According to Visit FLORIDA, in 2025, 75 hotels with 9,686 total rooms and over 210,800 square feet of meeting space opened up, including properties such as Omni Fort Lauderdale and Opal Sol Clearwater, a luxury resort with Gulf views.
Here’s a rundown of the most newsworthy openings and renovations in the Sunshine State.
Airport Upgrades
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is spending $3.2 billion on the modernization and expansion of Terminal 1 and a new Concourse A, along with a renovation and expansion in Terminal 2 to reorganize the concessions space and create a more pleasant overall look and feel.
Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) is undergoing a $344 million expansion to build a new Concourse B, set to open by the end of 2026. The project adds six new gates, bringing the total to 26, alongside a new parking garage and expanded dining and retail options.
Miami International Airport (MIA) is undergoing a five- to seven-year, multibillion-dollar project upgrading 126 passenger boarding bridges, 196 restrooms and over 600 conveyance units (elevators/escalators).
Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP) broke ground in January on a $100 million, 80,000-square-foot expansion of its North Terminal to address growing passenger demand.
Orlando International Airport (MCO) is in the midst of a $6 billion, 10-year expansion and upgrade plan to be completed by 2030. The Capital Improvement Plan features a major $253 million Gate Link (tram) replacement to be completed in fall 2027.
Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) completed a 54,500-square-foot expansion to Concourse B, adding seven new gates.
Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) is undergoing a major expansion exceeding $200 million to accommodate rapid passenger growth, including a $100 million terminal expansion and various infrastructure upgrades.
Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) is adding a new concourse and a new baggage system.
St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) is undergoing a multiyear renovation and expansion project, with over $110 million allocated for terminal improvements, new gates and additional jet bridges, to continue through 2027.
Tallahassee International Airport (TLH) is undergoing renovations, highlighted by a $30.5 million
International Processing Facility to handle international flights, expected to be complete in early 2026. Other improvements include Concourse A and B renovations and new seating.
Hotels
Amelia Island
Omni Amelia Island Resort & Spa completed a property-wide renovation that blends modern design with the island’s natural beauty and cultural heritage. The transformation reimagined nearly every aspect of the resort, from refreshed food and beverage venues, including FloraBelle, Palmetto Press Coffee & Provisions, the reimagined Surfcaster and an elevated Nonna Mia, to the fully restored Oak Marsh Golf Course, a coastal-modern lobby and lounge, and a reimagined spa. The resort’s 401 oceanfront guest rooms and suites, along with 80,000 square feet of renovated meeting and event space, now showcase coastal hues, natural textures and indoor/outdoor living.
Bonita Springs
The 454-room Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa will renovate its spa in mid 2026, which will complete a multiyear renovation to the property. In late 2025, the resort finalized a meeting space renovation. The resort has more than 82,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space.
Bradenton Beach
Bridgewalk Resort recently underwent a rebrand and renovation, reopening in May 2025. The resort features 28 accommodations, including one-bedroom, studio and townhome options. Located on Bridge Street in the historic district of Bradenton Beach, the resort puts guests at the center of Anna Maria Island’s activity, within walking distance of many of the island’s restaurants, stores and attractions.
Clearwater
Opal Sol, in Clearwater Beach, opened in February. The luxury all-suite property, located next to Opal Sands Resort, features 248 ocean-facing rooms, four restaurant concepts, a spa and three pools. Collectively, the hotels have 478 modern rooms and suites and 106,000 square feet of event space.
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Daytona Area
Residence Inn by Marriott Ormond Beach will open in summer 2026, featuring 137 extended-stay oceanfront guest rooms and onsite meeting space, a lobby pool bar, complimentary breakfast area and an outdoor pool.
Florida Keys
Baker’s Cay Resort unveiled 12 new luxury suites—Waterview Palm, Partial Waterview Palm and Paradise suites—as of late 2025, featuring open layouts, coastal decor and private balconies. Recent upgrades also include a renovated Clubhouse Pool area with an enlarged spa.
Ocean Key Resort & Spa wrapped a renovation of its lobby and indoor/outdoor Marina View Lounge. The hotel has 100 rooms and suites and its indoor and outdoor meeting and event spaces include The White Ibis Room, with approximately 550 square feet, The Sunset Pier at 4,000 square feet and The Ocean Terrace with 900 square feet.
Fort Lauderdale
Omni Fort Lauderdale, which offers 800 rooms, opened in December. It offers access to the newly expanded $1.3 billion Broward County Convention Center, featuring 1.2 million square feet of space, including 350,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space and a 65,000-square-foot waterfront ballroom.
Fort Myers Area
The all-suite, 114-room Casa Ybel opened on Sanibel Island after extensive renovations. The resort has 1,000 square feet of meeting space.
Fort Walton
The Island Resort refreshed its cabana beds and upgraded its patio furniture in the Dune rooms, creating indoor/outdoor comfort. The resort features 333 guest rooms and suites and five indoor venues ranging from 780 to 4,800 square feet for events for up to 300 attendees, along with outdoor facilities for beach and garden events. The resort offers a total of 25,000 square feet of flexible meeting space.
