On the horizon, a new theme park, Epic Universe from Universal Orlando Resort, will open in 2025. New and upcoming hotels include Conrad Orlando, part of the expansive Evermore Orlando Resort. Set to open December 2023, Conrad Orlando will debut with 433 rooms; 40,000 square feet of indoor meeting space; a spa; and a signature rooftop experience.

© Drury Hotels Company

Another property, Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando – Disney Springs Area, recently opened with 604 guestrooms and more than 17,000 square feet of meeting space. Meanwhile, Waldorf Astoria Orlando
unveiled the new 8,000-plus-square-foot Central Park Ballroom; nearly 2,600 square feet of pre-function space; and a planned 8,700-square-foot covered outdoor patio.

Downtown Orlando also brims with new off-site options, including Orlando Fringe’s Fringe ArtSpace, a year-round performing arts venue with two theater spaces. The downtown Orlando hotel scene continues to expand its offerings. The Grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando completed a renovation with new additions, such as Altira Rooftop Pool Lounge
for cocktail events. The hotel includes more than 10,000 square feet of event space. Nearby, the new AC Hotel by Marriott Orlando Downtown features 2,000 square feet of meeting space.

On the culinary front, the Michelin Guide adds 13 Orlando restaurants to the 2023 edition. Orlando’s dining scene offers a choice of 46 Michelin-recognized establishments, including four starred venues, 11 Bib Gourmands and 31 Recommended.

Transit to Orlando is also getting easier by air and rail. Last year Orlando International Airport’s South Terminal Complex debuted, adding 15 gates to the facility. The airport, the busiest in Florida, offers non-stop flights from 151 destinations and more than 800 flights daily. The new terminal also now features Brightline Orlando Station.

Brightline’s high-speed rail service will connect South Florida, including Miami, with Orlando, starting late summer. According to Visit Orlando’s Matej, the station lays the foundation for creating a multimodal transportation system. It has the capacity to grow the city’s transit system and someday connect the airport, downtown Orlando, the Convention Center, south International Drive and Tampa.

“Brightline’s arrival in Orlando marks a transformative milestone
for the business community,” said Johanna Rojas, senior vice president, Partnerships & Sales, Brightline Trains. “The new Orlando station will connect two major destinations, allowing meeting planners and attendees to get around Florida more easily and the ability to plan ‘bleisure’ travel to get a taste of all our regions.”

For cruisers, Florida’s Port Canaveral ranks as the world’s second-busiest cruise port in multiday embarkations. The port lies about 45 minutes from Orlando, making the city an ideal spot for pre- and post-cruise exploration.

© Matt Cuda | Dreamstime.com