Florida
The magic of meetings is back in full swing at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa’s convention center, which reopened in October after several months of refurbishment. Guests at the resort will experience enhanced guest rooms plus refreshed dining experiences in the following venues: Cítricos, Narcoossee’s and Victoria and Albert’s. The convention center offers 40,000 square feet of flexible meeting space.
Beginning in 2026, Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort is transforming its convention center, drawing inspiration from the neighboring landmark Gran Destino Tower. The resort offers 228,000 square feet of function space, making it one of the largest single-level convention hotels on the East Coast.
North Carolina
A new addition to Marriott’s Tribute Portfolio, Cary’s The Pagemore Hotel at Fenton, is expected to open in fall 2027. The 186-room hotel features inventive dining that includes an Eastern Mediterranean restaurant, Barouk. In addition to the terrace dining offerings at Barouk, the hotel offers a culinary theater experience described as “flavor brought to life with a performance.” The immersive programming allows guests to connect over culture, cuisine and live music. The Pagemore offers 6,000 square feet of meeting and event space with a capacity for 200 guests.
South Carolina
The Cooper, a new luxury waterfront hotel in Charleston, will begin accepting reservations March 1. The 191-room hotel is the first luxury property to debut on the Charleston peninsula. The hotel encapsulates a Southern coastal home with its neutral palette of light oak floors and shiplap wall panels. The private balconies offer waterfront and city views.
Amenities include a 7,000-square-foot wellness spa, an onsite marina with a yacht for guest excursions, and four restaurants and bars. The property also offers 20,000 square feet of space for group experiences. Some indoor/outdoor function spaces include a 5,655-square-foot ballroom with harbor views, a boardroom featuring sweeping river views and the 4,000-square-foot Grand Lawn for up to 400 guests.
[Related: Paradise Reimagined in Cancún and Multimillion-Dollar Renovation in Orlando Take Flight]
Texas
Grand Hyatt San Antonio River Walk completed a $9 million renovation in September. The renovation focused on the property’s restaurants, lobby and public spaces. Guests can expect new, contemporary light fixtures as they are welcomed into the hotel lobby, along with new check-in desks featuring dark wood and crystal chandeliers hanging above.
The renovation also brought about a Texas-inspired social venue, Tejas Lounge. It offers appetizers and spirits in a sophisticated, relaxing atmosphere. Moda Fare is also a new addition that replaces Bar Rojo, offering Italian cuisine and cocktails. The restaurant also reflects the lobby’s updated design with wood accents, updated furniture, new wood flooring and a lush garden-style patio. Lastly, Perks Coffee was transformed into an upscale coffee house named Spoonful Provisions. The renovated coffee house showcases a marble counter, blue tiles and a floral-themed mural.
Brand-New Bradenton
Bradenton Area Convention Center (BACC), positioned between the destination’s beaches and downtown Bradenton, elevated its meetings and events offering with the November completion of a $54 million renovation.
The convention center is geared toward small to mid-sized meetings.
With the addition of a new 14,000-square-foot grand ballroom, BACC offers 95,000 square feet of meeting space. The new ballroom is suitable for 800 guests, while the entire convention center can accommodate 3,800.
Renovations were also completed in the Gulf Islands Exhibit Hall and the venue’s outdoor spaces, Bay Plaza and River Terrace, both of which are 16,000 square feet.
The convention center is also connected to the Palmetto Marriott Resort and Spa via a climate-controlled corridor.
The 252-room Marriott resort contains nearly 9,000 square feet of meeting and event space. Its largest space, the 7,328-square-foot West Coast Ballroom, can accommodate up to 960 people.