Jacksonville
Opened October 2025, the Hilton Jacksonville at Mayo Clinic is located on the campus of Mayo Clinic Jacksonville and less than a mile from Mayo Clinic Hospital. The hotel has a heated outdoor pool and an onsite restaurant, Coastal Kitchen, serving lunch and dinner. The hotel has 252 rooms and 16,000 square feet of indoor event space.
The 193-room Dune House Hotel & Spa opened in March. The newest oceanfront hotel on Atlantic Beach has 10,000 square feet of meeting space.
Miami
Grand Hyatt Miami Beach is slated to open in late 2027. The 800-room hotel, directly connected to the Miami Beach Convention Center via a climate-controlled skybridge, will bring 52 suites, four floors of meeting and ballroom space, a rooftop pool deck, a restaurant, bar and retail to the convention district.
The Miami Sunny Isles Beach, Curio Collection opened in February with 339 guest rooms. The hotel boasts an eclectic private art collection, six food and beverage outlets, a fitness center, spa and salon, oceanfront pool with tiki bar, and fire pits and a beach club. With more than 22,000 square feet of event space, including an outdoor terrace, it is one of the few oceanfront event spaces in Miami Beach.
Miramar Beach
Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa emerged from a $35 million property-wide renovation—completed in early 2025 to mark its 40th anniversary—with a refreshed coastal-modern design and upgraded amenities. All 590 rooms and suites have been renovated, along with the lobby, dining venues, pools, spa, beachfront decking and 62,5000 square feet of meeting and event space.
Naples
Naples Beach Club, A Four Seasons Resort opened in November on 1,000 feet of Gulf-front, featuring 220 rooms and suites and more than 32,000 square feet of flexible indoor and outdoor meeting and event space, including two ballrooms and landscaped lawn venues.
[Related: 10 New and Noteworthy Properties Meeting Planners Should Consider]
Ocala/Marion County
Equestrian Manor at World Equestrian Center is a 303,857-square-foot, four-story event venue and dining complex. Just opened at the front of the 378-acre resort, it offers luxurious ballroom/meeting spaces and four distinct, high-end, chef-driven restaurants, including The Polo Pony, Genievieve’s Italian, The White Willow, a Pan-Asian restaurant and rooftop bar, and Emma’s Patisserie.
The Hotel Marion is being restored to its former glory in downtown Ocala. The building first opened in 1927. It will have 56 luxury guest rooms and suites, and feature local art, fine dining, a coffee shop and cafe, expansive lobby bar and retail. The hotel will have 1,500 square feet of meeting space.
Orlando
Caribe Royale Orlando opened new meeting space in December. The Coral Ballroom + Martinique Meeting rooms add an additional 20,000 square feet of meeting and event space, bringing the total to 260,000 square feet. Projects for this year at the hotel include the redesign of the 120 two-bedroom Villas and the redesign of the main dining room of The Venetian Chop House. (The atrium dining room will continue to serve guests while the work is being done.) The redesign of The Venetian Chop House will be accompanied by a menu relaunch.
[Related: Live From PCMA CL 26: Orlando Keeps Growing]
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa culminated a major, multiyear renovation project. Highlights include the enhancement of its 660-plus guest rooms and suites, and refreshed dining experiences, including the Michelin star-awarded Victoria & Albert’s and other notable restaurants on-property: Cítricos, one of Michelin Guide’s restaurants with a Recommend rating; and Narcoossee’s cozy seafood grill. The grand lobby and convention center and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa’s 40,000 square feet of meeting and event space has been thoughtfully refreshed while still embracing its timeless charm.
Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort completed the renovation of all of its 756 guest rooms and suites in the Swan hotel as part of a broader $275 million renovation and expansion project—the largest in the property’s history. The project also includes upgrades to meeting spaces at both the Swan and Dolphin, as well as a 100,000-square-foot expansion of the Dolphin’s event space expected to open in summer 2026.
Universal Helios Grand Hotel, a Loews Hotel, with 500 sleek rooms, about 5,000 square feet of meeting space and the showstopping Helios Grand Hall, is the newest offering at Universal Orlando Resort. Attendees can sip a cocktail at Bar Helios while taking in 360-degree views or head into the park using the exclusive Universal Epic Universe entrance. Two other resorts, Universal Stella Nova Resort and Universal Terra Luna Resort, also opened. Combined, three new hotels bring 2,000 fresh rooms, sparkling amenities and unbeatable convenience being only steps away from both Epic Universe and nearby Orange County Convention Center.
Conrad Orlando at Evermore introduced two- and three-bedroom suites for parties of up to 10. It is the latest offering for a hotel noted for its luxury offerings for groups, with 65,000 square feet of meeting space, 433 sophisticated guest rooms, world-class dining and the Conrad Spa.
Palm Beach Area
In Delray Beach, The Seagate Hotel, Golf & Beach Club, Autograph Collection completed a $55 million renovation encompassing all 157 guest rooms, a refreshed lobby, a reimagined two-story private Beach Club and upgrades to its 18-hole championship golf course. The hotel features 24,000 square feet of meeting space.
