ORLANDO
Rosen Hotels & Resorts celebrated the opening of the Gary Sain Memorial Skybridge, which now connects the Rosen Plaza with the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) West Building, with a recent ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony at the hotel. The new Skybridge completes the fourth and final link in connecting the OCCC with adjacent International Drive hotels.
Construction of the $2.5 million Skybridge was funded entirely by Rosen Hotels & Resorts. Coming in well under its $3.2 million budget, the 745-foot connector was built in just over three months and will provide thousands of meetings attendees annually with a safe, weather-proof and traffic-free "commute" from their Rosen Plaza guestrooms to the convention center.
In attendance at the ceremony were Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs, who proclaimed the day in honor of Gary Sain, as well as Visit Orlando President & CEO George Aguel and Harris Rosen, president and COO, Rosen Hotels & Resorts. They, along with other Orlando tourism industry leaders, cut a ribbon to officially open the Skybridge named in honor of the previous Visit Orlando President & CEO, Gary Sain, who passed away in May 2012. Sain had led the region's main tourism-marketing agency since 2007, bringing about reorganization, a new vision and a name change to what had for years been called the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, or Orlando CVB.
"It is with great honor and respect that we dedicate this Skybridge to my friend and colleague Gary Sain," said Rosen. "Gary worked tirelessly to build and strengthen this destination during his time with us. Rest assured, Gary's legacy continues here today."
The 800-room Rosen Plaza provides its guests with deluxe accommodations with a variety of amenities such as the outdoor heated pool and whirlpool and the Fitness center featuring "Life Fitness" cardiovascular and exercise machines and a full-range of free weights. Four on-site restaurants include Jack's Place, voted the number one restaurant on International Drive by Orlando Magazine, with casual fine dining.
The hotel is conveniently located on International Drive across the street from Pointe Orlando's dining and entertainment complex featuring a 20-screen IMAX stadium-seating theatre and popular retailers.
Celebrating 30 years of success, the Orange County Convention Center is the second-largest convention facility in the U.S.
