The booming hotel and resort industry is enjoying an especially fruitful time in Florida, with an explosion of new infrastructure and updates to existing convention centers, new attractions, new restaurants and new and upgraded hotels.
As Florida’s colorful development history can attest, there’s always something new and improved to discover in the Sunshine State, where meetings and tourism projects are ripening on the vine like an orchard full of oranges.
CAPE CORAL
The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village opened its 30,000-square-foot conference center, the $15 million Tarpon Point Ballroom. The ballroom’s 12,250 square feet of space will accommodate 1,400 guests. The resort offers more than 50,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor meeting rooms and event space.
DAYTONA
The 145-room Marriott Autograph Collection hotel The DAYTONA is scheduled to open in mid-April 2019. Located across from Daytona International Speedway, it will be the area’s first “track-side” full-service hotel, featuring balconies with views of Victory Circle and the Daytona International Speedway, an outdoor bar and terrace, a heated swimming pool and spa, 2,400 square feet of meeting space and more than 10,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor event space.
The 744-room Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort completed a $25 million renovation. Accommodations feature views of the pool, the city of Daytona Beach or the Atlantic Ocean. The hotel has more than 60,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
Hard Rock Hotel Daytona Beach, with 200 rooms and 20,000 square feet of adaptable meeting space, opened in May 2018.
DELRAY BEACH
The Ray is scheduled to open in summer 2019. It has 141 rooms and suites. The square footage of meeting space is to be determined, but the property will include three restaurants (one on the roof), a rooftop pool and lounge area, a fitness center, two levels of underground parking and an elevated, glass-enclosed event space for up to 300 guests.
Aloft Delray Beach broke ground in the city’s SofA (South of Atlantic Avenue) district in 2017. The developers expect the 121-room hotel to open in 2019.
EMERALD COAST
Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort broke ground on a 250-room boutique hotel adjacent to the Baytowne Conference Center. The new full-service hotel will include a restaurant, lobby bar, room service, luxury spa, fitness facility and signature rooftop pool and bar. In addition to these amenities, the hotel will feature over 20,000 feet of meeting space and feature a 13,000-square-foot ballroom. Completion of the hotel is slated for April 2020.
The Margaritaville Beach Resort, Panama City Beach will open in spring 2021. The resort, which will be built on more than 13 acres, will include a full-service hotel, multiple pools, a lazy river and several signature Margaritaville food and beverage concepts.
The 170-room Henderson, a Salamander Beach & Spa Resort in Destin added new wellness programming and facilities such as a Himalayan Salt Suite, a Flotation Therapy Suite and a Cryotherapy Suite. The Henderson offers specialized breakout activities that include “Spa After Dark” treatments and in-room massage treatments. The hotel offers 30,000 square feet of meeting space.
The Hilton Sandestin recently commenced a $5 million capital improvement project that will include large-scale upgrades to guest rooms and outdoor dining spaces. The property offers 602 guest rooms and six on-site dining venues, including the Emerald Coast’s only AAA Four-Diamond steakhouse. It features 40,000 square feet of flexible indoor meeting space and 20,000 square feet of outdoor event space.
FLORIDA KEYS
The new Playa Largo Resort & Spa has more than 40,000 square feet of total indoor and outdoor space. The luxury resort accommodates a range of events from large corporate meetings to intimate incentive trips. There are 177 rooms and suites, 10 private one-bedroom bungalows, and a six-bedroom Beach House with its own pool and beach. Amenities include 14.5 acres of private beach, three restaurants, a marina, tennis courts and spa.
Havana Cabana at Key West Hotel has 106 rooms and 1,800 square feet of meeting space. The new Cuban-themed hotel features tropical decor and a host of boutique amenities. With an indoor function space of 460 square feet, Havana Cabana is perfect for small meetings.
FORT MYERS
The 354-room Margaritaville Resort Fort Myers Beach is in the planning stages to be built near the Times Square area of Fort Myers Beach. Construction is expected to begin in December and opening is set for early 2021.
The Luminary Hotel & Co. plans to build a 237-room hotel along the waterfront of downtown Fort Myers in late 2019 or early 2020. The 12-story hotel will also include 8,000 square feet of function space and will be connected to the Harborside Event Center.
KEY WEST/ISLAMORADA
The 214-room Cheeca Lodge and Spa unveiled a $25 million property-wide renovation that included extensive updates to its meetings and events spaces. The hotel features 4,600 square feet of indoor meeting space and a myriad of outdoor venues for special events.
