After more than two years and a $450 million budget, the expansion of the Peabody Orlando will be complete in November. Open since July 28, the updated property on International Drive has a total of 300,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and entertainment space and 99 breakout rooms. There are also a new tower of guest rooms, a new restaurant and bar, and a 22,000-square-foot spa that will open later this month.
The largest new space is the pillar-free 55,000-square-foot grand ballroom, which can seat 4,700 or host 6,200 for receptions. Down the hall is the Windermere Ballroom, measuring 35,000 square feet, which can seat 3,000 or accommodate 3,900 for a reception. Both rooms have movable walls that can break the space into smaller event areas. The conference center is connected to the Orange County Convention Center by two covered walkways.
In addition to the ballrooms, the ground level also has 24 breakout rooms, ranging from 700 to 1,300 square feet. There is also 75,000 square feet of foyer space known as the Peabody Grand Rotunda, suitable for prefunction events and registration. The second floor of the new building has 26 more meeting rooms for groups of 20 to 180.
There are multiple outdoor event areas, the largest of which is the garden terrace adjacent to the upper pool deck. It will have have 20,000 square feet of flexible space when it opens in November.
A new 33-story tower opening September 23 brings the total number of guest rooms at the Peabody to more than 1,600, including 193 suites. The tower also houses NAPA, a new 200-seat restaurant, and the 6,000-square-foot Rocks Bar. Both overlook a new zero-entry pool that has a waterfall and private cabanas with wireless Internet access.
In addition to the expansion, the property renovated its existing 57,000 square feet of meeting areas with the same contemporary design, bright colors, and technology as the new facilities.