Meetings and events developments aren’t slowing down in Florida! Stay up to date on the latest news on new and renovated resorts and venues in Florida with this guide for 2025.
Bonita Springs
The private island at the 462-room Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa has reopened. After some storm damage last summer, the island and its facilities are back. This unique private beach resort has 75,000 square feet of meeting space.
Bradenton
The 252-room Palmetto Marriott Resort & Spa recently opened overlooking the Manatee River. The property is connected to the Bradenton Area Convention Center, which is undergoing a $48 million renovation and expansion set to be completed this year. Renovations include a 14,000-square-foot ballroom with prefunction space and dividers, two new outdoor event spaces and updates to the existing exhibit hall inspired by Florida’s West Coast. The Marriott features a variety of amenities, including four dining options, three pools, a full-service luxury spa and nearly 10,000 square feet of indoor meeting space plus an additional 45,000-square-foot outdoor lawn and amphitheater. Once completed, the resort and convention center will have a combined total of 140,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space.
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Cape Coral
The 263-room Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village has a new digital concierge platform that places activities at attendees’ fingertips, allowing planners to easily curate experiences that enhance their events. The resort has 26,920 square feet of meeting space, including 10 meeting rooms.
Clearwater
The Opal Collection opened a new luxury beachfront resort, Opal Sol, in Clearwater Beach. The 248-room hotel boasts panoramic Gulf-view suites, three pools, seven restaurants, a full-service Opal Spa and 57,194 square feet of event space. A highlight is The Event Lawn by the pool deck for gatherings.
The JW Marriott Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa on Clearwater Beach has 166 rooms and 36 suites/condos. The hotel boasts eight meeting rooms with a total of 18,546 square feet of meeting space. The restaurant Latitude 28 has garnered kudos from locals and meeting attendees alike.
Fort Lauderdale
Set for a late-fall 2025 completion, the Broward County Convention Center is gearing up to unveil the final phase of a $1.3 billion expansion with a six-acre, tropical-themed waterfront plaza as a special events venue. The project will result in 1.2 million square feet being added to the venue, including a 65,000-square-foot ballroom. There’s also a planned AAA Four-Diamond, 801-room Omni headquarters hotel scheduled for a 2026 opening.
Pier Sixty-Six, part of a multibillion-dollar redevelopment, is one of the few resort destinations in Broward County with a vast array of meeting and event space—some if it being the largest in Fort Lauderdale—all set against the backdrop of one of the largest superyacht marinas on the East Coast. The resort boasts 325 rooms and suites, a 15,000-square-foot spa, multi-level pools and 12 dining establishments. Pier Sixty-Six will offer more than 40,000 square feet of versatile indoor and outdoor venues, including a 9,395-square-foot Tavistock Ballroom.
[Related: 4 Major Reasons Festive Fort Lauderdale Is Coming Into Its Own]
Fort Walton Beach
The beachfront Island Resort at Fort Walton Beach on Okaloosa Island features 333 recently renovated guest rooms and 25,000 square feet of flexible event space. There is also a 6,400-square-foot outdoor event lawn space. Panoramic views from the 6th-floor ballrooms are spectacular and the newly renovated swim-up bar with Grotto Waterfall is a must.
Islamorada
Islamorada’s 27-acre oceanfront Cheeca Lodge & Spa—with 243 rooms and suites, 11 standalone casitas, a total 70,000 square feet of flexible indoor and outdoor event space—now offers the 10,000-square-foot Islamorada Ballroom. Billed as the Keys’ largest, it accommodates up to 1,500 for receptions and 788 for banquet-style dinners. Forty-three new premier oceanfront suites each offer over 550 square feet, a private balcony and open-air spa tub.
Jacksonville
The Prime Osborn Convention Center recently renovated. This is the only southern railroad station in the country that has been converted into a convention center. The renovations include the Grand Lobby and Ballroom. “The Prime” features 78,000 square feet of exhibit space with 33-foot ceilings and 22 meeting rooms of various sizes.
Key West
The downtown 160-room La Concha Key West, an Autograph Collection Hotel (www.marriott.com) completed restorations to its public spaces, including the lobby and exterior facade. Onsite dining venues include the Tropicado mojito bar, Perla, with contemporary Cuban cuisine, and El Dom Cafe, a Cuban-inspired coffee outlet.
The 178-unit (32 suites) Opal Key Resort & Marina is undergoing renovations, upgrading its lobby, expanding its pool area and deck and unveiling a new signature restaurant, Lolitas. The hotel has more than 11,000 square feet of outdoor event space and 6,800 square feet in meeting space in six function spaces.
