Dive Brief:
- The Renaissance Orlando Resort and Spa opened at the Disney Springs shopping and entertainment complex at Walt Disney World Resort in Buena Vista, Florida, near Orlando, the Marriott-branded resort announced Friday.
- The opening comes after a $25 million renovation that touched the property’s guest rooms, common areas and amenity spaces, according to the resort. The property is part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of brands.
- The hotel opens as Orlando tourism levels rise, including from an uptick in business travelers. The market’s hotel industry also continues to grow, spurred by openings, ongoing development projects and a notable billion-dollar acquisition.
Dive Insight:
The 394-key Renaissance Orlando Resort and Spa now offers updated guest rooms, more than 25,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space, a zero-entry pool and hot tub and a farm-to-table restaurant, American Kitchen Bar & Grill.
The property also includes a spa, a 5,000-square-foot outdoor terrace and a fitness studio, according to General Manager Charlie Kingston. As an official Walt Disney World Resort hotel, guests have access to a theme park shuttle service and early entry into the resort’s theme parks.
New York-based hospitality design firm Stonehill Taylor was tapped for interior design for the renovation, which added “modern aesthetics exemplifying the tropical essence of Florida” to the guest rooms and public spaces, according to the resort.
The hotel opens as Orlando sees increased tourism levels, according to tourism bureau Visit Orlando. The bureau reported in May that Orlando welcomed 6.13 million international visitors in 2023, up 25% year over year. And Central Florida’s travel and tourism industry reached an all-time high economic impact of $92.5 billion in 2023, up 5.6% year over year, according to a Visit Orlando report with data from Tourism Economics released last month.
“Direct visitor spending in Orlando grew an impressive 5.4% [in 2023], generating an economic impact equivalent to hosting the NFL Super Bowl nearly twice a week for an entire year,” Adam Sacks, president of Tourism Economics, said in an August statement. “This continued growth highlights Orlando's resilience and appeal, especially in a year marked by heightened competition and a global resurgence in travel demand."
Business and group travelers are among those coming to the city. Orlando has seen an uptick in events volume growth in recent months, according to Knowland. In May, Cvent named Orlando the top meetings destination in North America.
Bolstered by strong travel fundamentals, hotel players continue to favor the Orlando area. Lion Star Hospitality, Everest Place and Paramount are bringing a 400-room Nickelodeon-branded resort to Kissimmee, Florida, near Orlando. And last month Loews announced its new 500-key resort that’s coming to Universal Orlando Resort’s Epic Universe theme park in 2025.
Investors remain active in the market as well, with affiliates of Houston-based RIDA Development Corporation and an Ares Management real estate fund scooping up the Hyatt Regency Orlando last month for a whopping $1.07 billion — reportedly the largest hotel deal of the year.