Postcard Inn Beach Resort & Marina reopened in November, unveiling extensive upgrades following 2017’s Hurricane Irma. The hotel has 151 rooms, suites and seaside cottages, the celebrated Holiday Isle Tiki Bar and more than 130,000 square feet of beachfront indoor and outdoor space.
Hawks Cay Resort reopened August 30, 2018, after repairing hurricane damage. The reopening marks the completion of a more than $50 million renovation that focused on the main hotel, which includes the lobby, 177 guest rooms, two restaurants and public areas. The resort offers 20,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space accommodating up to 480 guests in the Dolphin Ballroom and 450 guests in the overseas ballroom.
HOLLYWOOD
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood will have 1,300 rooms (up from 500) after a renovation and 160,000 square feet of meeting space (up from 40,000 square feet). The $1.5 billion renovation project is expected to be completed in mid-2019.
The 307-room Costa Hollywood Beach Resort opened in October 2018. The resort features 3,500 square feet of traditional meeting space (to be completed this year) and a 32,000-square-foot rooftop and courtyard (already completed) for events and meetings.
JACKSONVILLE
Tru by HIlton Jacksonville Town Center opened, with 98 guest rooms, an outdoor pool and a 24-hour fitness center.
The new Hyatt Place St. Johns Town Center has 160 rooms, each featuring a Cozy Corner with sofa-sleeper, in Jacksonville’s Southside neighborhood. It has 3,391 square feet of meeting space.
Sheraton Jacksonville Hotel completed a million-dollar-plus renovation in 2018 and is embarking on a $1.25 million enhancement that will focus on modernizing and expanding the hotel’s fitness center. The project will double its size as well as enhance its public area amenities and meeting space technology.
A renovation of the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront included the addition of meeting space and a complete overhaul of the hotel’s 961 guest rooms.
MIAMI/FT. LAUDERDALE
The 415-room Eden Roc Miami Beach is newly transformed after a multimillion-dollar renovation program. Updates included all 415 rooms, Morris Lapidus’ 16-seat lobby bar, the introduction of the signature Nobu restaurant and the flagship Nobu Hotel tower (boasting a hotel-within-a-hotel concept), and the soon-to-open Malibu Farm restaurant. The previous “Spa Eden Roc” will be reinvented as Esencia Wellness.
The reinvigorated facility includes the 22,000-square-foot Esencia Spa, featuring 18 treatment cabins, a spa relaxation room and Eden Roc signature treatments such as the “Rocks, Not Diamonds” volcanic massage and the “Keep Calm” aromatherapy massage.
Sole Miami, A Noble House Resort completed a renovation and opened a new restaurant, BALEEN Kitchen. Sole Miami offers 6,500 square feet of indoor event space and three outdoor venues with oceanfront and city views, and can accommodate up to 500 people.
The Wyndham Hotel in the Brickell area of Miami is slated to open in late 2019 with 445 guest rooms and 8,000 square feet of meeting space. The intimate meeting space will be ideal for smaller groups and offer a rooftop bar for group functions.
Hilton Miami Downtown recently completed an extensive $35 million renovation that included a new lobby and new meeting space. It has 527 guest rooms, including 37 suites and four presidential suites, and 45,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. The hotel’s 1601 lobby lounge and its restaurant Brisa Bistro were renovated as well.
PageBreakLoews Miami Beach Hotel spent $50 million renovating all of its 790 rooms (including 69 suites). The lobby was also enlarged and the pool deck was completely redone. All of its 65,000 square feet meeting space was renovated.
Trump National Doral Miami is fresh off of a $250 million, resort-wide renovation. The 643-room, 800-acre resort includes the iconic Blue Monster golf course.
Cadillac Hotel in Miami Beach completed a renovation of its 357 guest rooms and suites in December. It offers 11,690 square feet of meeting space and can hold a maximum of 200 people.
NAPLES/MARCO ISLAND
The Ritz-Carlton, Naples reopened September 3, 2018, after an extensive summer restoration project that included upgrades of its exterior facade, spa and meeting facilities, including a complete reimagination of the 10,000-square-foot Vanderbilt Ballroom. The popular Gumbo Limbo beachfront restaurant reopened in November.
The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club announced plans to redevelop the historic hotel after the 2020-2021 season. The beachfront resort has 34,000 square feet of meeting space, a championship golf course and 319 guest rooms and suites. The resort’s historic golf course, the oldest in Naples, recently completed a total redesign with input from golf icon Jack Nicklaus.