Panama City Beach
Margaritaville Beach Cottage Resort, which features cottages for one to eight guests, opened a new clubhouse featuring a fitness center, arcade, event space and restaurant, expanding the onsite amenities available to overnight guests. Guests enjoy a 580-foot-plus private beach complete with umbrella and chair service, and paddleboard and kayak rentals and lessons, a 2.5-acre Oasis pool with H₂O adventure slides and a 425-foot heated lazy river.
Pensacola
The 184-room Tempo by Hilton is expected to open in late 2026 or early 2027. The upscale lifestyle hotel will be located right off the bayfront, built with thoughtful communal spaces and a pool terrace.
Hotel Tristan is expected to open in late 2026 in downtown Pensacola, steps away from local shops, attractions and restaurants. The boutique hotel will feature 122 rooms, a rooftop bar and a 2,000-square-foot meeting room.
Port Charlotte
Sunseeker Resort Florida Gulf Coast rebranded under Hilton’s Curio Collection. The waterfront resort introduced new amenities and a new full-service menu at Half Cracked Tiki Shack, along with upcoming rebrands for two additional resort dining outlets and Sunsuite Villas, a premium accommodation option featuring private check-in, exclusive lounge access, personalized concierge services, private balconies and long-term stay packages. Plans for a convention center will offer more than 100,000 square feet of combined meeting and event space.
Port St. Lucie
voco Sandpiper All-Inclusive Resort opened following a $50 million transformation. The riverfront property offers a refreshed take on all-inclusive travel with newly redesigned accommodations and elevated dining and activities. The resort has 11,000 square feet of meeting space.
Punta Gorda/Englewood
Four Points by Sheraton Punta Gorda Harborside, with 106 rooms, has gone through a full renovation. Meeting space includes the Bay Room at 450 square feet and Palm Room at 294 square feet.
My Place Hotel–Port Charlotte/Punta Gorda (myplacehotels.com) opened with 65 rooms. The six-story project features an English pub with a brewery and a coffee roaster.
Sarasota
Lido Beach Resort, with 222 rooms, renovated and transformed its meeting space perched high above the Gulf on the eighth floor of the Palm Building. It offers stunning views of the beach, complete with a view of the Sarasota skyline. A total of 6,000 square feet of meeting space includes a 3,000-square-foot ballroom and five breakout rooms equipped with the latest technology.
Casey Key Resorts Mainland offers a blend of modern amenities and coastal charm, making it an ideal destination for meetings and events. The hotel has newly renovated guest rooms and the 2,500-square-foot Mainland Ballroom. The ballroom offers a versatile and elegant space featuring abundant natural light and glass doors that allow access to the pool patio area. The resort has 142 units and Casey Key Resorts Beachfront has 11 units.
South Walton
Kaiya Beach Resort in South Walton’s Inlet Beach offers rental homes and a beach club. The resort blends coastal-modern architecture with wellness and culture, offering private villas, condos, a beach-side infinity pool and curated community amenities. Meanwhile, its boutique 30-suite hotel and spa, Oyom Hotel & Spa, remains slated for an opening scheduled for 2027, elevating Kaiya into a full-fledged resort destination.
St. Augustine
Built in 1888, the historic Casa Monica Resort & Spa has been undergoing a comprehensive renovation as part of a strategic plan by The Kessler Collection.
Hotel Amalga a four-star boutique hotel in historic St. Augustine and part of Marriott’s Tribute Portfolio, offers 58 rooms and two rooftop patios overlooking the San Sebastian River, as well as a pool and 24-hour fitness center. Hugo’s Bistro serves refined French and Spanish-inspired cuisine. The Castillo de San Marcos, St. George Street, Flagler College and the Cathedral Basilica are nearby. Hotel Amalga combines personalized service with authentic local experiences in the nation’s oldest city.
[Related: Visiting a Palm Coast Favorite That Delivers for Meetings and Events]
St. Petersburg Beach
The Don CeSar, one of Florida’s most storied hotels, cut the ribbon to introduce The Royal Ballroom. Spanning 7,400 square feet, it offers stunning views of the Gulf and St. Pete Beach and is a fantastic setting for large events. After the 2024 storms, the resort fully redesigned its first-floor amenities, including refreshed dining outlets such as Society Table and Rowe Bar, and boutique retail shops.
The Luce, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, opened in January with 200 rooms. The hotel offers seven event rooms, including the Luce Ballroom, Palm Court and Terrapin Terrace, with a total of 14,294 square feet of event space.
Tampa
The 299-room Westin Tampa Waterside, located near downtown attractions, offers newly renovated accommodations with residential-inspired layouts, modern amenities and signature comforts, alongside scenic dining at Blue Harbour Eatery + Bar. Guests can enjoy a sparkling outdoor pool, fitness studio and easy access to the Tampa Convention Center, Riverwalk, Benchmark International Arena and other local highlights, making it a wellness-focused retreat in a vibrant city setting. The hotel has 18,000 square feet of meeting space.
Drury Plaza Hotel Tampa Brandon will open in September 2026 with 210 rooms, an outdoor pool and 2,500 square feet of meeting space.
