Orlando Set for Entertainment and Hotel Upgrade

Orlando has some impressive projects in the works. The city that has topped the last seven editions of Cvent’s destination rankings is set for a significant upgrade.

It comes at a good time for Visit Orlando’s new chief sales officer, Lisa Messina, previously chief sales officer for the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority.

Resorts and Hotel Updates

The 1,641-room Hyatt Regency Orlando has been sold for $1.02 billion to Ares Management and Rida Development. In addition, a new Grand Hyatt Orlando with approximately 2,500 rooms is planned for an adjacent 45-acre lot. The two properties will offer more than 4,000 guestrooms at the Orange County Convention Center.

Universal Orlando Resort is opening its fourth theme park, Universal Epic Universe. The center of Epic Universe is Celestial Park, offering portals to four different themed lands. This expansion doubles the size of the original theme park. 

Three hotels are under construction in conjunction with the new project. Universal Stella Nova Resort will open on January 21, 2025. Universal Terra Luna Resort on February 25, 2025. The two hotels, operated by Loews Hotels & Co., will have 1,500 guestrooms. Universal Helios Grand Hotel will have 500 guestrooms and a dedicated entrance into the new theme park. 

The Magic Kingdom, Disney’s flagship theme park in Florida and a popular venue for off-site activities during conventions, will undergo its most significant expansion in its 53-year history. The park plans to add an entirely new land, Tropical Americas. It is set to open in 2027.

In other hotel news, the $1.5 billion Evermore Orlando Resort opened in January. It features 2,013 bedrooms throughout 69 houses on 1,100 acres. Evermore includes 65,000 sq. ft. of indoor and outdoor event space, a 20-acre beach complex, and two golf courses.

Orlando’s first Conrad hotel opened the same month with 433 guestrooms, including 51 suites.

Westcourt Touted as Orlando’s ‘Urban Place’

Westcourt, a brand-new, 8.5-acre downtown mixed-use sports and entertainment district across from the Kia Center, will open in 2027. It will feature the first Kimpton property in Orlando. The hotel will have 261 guest rooms and more than 16,000 sq. ft. of indoor meeting space.

In addition, Westcourt will include a 3,500-capacity live event venue, 120,000 sq. ft. of entertainment, dining, and retail, multiple meeting areas, and 1.5 acres of outdoor common area.