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Orlando’s continued growth sets it apart, year after year, says Casandra Matej, president and CEO of Visit Orlando. “With the highly anticipated start of construction at the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) and capital investments at Orlando International Airport, the destination has entered a new era of meetings and service innovation, setting the stage for exciting experiences for years to come.”
Currently featuring 2.1 million square feet of exhibit space, OCCC recently broke ground on its Grand Concourse Expansion, a $560 million project that will enhance the North-South Building and improve connectivity between concourses. Set to conclude in 2029, the expansion will add 44,000 square feet of meeting space and a 100,000-square-foot ballroom.
The OCCC connects to more than 5,200 guest rooms, including Hilton Orlando, with 249,000 square feet of meeting space; Rosen Centre, with more than 160,000 square feet of function space; Hyatt Regency Orlando, with 315,000 square feet of conference space; and Rosen Plaza Orlando, with more than 60,000 square feet of function space.
According to Visit Orlando, several hotels debuted multimillion-dollar renovations within the last three years. These include the 1,217-room Caribe Royale Orlando, with more than 260,000 square feet of function space; 502-room Waldorf Astoria, with 120,000 square feet of event space; 1,009-room Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek, with more than 231,000 square feet of space; 998-room JW Marriott Orlando Grand Lakes, with 225,822 square feet of function space; and 247-room Grand Bohemian Orlando, Autograph Collection, with 10,107 square feet of event space.
The new 500-room Universal Helios Grand Hotel, A Loews Hotel features 5,000 square feet of function space and a dedicated entrance to Universal Epic Universe, the first major theme park to open in Orlando in 25 years, while Universal Stella Nova and Universal Terra Luna Resorts added 1,500 guest rooms to Universal Orlando Resort’s hotel portfolio. Also at Universal Orlando, Loews Portofino Bay Hotel has 42,000 square feet of indoor and 47,000 square feet of outdoor event space. Loews Royal Pacific Resort and Loews Sapphire Falls Resort share The Loews Meeting Complex at Universal Orlando, which features 247,000 square feet of function space.
Other major conference hotels and resorts include Conrad Orlando, located at Evermore Orlando Resort, with 65,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space; DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando at Sea World, with 100,000 square feet of event space; Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes, with 126,578 square feet of event space; and Rosen Shingle Creek, with more than 400,000 square feet of indoor and more than 136,000 square feet of outdoor event space.
Walt Disney World Resort has five dedicated convention hotels, according to Disney Meetings and Events, which can help with creative resources, immersive experiences, multimedia production, branding, and more. Top resort hotels include Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, with 223,000 square feet of event space; Disney’s Contemporary Resort, with a 115,000-square-foot convention facility; and Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resort, with nearly 100,000 square feet of meeting and event space. Disney’s Boardwalk Inn has 20,000 square feet of function space, and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa has 40,000 square feet of event space. This summer, Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin is expected to complete a $275 million renovation and expansion project, unveiling a 120,000-square-foot expansion of the Dolphin’s event space.
