Orlando, the top travel destination in the United States, blends business and leisure effortlessly with warm year-round weather, a vibrant arts scene and world-class theme parks. Meeting and event planners value the city’s depth of options: more than 150 meeting hotels offering a combined 5 million square feet of flexible meeting space and over 127,000 hotel rooms across the region. Those resources are a major reason Orlando is consistently ranked as Cvent’s No. 1 U.S. meeting destination.
Getting to Orlando is convenient, with flights arriving at Orlando International Airport (MCO) from across the nation and around the world. MCO has earned the Global Biorisk Advisory Council’s STAR Accreditation, the industry benchmark for safe venues. The airport’s South Terminal Complex, part of a $3.82 billion capital improvement program, is planned to add 15 gates and increase annual capacity by roughly 10 to 12 million passengers.
The nearby Orange County Convention Center (OCCC), just 11 miles from MCO, also holds GBAC STAR Accreditation. With 2.1 million square feet of exhibition space and 480,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, the OCCC team partners with planners to create memorable events. Four hotels — Hilton Orlando, Hyatt Regency Orlando, Rosen Centre Hotel and Rosen Plaza Hotel — provide more than 5,200 rooms and direct access to the center via pedestrian walkways and covered bridges, simplifying logistics for large groups.
Orlando’s meeting hotel inventory continues to expand and refresh. The new luxury destination JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa offers over 50,000 square feet of event space, including a 22,000-square-foot ballroom, rooftop views of nightly fireworks at Walt Disney World, and 516 guestrooms plus 81 suites. This property complements the existing JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes, located closer to the OCCC.
© WALT DISNEY WORLD SWAN RESERVE
On Walt Disney World Resort grounds, the Walt Disney World Swan Reserve expands the Swan and Dolphin complex with 349 guestrooms, including 149 meeting suites. The addition brings the resort’s total meeting space to more than 350,000 square feet, featuring two new ballrooms, 12 meeting and breakaway rooms and rooftop event areas ideal for enjoying Florida’s warm evenings and fireworks.
Near the convention center, options span from compact to large. Tru by Hilton Orlando Convention Center suits smaller blocks with up to 200 rooms and 2,200 square feet of meeting space. East of the center, AC Hotel Orlando Downtown offers 180 guestrooms with a European-inspired design and three flexible meeting spaces.
Major renovations and new meeting spaces are enhancing Orlando’s offerings. The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes added 49,000 square feet of renovated meeting space accommodating up to 1,750 guests. Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld unveiled a 215,000-square-foot Peninsula Ballroom and breakout spaces, and Caribe Royale Orlando completed a $127 million renovation that supports 220,000 square feet of meeting space. The Orlando World Center Marriott is undergoing a full reimagining that will update all 2,010 guestrooms and add 24 breakout rooms; upon completion the resort will offer more than 450,000 square feet of flexible event space.
Of course, Orlando delivers on leisure as well as business. As the Theme Park Capital of the World, the area keeps groups entertained with immersive attractions. Visit Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Walt Disney World Resort, which marked its 50th anniversary celebration. Thrill-seekers can ride the Jurassic World VelociCoaster at Universal Orlando Resort, experience Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, or cool off on Riptide Race at SeaWorld Orlando.
To simplify planning and navigation, download the Visit Orlando app before you go to move smoothly between meetings, dining and attractions.
UNIQUE VENUES
The emerging Lake Nona neighborhood adds new, wellness-focused meeting options. The upcoming Lake Nona Wave Hotel will offer more than 12,000 square feet of flexible event space and connect to amenities such as the 130,000-square-foot Lake Nona Performance Club and the Chopra Mind-Body Zone and Spa, led by Dr. Deepak Chopra. These features make Lake Nona an attractive choice for events focused on health, wellness and innovation.
Add distinctive flair to events in the convention district at Madame Tussauds Orlando, where VIP experiences and private rentals can accommodate up to 350 guests in the main hall or 160 in Stage 3, followed by exploration of the nearby ICON Park entertainment complex and its 400-foot observation wheel.
For a bold, experiential option, the Orlando Harley-Davidson Historic Factory offers an 8,000-square-foot showroom that can host up to 1,000 guests alongside a collection of Harley-Davidson motorcycles — a memorable backdrop for product launches, receptions and corporate gatherings.