ORLANDO SPECIAL REPORT

Exciting Orlando
Why groups keep coming backto this world-class destination.

ORLANDO SPECIAL REPORT

W

hile Orlando is well-known
as “The Theme Park Capitalof the World,” that’s justpart of why it’s an exciting,multi-dimensional meeting
destination that earns top
kudos from planners andkeeps them coming back.
Among its many attributes are a state-of-the-art convention
center, an abundance of hotel choices, ease of accessibility,
award-winning dining and entertainment, intriguingneighborhoods and plenty of expert guidance from start tofinish.
Planners will discover a great “boots on the ground” partnerwith Visit Orlando, always at their service to help craft unforgettable
events for attendees. As Certified Meeting Professionals (CMP),
Visit Orlando’s Destination Experience team is well-versed in thecomplexities of planning events of all sizes, providing hands-on
assistance with coordinating venues and offering deep expertise
about the destination.
Marc Simon, vice president of PGA Golf Exhibitions, can attest
to this, and describes Orlando as “an ideal destination” for the PGA
Show since 1985.
“Visit Orlando, along with their partners and affiliates, offers
amenities, services and messaging that create a welcoming
VIP experience for PGA Show guests from the moment theyarrive,” he says. “That destination welcome, combined with theunique offerings of our venues, reasonably priced flights into
Orlando, a wealth of hotel options and plentiful golf, dining andentertainment experiences, creates a destination that we would
be hard-pressed to match anywhere else.”
In particular, Simon appreciates the ability to combine
recreational golf with dining and entertainment at facilities likeTopgolf, Popstroke and Drive Shack.
“These new social golf experiences are great for staff of every

BY MARIA LENHART

skill level and offer a fun way to be actively engaged with coworkers,” he says.
When it comes to planning an event in Orlando, Simon
recommends working closely with Visit Orlando and the hostvenue team to create a custom guest experience.
“We begin speaking with the teams at Visit Orlando and theOrange County Convention Center (OCCC) well in advance ofthe PGA Show to explore new ways to offer additional value toour guests each year,” he says. “Destination touch points are an
important factor in our guests’ overall event experience and help
us ensure their return.”
Ease of accessibility
Accessibility has always been a key reason to meet in Orlando,
but now it’s even easier to travel to and from the destination
with the recent opening of Orlando International Airport’s
South Terminal Complex. The new facility adds 15 gates andincludes a seamless, low-touch environment with a state-ofthe-art radio frequency baggage system, as well as numerous
shops, restaurants and lounge facilities.
Unveiled in April, the Brightline Orlando Station, conveniently
located at the new terminal, connects domestic and international
visitors traveling by high-speed rail between Orlando and Miamiwith stops in Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. Tickets are onsale now for late summer and riders will enjoy touchless ticketing,premium in-station lounges, complimentary WiFi and topnotchbars and restaurants at every Brightline station.
Award-winning convention center
One of Orlando’s crowning assets is undoubtedly the awardwinning OCCC, located in the heart of the Convention Center
District and only 15 minutes from the airport. With its varietyof spaces and flexibility, the OCCC offers 7 million square feetof combined meeting and exhibit space for events of all types
and sizes.

ORLANDO SPECIAL REPORTThe center is also supported by 125,000
guest rooms in the Central Florida region,
including 5,000 directly connected to thefacility by pedestrian bridge. A broad offeringof show management and exhibitor services,
ranging from catering to telecommunications, isconsidered the finest in the convention industry.
The facility is also known for “green” initiatives
that are part of one of the most innovative, largescale sustainability programs in the U.S.
Michelin dining
Orlando’s evolution into a world-class dining
destination earned recognition from theprestigious MICHELIN Guide. In 2023, theMICHELIN Guide Miami, Orlando and Tampa
announced 13 new MICHELIN-Starred
restaurants in Orlando alone. The destination
now includes a total of 46 MICHELIN
restaurants, including four starred venues, 11Bib Gourmands and 31 Recommended.
What’s new: Hotels
Set to open in December, the 433-room
Conrad Orlando will offer 40,000 square feetof indoor meeting space, a spa, dining options
and a signature rooftop experience. The hotel
will be part of Evermore Orlando Resort, aOrlando’s evolution
into a world-classdining destination
earned recognition
from the prestigious
MICHELIN Guide.

10,000-bedroom complex offering single
homes, villas, flats and hotel rooms.
Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando - Disney
Springs® Area, the newest official Walt Disney
Partner Hotel, is now open with 604 guest
rooms and over 17,000 square feet of meeting
space.
The Alfond Inn at Rollins in Winter Park
iscompletingarenovation of the 112
existing rooms andunveiling an additional
71 rooms, a lobby café,a full-service spa andnew meeting space
this summer.
Opening fall 2023,
Aloft Lake Nona will
be a six-story, 205room, music-themed
property
witha10,000-square-footconference center andfull-service restaurant.
Set for completionin late 2023, Signia
by Hilton Orlando
Bonnet Creek is adding over 90,000 square
feet of meeting space, including a ballroom, ascreened lanai with views of the Walt DisneyWorld® fireworks, an outdoor patio, an event
lawn and seven additional meeting rooms.
Cambria Hotel Orlando Universal Blvd
opened recently in the International DriveResort area, offering 118 rooms, flexible
meeting space, a rooftop pool, a fitness centerand more.

The Grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando
in downtown Orlando completed acomprehensive renovation this year withnew additions, including the upscale Altira
Rooftop Pool Lounge.
JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes
completed an extensive renovation that
included refreshed guest rooms and a new
expansive waterpark.
What’s new: Dining
Rosa Mexicano opened its first Orlando-area
location in the Walt Disney World Swanand Dolphin in early 2023, featuring a menu
showcasing authentic Mexican cuisine. Aprivate events team can host small dinnerparties and gatherings of up to 200 people.
The Hyatt Regency Orlando recentlyopened Descend 21, a lounge andentertainment venue with indoor andoutdoor areas that can host private events.
Pointe Orlando’s newest restaurant
addition is KAVAS Tacos + Tequila, whichpays tribute to Mexico’s rich culinary history
and hosts groups up to 500 people.
What’s new: Attractions and Venues
TRON Lightcycle / Run, one of the fastest
coasters at any Disney theme park in the world,recently opened at Magic Kingdom Park.
Universal’s Great Movie Escape atUniversal CityWalk is the first-ever escaperoom experience that features two rooms
with interactive state-of-the-art missions,captivating storytelling and intricately
detailed sets inspired by the films “JurassicWorld” and “Back to the Future.”ORLANDO SPECIAL REPORTThe OCCC is also
known for “green”
initiatives that are partof one of the mostinnovative, large-scale
sustainability programsin the U.S.

Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast,
opening this summer at Universal Studios
Florida, combines innovative screen technology,
state-of-the-art gaming interactivity andelaborate physical sets to create a game-basedadventure.
The new Pipeline: The Surf Coaster at SeaWorld

Visit Orlando Services for Meeting Groups
Elevated health services

Enhanced virtual tours

Visit Orlando and Orlando Health haveelevated health services for meeting
attendees through the new Orlando Health
Virtual Care Center at the Orange County
Convention Center. During large conventions,the care center will be staffed by an Orlando
Health team member who can help triage
the needs of those visiting or connect visitors
virtually to a board-certified physician
if minor care is needed. Additionally, a
new telephone number, (321) 265-4200,offers visitor-specific wellness tips, urgent
care and individualized health resources.
For additional information, visit www.
orlandohealth.com/visitorlando.

Visit Orlando has further enhanced its live
virtual site inspection platform with Orlando
Virtual Tours, offering meeting planners theopportunity to seamlessly travel to morethan 1,100 locations throughout the city.
For more information, planners can visit
OrlandoMeeting.com.

Vacation planningWith its famous theme parks and otherattractions, Orlando provides a prime
opportunity for attendees to bring theirfamilies and turn their next business trip
into a “bleisure” adventure. Attendees who
would like some assistance in making themost of their extended stay can visit www.
visitorlando.com and take advantage of Visit
Orlando’s complimentary Vacation Planning
Services for insider advice and special offers.
Find out how Visit Orlando can help make yournext event a success at OrlandoMeeting.com.

Orlando is the world’s first “Surf Coaster,” offering
a dynamic surfing launch and “wave jumping”
motions
Luminary Green Park is a new, 2.3-acregathering space in the Creative Village district near
downtown Orlando with a spacious lawn available
for events. nOrlando
Neighborhoods
Orlando’s wide variety of intriguing neighborhoods offer an endless array of options.
In Downtown Orlando, large hotels such as
Grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando and Hotelby Marriott can serve as the perfect base ofoperations or the meeting site itself.
Just east of downtown, the Milk District serves
as a progressive lifestyle, music and cultural hub
offering creative dining venues.
The Parramore District brings awareness to therich, deeply rooted culture of Orlando’s African
American community.
The charming Audubon Park Garden District,
10 minutes from downtown, adds natural beauty
and tranquility to meetings and events.
Winter Park offers boutique hotels andpedestrian-friendly, tree-lined streets filled with
European-flavored shops, bistros and museums.
Lake Nona is a17-square-mile neighborhood thatis home to a wide variety of shops, restaurants
and activities connected by miles of trails.

LOCAL INGREDIENTSHIT WORLD CLASSHEIGHTS.

Orlando dining is on the rise. With notable new restaurants opening every year, the Orlando dining scene
continues to outdo itself. A group of newly-recognized MICHELIN restaurants represent a wide variety ofcuisines in neighborhoods all across town. Whether it’s your first or fiftieth time hosting a group in
Orlando, these eateries are designed to impress.

ORLANDOMEETING.COM