LEGENDARY EVENTS CITY GUIDE
Planning an Event in Orlando?
World-class venues. Massive hotel inventory. Easy access to entertainment. And more ways to keep attendees busy than almost anywhere in the country. Here’s what event planners should know before choosing Orlando.
130,000
Hotel Rooms
MAJOR
Convention Infrastructure
MCO ACCESS
Easy Travel For Most
ELITE
Recognizable Entertainment
YEAR-ROUND
Event Destination
LEGENDARY EVENTS CITY
Orlando
Why Event Planners Keep Choosing Orlando
Orlando has something few event destinations can match: enormous event infrastructure combined with entertainment people are genuinely excited to experience before and after the program.
From major conventions and corporate meetings to association events, incentive trips and large private gatherings, Orlando offers an unusually deep selection of venues, hotels, restaurants and group activities. More importantly, much of that infrastructure is concentrated around the International Drive convention district.
The result is a city that can handle enormous groups without requiring attendees to spend every minute inside the event itself.
How Orlando Compares to Other Choices
These are the things you might be considering when choosing a location.
GETTING THERE 5/5
Orlando International Airport is a major gateway with direct flights to most major national destinations. It is easily accessible from the areas of town you will be spending your time in. There are usually many choices of arrival and departure times.
HOTEL SELECTION 5/5
More than 480 hotels and resorts and over 130,000 rooms means groups can choose everything from limited-service properties to giant convention resorts. This quantity means there is something for everyone from the budget conscience to the more extravagant.
EVENT INFRASTRUCTURE 5/5
Few cities can compete with Orlando's purpose-built convention infrastructure. The Orange County Convention Center alone has roughly 2 million square feet of exhibit space, hundreds of breakout spaces and millions of total square feet.
DINING & ENTERTAINMENT 5/5
Restaurants, attractions, nightlife and entertainment are concentrated heavily around the main visitor districts, giving planners abundant off-site options. A lot can be accomplished in a vibrant area of a sprawling city.
GETTING AROUND 3.5/5
The convention district itself can be surprisingly convenient, with pedestrian bridges, nearby hotels, LYNX service and the I-RIDE Trolley. Orlando as a whole, however, is sprawling, so transportation planning matters.
OVERALL COST 3.5/5
Orlando should be described as “Flexible, but not automatically inexpensive.” The massive hotel and venue supply provides options, but theme-park districts, parking, resort fees, transportation and premium experiences can push a budget upward.
LEGENDARY VENUE PICK
Orange County Convention Center
Orange County Convention Center is the obvious Orlando selection if this site is intended to cover major events. The scale is extraordinary: the center reports approximately 7 million total square feet, 2 million square feet of exhibit space, dozens of meeting rooms and hundreds of breakout rooms.
Why We Like It
For events that need serious infrastructure, Orlando's signature venue is difficult to beat. The OCCC gives planners the ability to build everything from large general sessions and exhibitions to extensive breakout programs while keeping attendees in the heart of Orlando's primary convention district.
LEGENDARY HOTEL PICK
Hyatt Regency Orlando
As an event planner, choose Hyatt Regency Orlando over Disney because it demonstrates exactly why Orlando is so appealing to event planners. The Hyatt has 1,641 rooms and approximately 315,000 square feet of flexible event space. It is also directly connected to the convention-center complex.
Why We Like It
Hyatt Regency Orlando gives attendees a resort experience without making the event planner sacrifice convenience. Large meeting facilities, extensive dining, pools and amenities make it particularly attractive for multi-day programs where guests may bring spouses or families.
LEGENDARY GROUP DINING PICK
Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar
Cuba Libre gives planners something more memorable than a banquet dinner. Located at Pointe Orlando, it recreates the atmosphere of Old Havana with tropical foliage, vintage décor, Latin music & Cuban-inspired dining. It also offers multiple private and semi-private spaces for corporate & social groups.
Why We Like It
Cuba Libre feels like part of the Orlando experience rather than simply a place to feed the group. After a full day of meetings or conference sessions, attendees can step into an atmosphere that immediately feels different. The combination of Cuban-inspired food, cocktails, music, and Old Havana-style surroundings turns dinner into an experience. Its International Drive location and event spaces make it especially appealing for networking receptions and nights when you want the social portion of the event to feel as memorable as the main program.
LEGENDARY EXPERIENCE PICK
ICON Park
ICON Park gives groups an easy way to add a memorable Orlando experience without committing an entire day to a theme park. Located along International Drive, the entertainment district combines attractions, restaurants, bars, nightlife, and The Orlando Eye in one convenient destination, making it especially useful for groups with different interests.
Why We Like It
ICON Park gives planners something Orlando does particularly well: built-in entertainment with very little effort required to make it feel special. Instead of sending everyone to a single activity, attendees can enjoy dinner, drinks, attractions, and one of Orlando’s most recognizable views all within the same area. It works especially well after a day of meetings because guests can participate as much—or as little—as they want. For planners looking for an off-site experience that feels distinctly Orlando while still being convenient to the convention district, ICON Park is an easy choice.
THE CASE FOR ORLANDO
THINGS TO CONSIDER
THE CASE FOR ORLANDO
THINGS TO CONSIDER
IS ORLANDO RIGHT FOR YOUR EVENT?
LARGE GROUPS
Orlando can handle giant groups that would challenge many other possible destinations.
BUILT-IN ENTERTAINMENT
Turn free time into part of the destination experience without leaving attendees wondering what to do.
NATIONAL ATTENDANCE
Strong air access makes Orlando convenient when attendees are coming from across the country.
EXTENDED STAYS
Orlando works especially well when guests may arrive early, stay longer, or bring family members with them.
If these priorities sound like your event, Orlando deserves a place near the top of your destination list.
Keep Planning
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