjoy panoramic views of Universal Orlando and the surrounding tropical landscape. New in the Convention district, the Avanti Palms Resort and Conference Center (formerly the International Palms Resort & Conference Center) is scheduled to re-open in early 2018 with 652 all-new guest rooms, lobby and dining facilities, a pool and 18,000 square feet of prime function space. Marriott International has announced the construction of a new 16-story, 516-room luxury resort near Orlando’s theme parks. The JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort will feature numerous dining options, a rooftop bar with a view of nighttime fireworks, outdoor activities, spa and more than 50,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. The $282 million property is expected to open in 2020. Visit our Hotels & Venues page for more information about these and other hotels offering space, value and extraordinary options for every group size and budget. Also, don’t forget to contact us to learn how you can create an unforgettable meeting or submit your RFP now and let our destination experts go to work for you! Visit OrlandoMeetings.com for more information.

Featured Venues & Destinations

Explore destinations, hotels, convention centers, and other venues to find the perfect spot for meetings and events. Learn about the features and benefits they offer for planners, as well as the latest news on renovations, openings, and trends.

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