Hotel to Fulfill Need for Upscale Accommodations Near Convention Center
Hilton Hotels Corporation, Apollo Real Estate Advisors and Rida Development Corporation announced today the groundbreaking of the 1400-room Hilton hotel located south of the Orange County Convention Center. Hilton Hotels Corporation will manage the hotel with a minority ownership interest, while Apollo Real Estate Investment Fund V and Rida Development Corporation will have majority ownership of the hotel. The 18-story hotel, which sits on 26.4 acres, is expected to cost approximately $380 million and is scheduled to open in the summer of 2009.
'We are excited to bring this new and contemporary Hilton to Orlando's Orange County Convention Center and to help fill the need for high-end hotel rooms in the area,' said Jeff Diskin, senior vice president, Hilton Brand management, Hilton Hotels Corporation. 'The destination's vibrant personality combined with Hilton's upscale standards set the stage to make this property the convention center's flagship hotel.'
The hotel is to feature 1,400 well-appointed guestrooms, including 52 suites, and is to offer direct access to the south Concourse through a pedestrian sky bridge. The property is to include a 15,000-square-foot spa and fitness center, an Italian restaurant, a fine dining restaurant, an upscale sports bar, a lobby lounge, pool bar and grill and a deli. In addition, an abundance of recreational amenities will be offered.
'The Hilton Orlando is a true full-service hotel that will not only serve the convention center but will also have a great leisure and spa component, allowing both conventioneers and leisure guests the opportunity to enjoy Orlando,' said Ira Mitzner, president of Rida Development Corporation, who will act as lead developer of the Project.
The Hilton Orlando is poised to take advantage of a booming Orlando convention market that currently offers relatively few hotel rooms within walking distance of the convention center. The hotel is to feature more than 130,000 square feet of meeting space, which is to include a 50,000 square foot grand ballroom, a 30,000 square foot junior ballroom and 38 meeting rooms.
The Hilton Orlando Convention Center is being designed by HKS Architects in Orlando and will be built by Welbro Building Corporation.
'We are thrilled to be forming this unique partnership with Hilton, who will not only manage the new hotel but also be our partner in the deal,' said John Jacobsson, managing partner of Apollo Real Estate Advisors.
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