Orlando
Kissimmee
- The Lexington (407.843.8700; www.thelexingtonorlando.com), the first phase of downtown Orlando’s CityPlace project, recently opened. The Lexington features 227 studios and suites and 4,400 square feet of function space. When completed, CityPlace will offer high-rise condos, shopping and dining along an entire city block.
- Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge (407.876.2429; www.bayhill.com) recently completed a $7 million renovation to refurbish its 70 guest rooms and add another 2,000 square feet of meeting and event space, including five meeting and banquet rooms overlooking the 9th hole.
- The 510-room Florida Hotel and Conference Center (407.859.1500; www.thefloridahotelorlando.com) recently wrapped up a $23 million renovation that added three new ballrooms, bringing the property’s total square footage of meeting space to more than 50,000.
- The Westin Grand Bohemian in downtown Orlando is now an independent property, the Grand Bohemian Hotel–Orlando (407.996.9999; www.grandbohemianhotel.com).
- The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort (407.934.4000; www.swandolphin.com) completed the most recent phase of a $60 million redesign project that included new lobbies, public spaces, a contemporary art program, and newly upgraded prefunction space and meeting rooms.
- Ground broke in March on a 504-unit, $300 million condo-hotel project operated by the Wyndham Hotel Group (www.wyndham.com). Projected to open in November 2009, the property will include 30,000 square feet of meeting space, a 7,000-square-foot spa, two restaurants, and an 8,000-square-foot rooftop club.
Kissimmee
- The former Hyatt Orlando is now the Orlando Sun Resort (407.390.5800; www.lexingtonhotels.com), with 921 rooms and 60,000 square feet of meeting space.
- Scheduled for completion in late 2007, the Mona Lisa at Celebration (407.566.0444; www.monalisaatcelebration.com) will be a luxury condo-hotel offering 240 one- and two-bedroom suites.
- Like a slew of other Central Florida hotels, the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center (407.586.2000; www.gaylordpalms.com) went completely smoke-free this year. In addition, the hotel has added a new sushi restaurant and plans to open Urban Chic, a store new to the Orlando area.