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October 17, 2018
Walt Disney World's Swan and Dolphin Targets Groups with New Tower
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The tower, which is owned by Tishman Hotels and Metlife and managed by Marriott International, is set to begin construction this fall and open officially in fall of 2020, but wonÕt begin accepting groups until 2021. The 349-room property will include 151 suites designed to accommodate up to 12 people. According to Gino Marasco, director of sales and marketing for the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort, each of these rooms can be transformed into meeting space, which is the key behind the propertyÕs group-focused play. ÒA lot of companies out there are investing in smaller meetings,Ó Marasco said. ÒThis allows us to provide 151 breakout rooms, essentially.Ó That is a lot of space, to be sure, but Marasco said the hotel is bullish on attracting not only events, but multiple events at once. Each suite comes equipped with a built-in audiovisual system, large conference table and more. Guest feedback helped determine the makeup of these rooms and the amenities they offer, he said. ÒFor years we gathered feedback from our group customers, and we felt it was time to move forward on the project,Ó Marasco said. ÒThis project is about understanding who our guest of the future will be.Ó Under Wraps A full price tag on the development has yet to be disclosedÑas has the name for the new towerÑbut the expansion comes after the completion of a $150 million renovation of the resortÕs guestrooms, lobby areas and meeting space. Once the new tower is completed, the resort will offer more than 2,600 total guestrooms and more than 350,000 square feet of meeting space. This meeting space includes the more than 22,000 square feet of additional event space the new tower brings to the equationÑnot including any suites pulling double duty. The new event space will be spread across two ballrooms, 12 meeting rooms and a rooftop reception area. The tower will also add a 16,800-square-foot deck to the premises, which will include a fire pit and pool. With so much event space on hand already, Marasco said the decision to include suites that can transform into breakout rooms was also made with flexibility in mind. ÒWe are a group-focused hotel, and the towerÕs suites can be set for meetings, but at the end of the day these are hotel rooms,Ó Marasco said. ÒSure, they can be used as meeting rooms. But they will also be comfortable and functional for a family or group of guests.Ó While the tower is considered part of the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort, it will not share a lobby with the other two buildings and will offer its own suite of amenities. These include a 90-seat restaurant, a 50-seat lounge, a health club, a business center, a grab-and-go market and a craft cocktail lobby bar. Celebration Day The launch also closely coincides with Walt Disney WorldÕs 50th anniversary, taking place Oct. 1, 2021. Additionally, Universal Studios and Epcot are set to receive updates in 2023, with Disney World scheduled for its own update in 2024. Marasco said these events, along with organic traffic to the region, necessitated the development of more event space. ÒWe were looking and analyzing data and our business model for the next few years, and looking at it we felt that the strength of the Orlando market and current demand drivers were strong enough for more supply,Ó Marasco said. ÒWe stay abreast of the new attractions, and we know this will be something the area can use.Ó In terms of challenges, Marasco said the current development climate can sometimes complicate new construction, but he is confident in the projectÕs ability to succeed. Additionally, Marasco said it can be difficult to ensure all parties are communicating and remain on the same page during a project of this size, but he was enthusiastic about DisneyÕs capabilities as a partner. One thing Marasco wanted to be clear on was the new towerÕs association with the existing property. It may be a new building offering a new group-focused experience, but it is still part of the resort. ÒEven though this will be a new a tower and will act as a standalone experience, to will work as part of the entire complex,Ó Marasco said. ÒWe expect to have groups who come in and book all three buildings, but some may use two or just one. ItÕs all about flexibility.Ó Copyright 2018 Questex LLC. All rights reserved. From https://www.hotelmanagement.net. By Elliott Mest.
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