The landmark 311-room Casa Marina Key West, Curio Collection by Hilton’s recent renovations include a new 5,000-square-foot oceanfront event lawn. This adds to 11,000 square feet of indoor event space, including the newly enhanced 3,100-square-foot Flagler’s Ballroom, 2,600-square-foot Grand Ballroom and 5,000-square-foot Keys Ballroom.
Miami
The 800-room Grand Hyatt Miami Beach Convention Center Hotel, which is projected to begin construction this year, is slated to open in late 2027. The property will include 90,000 square feet of indoor meeting/conference space, plus 10,000 square feet outdoors and five food and beverage outlets.
Fontainebleau Miami Beach opened the Coastal Convention with a 16,500-square-foot divisible ballroom with an outdoor terrace, 9,500-square-foot junior ballroom, 15 meeting rooms and 15,000 square feet of prefunction space.
[Related: A New Florida Convention Center and More South Upgrades and Openings]
Naples
The 500-room Great Wolf Lodge South Florida opened in November. It has a 92,000-square-foot indoor waterpark, 61,000-square-foot adventure park and a collection of eateries, retail offerings and 5,400 square feet of flexible meeting space.
Naples Beach Club, a Four Seasons Resort will open this fall with 215 rooms. It will have a conference center and a Fazio-designed golf course (opening in 2026) and Sunset Beach Bar. It will offer approximately 12,000 square feet of meeting space and The Clubhouse will have 23,858 square feet of event space.
Orlando
The Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) will break ground (by 2026) on enhancements to the North-South Building that will include an additional 44,000 square feet of meeting space and a 100,000-square-foot ballroom, along with a new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way.
Universal Helios Grand Hotel, with a dedicated entrance into the new Universal Epic Universe, will open in May. It will have 500 rooms and 35 suites and offer 4,648 square feet of versatile space. The hotel will also feature Flora Tavern, Lotus Lagoon, a rooftop bar and casual poolside bar.
Universal Stella Nova Resort, with 750 rooms, opened in January. The hotel is inspired by the universe and features cosmic-themed decor and amenities. Also located at the site of Universal Epic Universe, the resort has state-of-the-art rooms, casual restaurants and a stunning rooftop pool with panoramic views of the surrounding theme parks.
Terra Luna Resort opened in February and offers 750 rooms and themed dining experiences, including Omega Cafe and Market, Moonrise Bar and Moonrise Grill, and Luna Bar for specialty cocktails.
Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin is embarking on the largest renovation and expansion in the property’s history, highlighted by the addition of 120,000 square feet of event space to its current meeting and convention floorplan. The hotel’s existing meeting space at the Swan and Dolphin will be enhanced with a modern look and new capabilities in event technology. All guest rooms in the Walt Disney World Swan have undergone remodeling. The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin three-hotel complex, which includes the Swan Reserve, offers 2,619 guest rooms.
[Related: Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Completes Swan Guest Room Renovations]
Evermore Orlando Resort and Conrad Orlando began their second year of operations in 2025. Evermore Orlando Resort encompasses 316 units offering 2,013 bedrooms (69 houses ranging in size from five to 11 bedrooms, 206 four-bedroom flats and 41 two-and four- bedroom villas) and is Orlando’s first beach-like property, featuring a 20-acre sandy beach centered around the eight-acre crystalline Evermore Bay and The Boathouse, a 2,500-square-foot meeting venue. Located at Evermore, the Conrad features 433 rooms and 65,000 square feet of flexible indoor-outdoor meeting space.
Palm Beach
Amrit Ocean Resort, with 155 wellness-inspired guest rooms, including 25 suites with oversized ocean-view balconies and 40 two-bedroom sky villas, has 10,000 square feet of indoor meeting space and nearly 3.5 acres of flexible oceanfront outdoor space, including 300 feet of private shoreline.
Henderson Park completed the acquisition of PGA National Resort, which offers 360 guest rooms and 99 holes of championship golf, including the famed Champion Course. The resort also showcases a 40,000-square-foot spa. Building on a recently completed $100 million renovation, new ownership will embark on further improvements, including the addition of a new pool and enrichments to the golf experience.
Palm House recently opened with 79 rooms and more than 4,000 square feet of versatile space, including a ballroom, prefunction atrium space and an outdoor garden terrace with pool views.
