Here's a look at new Orlando/Central Florida eateries, bars, hotels, conference spaces, private rooms, and other venues available for events this spring. The new and renovated Orlando/Central Florida event spaces are available for corporate parties, weddings, fund-raisers, outdoor functions, business dinners, teambuilding activities, conferences, meetings, and more.
Jutting out over the Atlantic Ocean, the historic Cocoa Beach Pier is a restaurant- and retail-packed wooden structure, and as of January, is also home to the Atlantic Ballroom, a 3,500-square-foot banquet and meeting space. Wood floors, a wraparound balcony, and floor-to-ceiling windows with sweeping views of the ocean and Cape Canaveral add to the event venue’s charm. The ballroom has a private bar and a private restroom. The space seats 140 at banquet rounds, or holds 200 for a standing reception or a theater-style setup. All catering is provided from the in-house catering team. Audiovisual technology is available.
The Margaritaville Resort Orlando debuted in January, offering a 300-acre complex with a hotel; meeting space; a spa; the Sunset Walk shopping, dining, and entertainment district; a kids’ club; a water park; and more. All are themed to the relaxed, flip-flop casual lifestyle promoted by singer Jimmy Buffet, whose famed song introduced the world to Margaritaville. The property offers 43,300 square feet of flexible indoor and outdoor event space. The heart of the tech-forward spaces is the Compass Rose Grand Ballroom. Its 8,856 square feet, with a neutral palette and a chandelier made of glass fish, holds 230 guests in a U-shaped configuration, 700 at banquet rounds, or 800 reception-style. It can be broken into smaller salons. Additional event space, two pre-function areas, outdoor areas, and the Seagrass dining rooms are other options for groups. All notification boards are digital, and tablets inside guestrooms can notify meeting attendees of daily agendas and other information.
Known as the Pink Palace, the Don CeSar is a historic hotel and event destination in St. Pete Beach. Much of its 22,000 square feet of indoor event spaces were recently renovated. New carpeting, paint schemes, lighting, furniture, drapery, and artwork refreshed the facilities, all themed around Maritana, the namesake character of an operatic gypsy street singer. The 5,671-square-foot Grand Ballroom’s new carpeting, for example, has a sweeping look in tribute to Maritana’s flowing gown. Two curved staircases, and Gulf views through arched windows, add charm. Crystal chandeliers resemble those in many opera houses. Old hotel photos are a nod to times gone by, and books by F. Scott Fitzgerald, once a frequent guest, are on display. State-of-the-art audiovisual equipment, and virtual meetings and video conferencing support, are available. A final phase of the resort's renovations will wrap up later in 2019 and include the Lobby Bar, Uncle Andy’s Ice Cream Parlor, Maritana Grille, Sea Porch, and the Beach House Suites.
Boxi Park is a hip outdoor gathering spot that uses shipping containers as counter-serve foodservice venues and housing for entertainment. The family-friendly park, which opened in February, has a playground, shaded areas, sand volleyball, and a variety of seating. The 30,000-square-foot outdoor venue is available for private and semiprivate events of as many as 1,800 people; smaller groups can gather in designated areas; musicians and other performers might be on stage. The capacity increases to 3,000 when combined with Lake Nona Town Center across the street. Buyouts are available, and the venue also offers free parking.
Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld added 30,000 square feet of event space in January, for a total of 215,000 square feet indoors plus another 20,000 outdoors. The spaces use neutral subtropical colors and local plants as a tribute to Florida’s foliage and ecosystem. The Peninsula Ballroom is the center of the addition, adding 16,500 square feet of indoor space with 22-foot ceilings and flexible rigging points. As many as 1,200 guests can be seated banquet style, or the space holds 2,300 for a reception. The venue has a 50-foot multi-use LED media wall with nine screens, fiber-optic audiovisual infrastructure for fast connections, and Wi-Fi to support as many as 5,000 devices. The ballroom can be broken into smaller spaces and is flanked by 8,000 square feet of pre-function space as well as an indoor technology area and an outdoor relaxing area, both designed for networking and socializing. Six new 1,350-square-foot breakout rooms each boast floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking landscaped grounds, and a new conference board room adds another 1,000 square feet.
In the Sarasota/Bradenton area, the new Legacy Hotel at IMG Academy was designed around a multi-sport training and educational institution yet has meeting and event space available for private events. The hotel has 5,060 square feet of flexible meeting space for weddings, conferences, or corporate retreats. Indoor ballrooms, expansive lawn spaces, a pool patio, and theater and schoolroom facilities are available in the 150-room, five-story boutique hotel located on a 500-acre campus. Among the choices is the 4,637-square-foot Legends Hall, which fits 132 guests for a U-shape configuration, 371 for a banquet, or 515 for a reception. The executive boardroom is a 12-seat facility of 560 square feet. Performance specialists and teambuilding services are available to corporate groups.
Wolfgang Puck debuted Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill featuring its California cuisine at Disney Springs, with an open kitchen and copper pizza oven. The entire 10,300-square-foot rustic and airy restaurant is available for buyouts of 250 seated guests or 450 for receptions, or it can accommodate smaller groups for private or semiprivate events. The main dining room seats 120 or holds 220 for receptions, while the pizza bar seats 22 or holds 35 for receptions and the patio seats 36 or holds 50 for receptions. Three TVs in the bar area are wired for audiovisual, and the venue has a list of preferred vendors for flowers, rentals, and more.
With a dramatic, big-budget decor, Lotus Asia House is a 6,400-square-foot restaurant melding the flavors of four Asian cuisines with American basics. Groups can gather in the 24-seat private dining room, which has one long rectangular wooden table and upholstered black leather chairs plus a TV screen available for group use. The main dining room seats about 100 guests, while the covered patio seats 62. Hand-painted wall murals of Asian women, chandeliers resembling paper lanterns, bamboo-like room dividers, and an assortment of Buddha statues create a lush yet modern feel. Groups are invited to choose from special menus for both seated and cocktail-focused events.
With the slogan Kitchen & Spirits Behind Bars, the Old Jailhouse brought a prison-theme restaurant and event venue to the small city of Sanford in February. The Sunbelt-food-focused establishment is located in an 1890 brick building that served as a jail, among other purposes, before being abandoned for the past 20 years. With subtle hints to its past along with modern touches and menu items, the multi-room facility offers several event options, including a buyout that can accommodate roughly 80 for a seated event or 150 for a reception. Options include a six-seat chef’s table called the Solitary; the eight-seat Visitation Room, featuring original jail visitation bars and a chandelier; a 16-seat private room with full audiovisual capabilities and a 60-inch TV; and a courtyard for 24 under market lights, weather permitting.
Corporate and social groups can socialize and have teambuilding experiences at Epic Axe Throwing, a venue that opened in downtown Orlando in October. Epic Axe Throwing has 13 wooden targets in six lanes separated by safety fencing. Working with a coach, participants throw axes aiming to hit the targets, freestyle or as part of competitive games. With a buyout, the 4,600-square-foot facility can hold 60 guests at once plus more in the two lounge areas; food and non-alcoholic beverages can be served. Staff can recommend vendors for catering, decor elements, tables, and audiovisual equipment. Groups are welcome to play their own music over the speakers.