The Inn on Fifth and Club Level Suites renovated its executive boardroom meeting space and redesigned the hotel’s pool deck with new landscaping. An extensive remodeling of the Spa on Fifth was also completed.
Naples Bay Resort, with nearly 6,000 feet of flexible event space, is the only resort in the greater Naples area with its own marina. The resort complex includes shops and restaurants, including Catalina Café serving “craft coffee,” the Bluewater Bar & Grill and Bonefish Grill.
Naples Grande Beach Resort completed a $3 million renovation of its expansive meetings and events space. The resort’s ballroom level benefited from enhancements to its design and facilities, including the latest technology upgrades and new coastal-inspired design. The renovations include the Royal Palm Ballroom and Orchid Ballroom as well as the adjacent foyers and breakout rooms. Naples Grande Beach Resort has 83,000 square feet of meeting and event space and 474 guest rooms, including 29 Gulf-view suites and 50 garden villas.
Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort & Spa recently renovated its state-of-the-art spa, which offers services inspired by the hotel’s 10.5 acres of oceanfront. Treatments include the De-Stress Muscle Release, the Florida Fresh Body Treatment Massage, and the Detoxifying Scrub.
JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort’s $320 million renovation included the opening of the adults-only Lanai Tower, the third tower at the expansive 810-room beach resort on Marco Island. In addition to the 94 new adults-only guest rooms, the new tower also features a chef-driven restaurant, rooftop lounge and new pool deck.
Hilton Marco Island Resort & Spa reopened its 310 renovated guest rooms in fall 2018. The Hilton’s full-property renovation includes a redesigned lobby, pool deck space, The Deck at 560 Restaurant & Bar and 12,000 square feet of meeting space.
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
ORLANDO
Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek unveiled a multimillion-dollar renovation of all of its 400 guest rooms, featuring a refreshed design and new, sustainable LED lighting across the entire hotel.
Located within the Walt Disney World Resort gates, the rooms feature renovated carpet, paint and upholstery in all guest rooms. The Wyndham Grand features 32,000 square feet of flexible indoor and outdoor meeting and event facilities with spaces that range from the Bonnet Creek Boardroom for 10 or a meeting for up to 450 in the Ponce de Leon Ballroom.
In July 2019, Walt Disney World Resort will unveil a completely reimagined Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, featuring the 15-story Gran Destino Tower offering a two-level entrance lobby, 545 guest rooms (including 50 suites), a rooftop table-service restaurant and two presidential suites, among other features. New areas between the tower and existing conference spaces will provide more options for networking between meetings. A second new restaurant will be located on an island in the middle of the resort’s 14-acre lake, Lago Dorado. Planners can reserve part or all of the facility for private group functions.
Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Convention Center recently expanded its convention space by 28,000 square feet, bringing its meeting space to nearly 100,000 square feet. The new 16,000-square-foot Newport Ballroom can be used for large functions or divided into eight breakout spaces. Three prefunction areas and two distinct gathering rotundas provide unique spaces for networking. Groups can also reserve a private dining experience in the Keeper’s Room at Ale & Compass Restaurant, a new addition.
In summer 2019, Universal will open Endless Summer Resort-Surfside Inn and Suites. Although it won’t include any meeting space, it will add an additional 750 rooms and suites to the theme park. The second Endless Summer Resort property, Dockside Inn and Suites, will open in 2020 and add an additional 2,050 rooms and suites.
Hilton Orlando unveiled an outdoor expansion in August 2018 that encompasses 13,000 square feet of new meeting and event space. Adjacent to the pool area, the hotel can accommodate up to 500 attendees on the enhanced deck. The 1,424-room hotel now boasts a total of 249,000 square feet of meeting space.
Doubletree Orlando at SeaWorld unveiled its meeting and event space expansion, adding 40,000 square feet of flexible meeting space that brings its total to 100,000 square feet. Within walking-distance access to SeaWorld Parks, as well as within close proximity to Universal, Disney and The Orange County Convention Center, the recent renovation elevated the property to accommodate a wider range of business and leisure groups.
Highlights include new, state-of-the-art venue space and services, complemented by new outdoor lawns, complete renovations to public areas and 1,020 refreshed guest rooms.
