The hotel market in Orlando is robust and shows no signs of slowing down. New developments are constantly being announced, and it’s hard to drive around without seeing fleets of dump trucks hauling land from one place to another. The luxury hotel market, in particular, has seen a lot of activity. While Orlando used to have only a few high-end hotels, it seems that a new one is opening every few months, now.
Here are just a few properties that have opened, expanded, renovated or have been announced recently:
- Nobu Orlando (opening 2026)
- Fairmont Orlando (opening 2025)
- Kimpton Orlando (opening 2027)
- Conrad (opened 2024)
- Four Seasons (adding residences and condo tower to open in 2026)
- Waldorf Astoria (completed massive renovation in 2023)
IHG’s push into the Orlando luxury market
While IHG has over 30 properties in the greater Orlando area, it’s notably absent from the higher end of the market. There are two Crowne Plaza hotels, one on the edge of Downtown Orlando and the other a reflagged hotel in Lake Buena Vista near Disney World.
IHG recently announced the opening of the first Kimpton hotel in Orlando, which is set to open in 2027, next to the Kia Center (this is a large arena in downtown Orlando that usually houses large events such as concerts and basketball games). This will be their highest-tier hotel in the area. However, they have now announced plans to open an InterContinental hotel in the middle of the tourist corridor, which will be the fanciest IHG property in Central Florida.
InterContinental Orlando
According to GrowthSpotter (via Orlando Sentinel):
The 700-guestroom and 84-suite property, set to open in 2028, will feature amenities including five restaurant and bar concepts, a 15,000 square foot spa and wellness center, a pool, fitness center and 106,000 square feet of meetings and events space.
The new hotel will be built on the site of the Wyndham Resort International Drive, which closed at the end of June 2024. Known for hosting conventions and sporting events, the Wyndham was located on a 30-acre property, which gives the developers plenty of prime real estate to work with. According to filings with Orange County, the entire block will be demolished, except for the drug store and gas station on the corners.
The InterContinental will be the first hotel on the plot. There is also room to add three or four additional hotels from different national brands, offering various price points. In addition, there will be retail, dining, and entertainment options. The owners hope to start breaking ground on the new hotel next summer.
This will be the first luxury hotel in the area, with the closest competitor being the Hyatt Regency located down the street, by the convention center.
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