Best of 2011: Orlando's 10 Most Notable New Event Venues

The Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek is the only large hotel with meeting space that opened in Orlando during 2011. Located next to Disney, the resort has 25,000 square feet of event space, 400 guest rooms, a spa, and multiple dining outlets.

Located in the heart of International Drive within walking distance to several large hotels and the convention center, Dave & Buster's is available for buyout for teambuilding activities and convention outings.The 44,000-square-foot entertainment complex opened in July and can accommodate 2,000. The facility has a 2,000-square-foot room that can seat 150 or hold 225 for receptions. There are also two small boardrooms.

Open since January, the Dali Museum in St. Petersburg is a stunning 66,000-square-foot building filled with the largest collection of Salvador Dali's works outside of Spain. The facility has multiple private event spaces, including the 3,100-square-foot Avant-Garden and the Raymond James Community Room, which has views of the garden and waterfront. The museum is available for buyout and can accommodate 875 people.

The newest venue along Restaurant Row is also one of the most unique. The Table, which opened in August, has just one long table in the middle of the room. Guests dine on a five-course meal paired with five wines. The Table has seating for 22; private groups can also use the 1,000-square-foot space for receptions with passed hors d'oeuvres for as many as 40 people.

Legoland Florida is Central Florida's newest theme park. It opened in October in Winter Haven, about halfway between Orlando and Tampa. The 150-acre park, with more than 50 rides, hands-on attractions, and shows, is geared toward families with children ages 2 to 12, but many of the attractions can be used for teambuilding. There are three large restaurants on the property.

In April, New York-based Delmonico's Italian Steakhouse opened its first Florida location just down from the Orange County Convention Center. The restaurant serves classic Italian fare and has four private dining rooms for groups of eight to 60. The restaurant is available for buyout and has seating for 300.

Orlando's newest live entertainment venue, the Abbey, opened in April in downtown Orlando's Eola Square neighborhood. The 7,500-square-foot space has two distinct areas: a bar and lounge to the left and a stage and seating area to the right. The venue hosts musical acts, theatrical performances, and comedians. Private groups can reserve seating and use the venue before and after performances. The entire space is also available for buyout on days that the stage is dark.

The Mezz is a contemporary venue on the second floor of the Sanctuary condominium in downtown Orlando's Eola Square neighborhood. The 7,000-square-foot ballroom is appropriate for corporate and social functions and can seat 240 or hold 300 for receptions. The facility has a catering kitchen and also offers Webcasting capabilities. Down the hall from the main room, the Plum Room is a more intimate space for groups of as many as 30.

Whitewashed floors, exposed brick, and simple lighting give the Rusty Spoon a casual yet refined feel. The restaurant opened on Church Street in April. The owners describe the menu as "American cuisine rooted in European flavors," with items that change seasonally and predominantly come from local farms. The 5,500-square-foot restaurant has seating for 160 in the dining room and lounge area and can accommodate nearly 200 for a reception.

Victory Casino Cruises began sailing a 1,200-passenger ship out of Port Canaveral in July. The vessel offers more than 600 slot machines and 30 table games. For private events, the ship's dance club can double as a meeting space for as many as 400 people. The boat travels three miles off shore to international waters, where gaming can take place. The entire experience lasts about five hours. The company can arrange bus transportation to and from the port for private groups.