Margaritaville Resort Orlando, a new waterside mega-resort destination featuring over 300 acres of “paradise”-inspired accommodations and amenities, opened. This tropical haven includes the 184-room Margaritaville Hotel, 300 timeshare units and 1,000 Margaritaville Cottages, ranging from one to nine bedrooms. The property also includes the new Sunset Walk shopping, dining and entertainment district, and Island H2O Live!, a 14-acre waterpark.
Orlando World Center Marriott installed the HyCube Hydroponic Production System right next to the hotel’s main kitchen. It is the first hotel to utilize the HyCube growing system, growing produce for its nine dining outlets and 450,000 square feet of meeting and event space.
Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress broke ground on a new 25,000-square-foot ballroom in October 2018. The new ballroom has been officially named the Windsong Ballroom, in honor of the resort’s water feature, Lake Windsong. The Windsong Ballroom will be a state-of-the-art meeting facility, including unique customizable LED lighting functions. The expansion will add a total of 32,000 square feet for a total of 102,000 square feet.
Reunion Resort unveiled a new clubhouse at its Signature Design Nicklaus Course, complete with panoramic views of the course green, a spacious outdoor terrace and the upscale Traditions sports bar. The resort offers 25,000 square feet of meeting space.
Hyatt Regency Orlando renovated all of its 1,641 guest rooms. The signature Italian Fiorenzo Italian Steakhouse was renovated and reopened early this year. The hotel offers 315,000 square feet of meeting space.
Fresh off a $140 million renovation, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort announced a 14-story tower expansion. With an expected completion of fall 2020, the tower will feature more than 22,000 square feet of meeting space, including two ballrooms, 12 meeting rooms, a rooftop reception space, a 16,800-square-foot elevated deck, guest rooms, dining and other amenities.
PALM BEACH/BOCA RATON
Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa unveiled newly designed meeting spaces in October. Improvements to the property’s 30,000 square feet of meeting space included updates to carpeting and furniture. Advanced technology was installed as part of the renovations, including a state-of-the-art sound system, LED lighting, additional power outlets and electronic readerboards outside of each meeting room.
PGA National Resort & Spa, with 339 rooms and suites and 40,000 square foot of meeting space, wrapped a multimillion-dollar course revitalization in November.
Canopy by Hilton in West Palm Beach opened in late 2018. The brand features local design, food and drink, and cultural offerings. The 150-room, 14-story hotel will be built two blocks from CityPlace.
The Boca Raton Mandarin Oriental is set to debut in 2020. The 118-room property will include two adjacent towers that will form part of an upscale mixed-use development. The property will feature 65,000 square feet of luxury lifestyle retail as well as a world-class private club that will offer social, fitness, spa and championship golf amenities. It will also offer an expansive 4,500-square-foot ballroom.
PALM COAST
Hammock Beach Resort, located south of St. Augustine in Palm Coast, completed a remodel of its lobby with all-new furnishings and a new lobby bar. The resort’s makeover extended to its Premium Oceanfront Suites, meeting and function space, and restaurants. The resort’s Jack Nicklaus-designed Oceanfront Course reopened in November 2017. The hotel has 320 guest rooms and 50,000 square feet of meeting space.
ST. AUGUSTINE
Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa completed a $25 million refresh that included expanding the size of its guest rooms. Guests have privileged golf access to the adjacent TPC Sawgrass’ championship golf courses, on-site dining, spa, pools and activities.
Ponte Vedra Lodge & Club recently completed a multimillion-dollar renovation of its 66 oceanfront guest rooms. Each of the 24 suites, eight preferred rooms and 34 deluxe rooms underwent a complete renovation, receiving new mahogany furniture, paint, fresh carpet, plush bedding, new windows and doors, lighting and high-definition televisions.
The all-new Guy Harvey Resort on St. Augustine Beach is open. Following a multimillion-dollar renovation, the newly rebranded oceanfront resort features 4,000 square feet of event space, including banquet rooms, meeting space and outdoor event space. Beachside amenities include a Tiki Bar and the new Grille & Grog Restaurant and Lounge.
SARASOTA
The Sarasota Modern, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel, with 89 rooms and 10,000 square feet of meeting space, opened in January. It is situated in the heart of downtown within the epicenter of the urban “Rosemary District.”
Art Ovation Hotel opened in spring 2018. The new-build hotel is in downtown Sarasota and offers 162 guest rooms and a 6,000-square-foot ballroom and creative spaces indoors and out. The hotel offers a cultural curator who can arrange for exhibitions by local artistic talent.
