Here’s a question Florida always has an answer for: What’s new? Between the new attractions, new and future adventures at theme parks, new dining options, expanded airlift and upgrades at major convention centers, it’s not an exaggeration to say the Sunshine State is in a constant state of flux when it comes to all things tourism-related.
“New product keeps us top-of-mind for meeting planners,” says Cheryl Hatcher, director of meetings and events for Visit Florida. “It seems as if there’s always something new being announced that will benefit our meetings and incentives markets.”
But nowhere is Florida’s forward trajectory more apparent than on its hotel scene, as new openings, reopenings and massive renovations continue to reshape the lodgings landscape. And more often than not, that new shape is taking the form of a more meetings-focused environment, a trend that many Florida tourism leaders find to be downright inspirational.
“Part of what meeting planners find inspiring about Florida is our diverse collection of hotels and resorts,” Hatcher says. “We’re offering more options than ever now and in the coming years. This allows planners to find exactly what fits the needs of their group, instead of having to compromise.”
Palm Beach Gardens’ PGA National Resort and Spa, for one, recently completed a $100 million renovation, upgrading rooms top to bottom, opening new specialty suites, adding a new golf course and just generally unveiling a more contemporary look.
“We evolved our products to be better for the meeting community,” says David Fine, the property’s senior vice president of sales, marketing and revenue, who adds that more than half of the resort’s business is group related.
Meanwhile, new hotels and resorts promise to be significant additions to Florida’s meetings and incentives portfolio. Among the highly anticipated openings is the Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach, slated to arrive in 2015 in a beachfront tower once occupied by a Trump property. It is an infusion of luxury gladly welcomed by the CVB.
“It will continue to elevate the upscale offerings on the beach,” notes Christine Tascione, vice president of convention and group sales for the Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB.
Also due in 2015 is an Aloft hotel in downtown Sarasota, while in 2016, look for the Hard Rock Daytona Beach and the Margaritaville Resort on Hollywood Beach, the latter offering 350 rooms and more than 30,000 square feet of meeting and convention space.
In the meantime, following is a roundup of some of the state’s other major hotel openings and renovations. PageBreak
Trump National Doral Miami recently became part of the Trump Hotel Collection. A multimillion-dollar renovation is planned for the property, which has 694 guest rooms, 94 suites and 100,000 square feet of meeting space.
Fort Lauderdale’s Lago Mar Resort and Club revamped the kitchens of 43 poolside and oceanside suites with top-of-the-line appliances, custom cabinetry and granite countertops.
Recently opened on the Daytona Beach oceanfront is Hyatt Place, offering 143 rooms, 800 square feet of meeting space and a complimentary e-room business center with PC and Mac computers.
Club Med Sandpiper Bay in Port St. Lucie, the brand’s only all-inclusive resort in the U.S., recently added the Riverside Grill, overlooking the St. Lucie River and boasting a classic American grill menu with Floridian and French influences. To work off the calories at this sports-minded resort, a new cardio studio hosts a variety of classes, from step and yoga to Zumba and cardio-kickboxing.
One of the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club’s more popular oceanfront guest buildings, the Beach House, reopened March 1 after an extensive, four-month renovation. All 20 oceanfront rooms and suites now feature oversized windows, king and queen bedding, luxurious carpets and draperies, designer furniture and custom art work. In addition, each room is equipped with a desk and Wi-Fi Internet access.
The Peabody Orlando was reflagged the Hyatt Regency Orlando last October. Connected to the Orange County Convention Center, the property offers 1,641 guest rooms and suites, 315,000 square feet of function space and a 22,000-square-foot spa.
Orlando’s Rosen Plaza is now connected to the Orange County Convention Center, completing the fourth and final link in connecting the center with adjacent International Drive hotels. Last fall, the $2.5 million Gary Sain Memorial Skybridge–named in honor of the Visit Orlando president and CEO who passed away in May 2012–came on the heels of other recent improvements at Rosen Plaza, including floor-to-ceiling renovations of all 800 guest rooms.
The Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate recently added the 46,000-square-foot Osceola County Conference Center to its lineup of convention facilities, bringing the total square footage for meetings to 128,000. The new center features a 28,800-square-foot ballroom, eight flexible meeting rooms and an event lawn that allows planners to stage outdoor events year-round. The 720-room resort now offers a greater variety of ballrooms, boardrooms and breakout space.
The new Embassy Suites Orlando-Lake Buena Vista South offers 300 suites and 40,000 square feet of meeting, prefunction and event space, including two ballrooms, 15 breakout rooms and 10 boardrooms. PageBreak
Following a $14 million renovation, the 146-room Villas of Grand Cypress in Orlando boasts new interiors, upgraded furniture and fixtures, and enhanced in-room technology in all of its guest accommodations, as well as a new fitness center featuring state-of-the-art equipment with a built-in home theater.
