The Grand Orlando Resort at Celebration is under new ownership and management. The 718-room property, located just 1.5 miles from Walt Disney World, was recently purchased by Tishman Hotel Corporation. StepStone Hospitality has been named the management company and will oversee the property.
The resort is currently undergoing a $35 million renovation, which includes guest rooms and suites, outdoor pool areas, a restaurant and on-site conference center, with completion expected in early 2023. The room renovation construction is contained to one of the hotel’s six towers at a time, to avoid interruptions to the guest experience. The lobby and two of the six towers have already been completed. The newly renovated resort will be flagged a Delta by Marriott, known for modern guest rooms, flexible spaces and smart service. A new general manager and director of sales and marketing have been appointed.
Positioned on a 20-acre landscape, the renovated property will appeal to both leisure and business travelers. Leisure guests will enjoy three swimming pools–complete with a waterfall and slide–two tennis courts, on-site laundry facilities, four restaurants and complimentary scheduled transportation to Walt Disney World and Universal Studios.
Business travelers can take advantage of an on-site conference center comprised of 11,632 square feet of flexible meeting space, including additional expansive options for outdoor events. The hotel’s six towers, containing more than 100 rooms each, allow planners the unique opportunity to book exclusive sleeping room towers for their attendees. The property can easily accommodate everything from small group meetings to larger groups of 400, to include weddings, corporate meetings and social events.
“We are excited to partner with the proven management team at StepStone and the leading and trusted Marriott brand to present a refreshed offering in Orlando,” says Robert Snyder, president of Tishman Hotel Corporation. “This is an ideal opportunity to capture guests who enjoy the proximity of the outer perimeter of Walt Disney World, with easy access to I-4 and the other Orlando attractions, including the convention center.”
“As Orlando continues to be one of the nation’s leading destinations for leisure and meetings guests, we are confident the property’s convenient location, diverse facilities, new modern design, amenities and renovated product will have strong appeal to both travel segments,” says Blair Wills, president and CEO of StepStone Hospitality. “We are excited to expand our portfolio with a property offering so much appeal and in partnership with two highly recognized hospitality entities, Tishman and Marriott.”
Orlando-based Tishman Hotel Company is a division of New York-based Tishman Hotel, Realty and Construction Company, and owns the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort and the new Walt Disney World Swan Reserve. Rhode Island-based StepStone Hospitality manages a diverse portfolio of major hotel brands across the nation.
