Resorts Galore
Without a doubt, the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center sets the high bar for Florida hospitality. The recently completed multimillion-dollar renovation enhanced the meeting venues, the networking environments and the 1,406 guest rooms. Reminiscent of a late-19th- to early-20th-century Florida mansion, the resort’s landscaped gardens offer a lush oasis beneath its 4.5-acre, glass-enclosed atrium. Minutes from the gates of the Walt Disney World Resort, the convention center offers more than 400,000 square feet of flexible meeting space for 58 breakout rooms, 178,500 square feet of exhibit space and a 42,420-square-foot ballroom. Adding to this property’s appeal are the new adults-only pool, Cypress Springs Family Fun Water Park, eight restaurants and lounges, and the full-service Relache Spa.
For a beautiful setting on two championship golf courses, there’s the AAA Four Diamond Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate. Two Greg Norman-designed championship golf courses, the Leadbetter Golf Academy and 15 acres of pools, plus jogging, hiking and biking paths, make this an outdoor mecca. The 720-room resort features 128,800 square feet of meeting and event space, the 46,000-square-foot Osceola Conference Center being the newest addition. Outdoor spaces for events include the lush 16,200-square-foot ballroom commons, the 30,000-square-foot golf course commons and the 6,500-square-foot Croc’s Beach, which is near the pool area.
Designed specifically for meetings, the new Embassy Suites Orlando at Lake Buena Vista South offers 300 two-room suites and 40,000 square feet of meeting, prefunction and outdoor patio space — the most meeting space of any Embassy Suites in Florida. Free made-to-order breakfast, complimentary evening receptions and free self-parking round out amenities.
Also included in the lineup of AAA Four Diamond properties, the Reunion Resort offers 300 villa-style accommodations with kitchens and living areas, plus 25,000 square feet of meeting space and several outdoor event spaces. The trendy rooftop of Eleven, the resort’s steakhouse, serves handcrafted cocktails and offers terrific views of the Magic Kingdom fireworks. Hotel amenities include a water park and signature golf courses designed by Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson. Reunion is the nation’s only resort with an Annika Academy and a Frankly Golf Putting Academy on-site, both excellent venues for team-building activities.
For intimate meetings, the AAA Four Diamond, 115-room Bohemian Hotel Celebration combines luxurious amenities with superior service. Fresh orchids, original artwork and lakeside views provide an escape and a chance to enjoy the simplicity of Old World Florida. Located in downtown Celebration, a lifestyle area built by Disney, the hotel provides access to restaurants and shopping.
Theme Parks and Entertainment
Kissimmee offers plentiful options when it comes to entertainment. Nearby Walt Disney World Resort features four theme parks and two nighttime entertainment districts, along with seasonal and year-round events. Fall brings the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, with 30 international food and beverage marketplaces, world-renowned chefs, culinary demonstrations and the nightly Eat to the Beat concert series. Spring ushers in the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival, with more than 100 topiary displays and exhibits, many featuring popular Disney characters; lush gardens; outdoor kitchens; and the Garden Rocks Concert Series.
Fun Spot America-Kissimmee, home to the world’s tallest sky coaster and popular multilevel go-carts, hosts a self-guided scavenger hunt where attendees race through the park for a designated amount of time and look for hidden company logos. Other area parks include SeaWorld Orlando, Discovery Cove and Universal Orlando.
Before it was a vacation destination, Kissimmee was a town where cowboys tended herds of cattle on large ranches. Today, the biannual Silver Spurs Rodeo ranks as the largest rodeo east of the Mississippi River. Year-round, the Silver Spurs Arena hosts acts from headliners and comedy shows to championship sports tournaments and equestrian events.
Spring training brings the Houston Astros to Osceola County Stadium and the Atlanta Braves to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. For a fun evening, groups can cheer for their favorite knight at Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament show, which has the nation’s only walk-through medieval village next door, or take in the speakeasy sounds and sights at Capone’s Dinner and Show.
Kissimmee, Florida
Location
Central Florida
Access
Orlando International Airport;
Florida’s Turnpike, Interstate 4;
Central Florida GreeneWay
Major meeting spaces
Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center; Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate;
Embassy Suites Orlando-Lake Buena Vista South
Hotel Rooms
More than 50,000
Offsite Venues
Gatorland, Wild Florida Airboat and Wildlife Park, Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament
Contact Info
Experience Kissimmee
www.experiencekissimmee.com