Panama City Beach
Embassy Suites by Hilton Panama City Beach Resort opened with 255 guest rooms, more than 15,500 square feet of event space and Vue55 Rooftop Terrace at 3,360 square feet.
The 225-room Hyatt Place Panama City Beach/Beachfront opened with 1,316 square feet of indoor event space and a 770-square-foot outdoor terrace.
SpringHill Suites Panama City Beach Beachfront has 200 guest rooms and 10,898 square feet of event space with seven event rooms, including the Beach Garden at 6,175 square feet for up to 90 guests.
Sarasota
The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota, with 276 rooms, opened in January with a fully reimagined spa. Spanning 20,000 square feet, guests can immerse themselves in amenities that include a vitality pool, a healing waters room and an outdoor relaxation terrace. The hotel boasts 60,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor function space.
The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort boasts 168 rooms and 34,000 square feet across 10 versatile event rooms, including 18,000 square feet of beachfront access. The Astor Ballroom and The St. Regis Longboat Key Ballroom each accommodate up to 750 guests, while private beachfront and outdoor areas offer alternatives for smaller gatherings.
South Walton
Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa, in Miramar Beach, with 590 rooms and guest suites, recently completed a $35 million renovation to its guest rooms, meeting rooms, spa and public spaces. Nestled along the coastline of South Walton, the resort has a variety of indoor and outdoor meeting spaces, including spacious ballrooms and outdoor decks. Its total meeting space is more than 60,000 square feet, including The Emerald Ballroom at 9,504 square feet, which can accommodate 800 guests, Heron Room at 840 square feet, Pelican Room at 902 square feet and a boardroom for 14 guests. Myriad outdoor venues are also available.
Camp Creek Inn, in Inlet Beach, is a new 75-room boutique luxury hotel with a small meeting space that treats guests to a club-like membership experience. Guests have access to Shark’s Tooth Golf Course and Camp Creek Golf Course, private golf courses crafted by Greg Norman and Tom Fazio, respectively. The Club room, at 576 square feet, can accommodate up to 50.
St. Pete Beach
The 277-room The Don CeSar resort is undergoing a meticulous restoration to elevate its offerings while preserving its rich legacy. Celebrating its 97th anniversary this year, the property is slated to reopen in the spring. Ground-level renovations are scheduled to be completed by the summer, promising a renewed yet nostalgic experience at this legendary locale. The hotel features a Grand Ballroom spanning 5,671 square feet, a Grand Ballroom Foyer at 1,650 square feet and an Executive Boardroom Suite. Additionally, South Terrace and Veranda, with 2,500 square feet of indoor space complemented by a 2,652-square-foot, partially shaded veranda overlooking the beach, are available for meetings or dinner events.
The 64-room Hotel Zamora reopened after a $7.5 million renovation. The 64 newly renovated guest rooms and suites, each boasting 550 square feet or more, feature Mediterranean-inspired style. The Hotel Zamora offers nearly 14,000 square feet of versatile meetings and events space in both indoor and outdoor settings. Azura Coastal Kitchen & Bar serves locally sourced ingredients and flavors.
Tampa
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa completed more than $65 million in renovations, including updates to 240 hotel rooms. The 802-room hotel has 17,000 square feet of meeting space. This includes 16,860 square feet of private space, 11,410 square feet of semi-private space and 56,000 square feet of outdoor space. The hotel also has 28,270 square feet of exhibit space.
The 495-room Saddlebrook Resort offers 95,000 square feet of meeting/function space in its Saddlebrook Resort Conference Center in 24 tech-rich meeting rooms and 15 outdoor venues with a capacity for 10 to more than 2,000 guests. The recently completed renovations to its event and meeting spaces were designed to accommodate a wide range of events.
Disney’s Reimagined Creative Studio
Disney Meetings & Events unveiled a newly reimagined Disney Creative Studio at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Serving as an epicenter for the vast resources available to meeting professionals, Disney Creative Studio brings together under one roof everything needed for the ultimate meeting experience—from engaging entertainment and content to inspirational decor, floral, catering and more.
Whether planning a corporate meeting, conference or convention, the team of experts at Disney Meetings & Events is ready to collaborate.
Disney Meetings & Events has also introduced new teambuilding experiences and an array of new program openers designed to create engaging and impactful moments for meeting professionals and their attendees. When creating with Disney, planners will have best-in-class resources, vast networks and endless creative potential to bring events to life.
For more information visit DisneyMeetingsandEvents.com.
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