ORLANDO -- Orlando World Center Marriott Resort & Convention
Center completed the construction of a 19-story tower with 500
rooms and 14,000 square feet of meeting space, making it the
largest Marriott resort worldwide.
The tower brings the resort's total number of rooms to 2,000;
total meeting space at the property was expanded to 214,000 square
feet.
There are three new ballroom areas. Two ballrooms, one at 7,300
square feet and the other at 4,200 square feet, can be divided into
four and six rooms, respectively.
Another area has a 1,472-square-foot room and two
725-square-foot rooms.
With the addition, larger groups and conventions can be
accommodated at the property, according to Brad McCreedy, director
of marketing.
"The additional meeting space is already in great demand," he
said.
The tower is part of a $100 million renovation and expansion
project that was initiated last year. As part of the project, the
property's 18-hole golf course was redesigned.
In addition, a 10,000-square-foot spa and fitness center opened
during the summer.
Other recent additions include an outdoor swimming pool, a
Starbucks lobby coffee bar and a redesign of the resort's main
restaurant, which was renamed Solaris.
Retail and food-court area renovations will be completed this
fall, and room renovations will begin next spring.
The 200-acre resort, a few minutes' drive from Orlando's main
attractions, opened in 1986 and features a business center, 10
restaurants, five swimming pools and four tennis courts.