Black Meetings & Tourism - ORLANDO MEETINGS: WHAT’S NEW & NEXT IN 2020 AND BEYOND

Industry Briefs
ORLANDO MEETINGS: WHAT’S NEW & NEXT IN 2020 AND BEYOND
Orlando, the no. 1 meetings destination in the United States (according to CVENT), is adding even more resources for meeting attendees, improvements at the conventions center, as well as new convention hotels, venues, and dining and attractions options throughout 2020 and beyond. "With a major convention center expansion, unprecedented hotel inventory growth, new dining and entertainment venues and new attractions, the next few years will be some of the most transformative years for Orlando as a meetings and convention destination," said George Aguel, president and CEO, Visit Orlando. DESTINATION NEWS Visit Orlando's new OrlandoMeeting.com has even more resources to offer planners for their events and the added benefit of the 360-degree Orlando Virtual Tour. The Orange County Convention Center, the second largest convention center in the country, is growing its capacity with a $605 million expansion, bringing total exhibit space to 2.3 million sq. ft. with expected completion in 2023. Orlando International Airport's South Terminal Complex, which is expected to open in 2021. The three-floor terminal facility will feature 19 new gates to accommodate at least 24 aircraft and more than 10 million passengers. ORLANDO'S NEW AND RENOVATED HOTELS AND VENUES Home to more than 450 hotels and resorts, including 150+ meeting hotels, Orlando is in the midst of the biggest two-year period for hotel expansion in over two decades. The JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa is scheduled to open in February 2020. The 16-story, 516 room resort offers a variety of luxurious amenities, rooftop terrace with panoramic views of nearby theme park fireworks, and more than 50,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, including 18 rooms and a 22,000 sq. ft. ballroom. Universal Orlando Resort completes its Endless Summer Resort with the opening Dockside Inn and Suites, adding 2,050 guestrooms, in March. The resort's sister property Surfside Inn and Suites opened in June 2019 with 750 rooms. With proximity to the Convention District, the resort is ideal for citywide convention needs. The Tru Hotel by Hilton Orlando Convention Center will open its doors in the heart of the Convention District in summer 2020 with 259 rooms, a variety of on-site amenities, and a walkway leading to the Orange County Convention Center's west concourse. Cambria Hotel Orlando International Airport has broken ground on its new hotel property. Set to open in 2021, the five-story, 106-room hotel will have upscale amenities, an open concept lobby, multi-function meeting and event space, and is located less than two miles from the airport. The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort will add a new hotel to its resort in 2021.The Cove will have 349 guestrooms and suites, 22,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and 16,700 sq. ft. of flexible outdoor space, which includes two new ballrooms, 12 meeting and breakaway rooms and a unique rooftop space.

Industry Briefs

ORLANDO MEETINGS: WHAT’S NEW & NEXT IN 2020 AND BEYOND

Orlando, the no. 1 meetings destination in the United States (according to CVENT), is adding even more resources for meeting attendees, improvements at the conventions center, as well as new convention hotels, venues, and dining and attractions options throughout 2020 and beyond.

"With a major convention center expansion, unprecedented hotel inventory growth, new dining and entertainment venues and new attractions, the next few years will be some of the most transformative years for Orlando as a meetings and convention destination," said George Aguel, president and CEO, Visit Orlando.

DESTINATION NEWS

Visit Orlando's new OrlandoMeeting.com has even more resources to offer planners for their events and the added benefit of the 360-degree Orlando Virtual Tour.
The Orange County Convention Center, the second largest convention center in the country, is growing its capacity with a $605 million expansion, bringing total exhibit space to 2.3 million sq. ft. with expected completion in 2023.
Orlando International Airport's South Terminal Complex, which is expected to open in 2021. The three-floor terminal facility will feature 19 new gates to accommodate at least 24 aircraft and more than 10 million passengers.

ORLANDO'S NEW AND RENOVATED HOTELS AND VENUES

Home to more than 450 hotels and resorts, including 150+ meeting hotels, Orlando is in the midst of the biggest two-year period for hotel expansion in over two decades.

The JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa is scheduled to open in February 2020. The 16-story, 516 room resort offers a variety of luxurious amenities, rooftop terrace with panoramic views of nearby theme park fireworks, and more than 50,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, including 18 rooms and a 22,000 sq. ft. ballroom.
Universal Orlando Resort completes its Endless Summer Resort with the opening Dockside Inn and Suites, adding 2,050 guestrooms, in March. The resort's sister property Surfside Inn and Suites opened in June 2019 with 750 rooms. With proximity to the Convention District, the resort is ideal for citywide convention needs.
The Tru Hotel by Hilton Orlando Convention Center will open its doors in the heart of the Convention District in summer 2020 with 259 rooms, a variety of on-site amenities, and a walkway leading to the Orange County Convention Center's west concourse.
Cambria Hotel Orlando International Airport has broken ground on its new hotel property. Set to open in 2021, the five-story, 106-room hotel will have upscale amenities, an open concept lobby, multi-function meeting and event space, and is located less than two miles from the airport.
The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort will add a new hotel to its resort in 2021.The Cove will have 349 guestrooms and suites, 22,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and 16,700 sq. ft. of flexible outdoor space, which includes two new ballrooms, 12 meeting and breakaway rooms and a unique rooftop space.