Creating a Florida-style oasis was the inspiration behind room renovations at the Doubletree by Hilton Orlando at SeaWorld, whose natural tones and wood accents are complemented by such perks as 32-inch flat-screen TVs, high-speed Internet access and premium bath amenities.
This summer, B Hotels and Resorts makes its debut in the Walt Disney World Resort, steps away from the theme parks and waterparks, and with all the perks of an on-property location, including complimentary and continuous park transportation. The 394-room resort will include 25,000 square feet of meeting and event space, including a ballroom and 10 meeting rooms, centrally located on the ground floor level.
Newly opened at Universal Orlando Resort is phase one of Cabana Bay Beach Resort, the largest of Universal’s four on-site hotels, with 1,800 rooms and when fully complete, a 10-lane bowling alley, two massive pools with sand beaches, a lazy river, a water slide and more.
Located across from the Orange County Convention Center, the Westin Orlando Universal Boulevard just opened the Lotus Ballroom, a 5,400-square-foot conference and event center, bringing the property’s meeting and function space to 13,500 square feet.
The Alfond Inn opened last year in the heart of Winter Park. The stylishly elegant, 112-room property features 10,000 square feet of meeting space for groups of up to 500, while outdoor gardens feature an additional 10,000 square feet of space for alfresco events. Highlights of the property include its signature restaurant, Hamilton’s Kitchen, as well as a collection of striking contemporary art.
The Hilton Ocala recently added the Hilton Palm Terrace, a 15,000-square-foot outdoor patio complete with a semi-permanent special event/meeting pavilion that can accommodate more than 600 for a seated dinner. The new facility is adjacent to the hotel’s 13,000-square-foot multilevel pool deck and six-acre grass paddock.
Home to more than 1,200 accommodations and vacation rentals, not to mention copious meeting space, Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort recently opened two new private event venues: the Beach Club, featuring a poolside location with Gulf views; and the Burnt Pine Golf Club, hosting both large and small events in a private setting.
Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa completed a $12.5 million renovation that included a redesigned 202-room Spa Tower, a dramatic new lobby, a newly refreshed Serenity by the Sea Spa, a major expansion at Sandcastles Restaurant and additional seating at Sandcastles Lounge and Hadashi Sushi Bar. The renovation is part of a $30 million transformation that also refreshed the resort’s meeting space.PageBreak
Set to open directly across from the Emerald Coast Convention Center in May is the Holiday Inn Resort Fort Walton Beach, featuring 152 rooms, an indoor heated pool, an outdoor pool with a hot tub, a lazy river with a waterfall, a business center, 2,500 square feet of Gulf-front meeting space and free Wi-Fi in all rooms and common areas.
The newly opened Epicurean Hotel is a gourmand’s dream. Set in the Hyde Park district of South Tampa, the boutique property was a collaboration between Bern’s Steak House and Mainsail Lodging and Development, and it’s completely foodie-focused with nearly 200 personalized services and special amenities, including cooking demonstrations and wine tastings.
Groups can hone their skills at the Epicurean Theatre, outfitted with three Viking convection ovens, six gas burners and All-Clad cookware. Classes include Champagne 101, Tea Blending, Food Pairing and Sustainable Winemaking & Seafood, to name a few. Of course, there is traditional gathering space, including the Grand Cru Ballroom and a second-floor outdoor garden terrace for up to 300.
Hard Rock International launched Mix, an in-room DJ experience, at all of its hotels and casinos, including Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino properties in Tampa and Hollywood, Fla. (www.seminolehardrockhollywood.com). Guests now create their own personal jam sessions, with customized playlists, guitars, amps, headphones and digital mixing software all delivered to their hotel room door.
Tampa’s Saddlebrook Resort improved its look as well as its tech capabilities with a newly landscaped courtyard featuring cobblestone pavers, and a partnership with iBAHN to equip the conference center with broadband offerings that include private networks. The 480-acre resort includes two 18-hole golf courses, a 45-court tennis complex, a Sports Village and 95,000 square feet of meeting and event space.
The Sundial Beach Resort on Sanibel recently upgraded its public spaces, food and beverage outlets, banquet facilities, spa, lobby and front desk areas. Additional plans call for pool complex refurbishments and a new fitness center.
In the Florida Keys, Tranquility Bay Resort on the island of Marathon recently added 16 tropical garden guest rooms that boast private pools. The waterfront property also includes 87 two- and three-bedroom beach houses set on a private shoreline.
The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village is expanding its 25,000 square feet of meeting space this spring with the addition of four new breakout rooms, each accommodating up to 49.
Two SunStream Hotels & Resorts have been named as part of the Florida Green Lodging Program: The DiamondHead Beach Resort & Spa on Fort Myers Beach, and Bellasera Hotel in Naples. mf