ST. PETERSBURG/CLEARWATER/BELLAIR
The historic Don Cesar debuted Phase II of its multi-stage renovation, including an expansive redo to the meeting spaces at the famed “Pink Palace.” The property has 277 rooms and a total of 38,000 square feet of meeting space.
Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort and Spa, with 287 rooms and 20,000 square feet of meeting space, finished an extensive, multimillion-dollar renovation of its guest rooms, meeting and event spaces, and public areas. The project included refreshed interior decor and furniture, the addition of new room types and new food and beverage options.
The restored Belleview Inn, built by Henry Plant in 1897, opened in December in the exclusive Belleview neighborhood just outside Clearwater. The upgraded Opal Collection property will feature 35 guest rooms and suites, a resort-style pool and a history room. The Tiffany Room, with its Tiffany glass panels from the original building, will provide 1,000 square feet of event space for small groups.
TALLAHASSEE
Hampton Inn & Suites made its debut in 2018. The six-story hotel has 124 guest rooms.
Doubletree Hotel by Hilton renovated its meeting spaces and pool area, Oasis, while continuing renovations of its guest rooms. In 2018 it added a new top floor onto the hotel for a rooftop restaurant and bar.
TAMPA AREA
The Tampa Waterside Hotel & Marina has grown to 727 rooms with the completion of a guest room refresh. Other renovations include public spaces, lobby and meeting spaces, as well as brand-new cultural, social and gathering spaces. The hotel is relaunching its existing food and beverage offerings with the addition of a new Starbucks shop. Garrison Tavern will replace the existing Champions Sports Bar.
The JW Marriott Tampa Water Street convention hotel, with 150,000 square feet of meeting space, is set to open in 2020. The city’s first five-star property, Tampa EDITION, will open in 2021 as part of the Water Street Tampa project. The hotel will offer multiple social spaces and amenities, including a full-service spa and fitness center, an expansive pool and a sun terrace.
Innisbrook, a Salamander Golf Resort & Spa Resort, with 280 guest rooms and 100,000 square feet of meeting space, is revitalizing the interiors of all of its guest accommodations, scheduled for a spring completion.
Dunedin’s 83-room Hotel Fenway recently opened with a HEW Parlor & Chophouse, a Hi-Fi Rooftop Bar overlooking St. Joseph Sound and a combined 10,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space, most with water views, and a resort-style pool.
Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort Announces New Hotel
The Sandestin Hotel broke ground in September 2018 with completion slated for April 2020.
The new 250-room full-service hotel is located adjacent to the Baytowne Conference Center at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort.
Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort
Celebrity Chef Hugh Acheson will partner to develop the hotel’s culinary offerings, including a three-meal restaurant, signature rooftop pool bar and in-room dining. In addition to the food and beverage outlets, the full-service hotel will feature a luxury spa and a fitness center.
The Sandestin Hotel will include 20,000-plus square feet of meeting space, including a 13,000-square-foot ballroom contiguous to the 30,000-plus square feet of existing meeting space at Baytowne Conference Center. Additionally, guests of the hotel will have access to the many amenities offered by Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, including more than seven miles of beaches and bayfront, four championship golf courses, 15 world-class tennis courts and a 113-slip marina.
Swan and Dolphin Breaks Ground on New Tower
Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort
The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort broke ground on a new tower that will offer a rooftop reception space to view the spectacular nightly fireworks show at Walt Disney World, as well as the addition of two ballrooms and 151 executive suites
“This is another significant phase for the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort,” said Fred Sawyers, the resort’s general manager. “We’re excited about the resort’s continued evolution and the new experience it will provide for our guests.”
The new 349-room tower will be 14 stories tall and include the following:
❚ Over 22,000 square feet of meeting space, including two ballrooms, 12 meeting rooms and a rooftop reception space offering views of the nightly Walt Disney World fireworks show.
❚ 349 guest rooms, including 151 suites featuring separate working and private spaces, a built-in AV system, a large conference table and other features designed to create collaboration space.
❚ A landscaped, 16,800-square-foot elevated deck with a fire pit and pool.
❚ A 90-seat restaurant and 50-seat lounge, and a health club, business center, grab-and-go market and upscale craft cocktail lobby bar.
The expansion follows a $150 million transformation of the resort’s guest rooms, lobby areas and all meeting space. Once the new tower is completed, the resort will offer more than 2,600 guest rooms and 350,000 square feet of meeting space.
