What's New on I-Drive!
Orlando's tourism corridor: More than $2 billion of high-profile development planned for 2019 and beyond in the thriving I-Drive Resort Area
ORLANDO, FL (February 2019) - The I-Drive Resort Area continues to increase its presence as a major player in Orlando's booming hospitality industry. The past several years have brought changes to the tourism corridor:
2019: A look at things to come
Lotus Asia House is coming to Pointe Orlando. This Asian-fusion & sushi restaurant. Grand opening is February 21, 2019
lotusasiahouse.com
Pointe Orlando welcomes
Hopdoddy Burger Bar, an upscale burger restaurant, this February 2019. Serving Angus burgers, salads, milkshakes & full bar, Hopdoddy will open in 4,471-square-feet in the space formally known as Funky Monkey.
hopdoddy.com
The
Renaissance at SeaWorld is expanding their meeting areas by 30,000 SF, a 16% increase. Estimated completion February 2019.
www.marriott.com
A 6-story, 144 room
Holiday Inn & Suites at Regency Village is being constructed near Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets. Expected completion is March 2019.
www.ihg.comHome2 Suites by Hilton began construction on a new 6-story hotel with 122 units. Anticipated opening is April 2019.
home2suites3.com
The Fountains Resort is constructing Tower 9, a 10-story, 97 unit addition to the property. Completion is estimated for April 2019.
www.bluegreenvacations.com
Mia's Italian Kitchen is an 8,000 SF Italian restaurant moving into the former Don Pablo's at 8717 International Drive. Expected opening this spring.
www.miasitalian.com WoodSpring Suites Signature Hotel began construction late 2018. This 4-story, 139 room hotel has an anticipated opening for spring 2019.
www.woodspring.com
SeaWorld Orlando is adding
Sesame Street that will include rides, interactive experiences, character meets and a daily parade. Guests will be able to explore the iconic neighborhood first hand. Opening is scheduled for spring 2019.
seaworldparks.com
Dezerland Action Park plans to open their doors this spring 2019 to a 300,000 SF
Orlando Auto Museum with hundreds of cars ranging from the 1930's to modern day. The goal is to be the largest auto museum in Florida. Additional entertainment will span another 250,000 SF of the complex.
www.dezerlandactionpark.com
A new
Element Hotel is breaking ground this year at I-Drive 360. This 8-story, 165 unit hotel is anticipating a summer 2019 opening.
element-hotels.marriott.com
The Endless Summer Resort is the much anticipated development on the former Wet 'n Wild property.
The Surfside Inn & Suites will be a 750-room 'surf culture' themed resort and has a summer 2019 anticipated completion date.
The Dockside Inn & Suites will be a 2,050-room resort with completion anticipated in 2020. The resorts combined will include three pools, two food courts, parking garage and poolside bars.
blog.universalorlando.com
The Hampton Social will be moving into the former Tommy Bahama's eatery at Pointe Orlando. This restaurant specializes in seafood, pizza & brunches. Expected opening late 2019.
www.thehamptonsocial.com
Phases 2 & 3 of
Vineland Pointe will be constructed concurrently and include a Target, Cheesecake Factory, and Alamo Drafthouse Cinema. Total project includes 69.41 acres and 447,500-square-feet of retail space. Lucky's Market will be opening this spring 2019 at Phase 1, along with MOD Pizza, Duck Donuts, Rita's Italian Ice & Chipotle opening this year. Completion expected by Christmas 2019.
oconnorcp.comSand Lake Road Improvement Project expects completion in late 2019 of work that includes widening to six lanes, bike paths and new sidewalks. Extends from I-Drive to Universal Blvd.
cflroads.com
The
Kirkman Road Pedestrian Bridge is well underway at the intersection of Kirkman Road and Major Blvd. This 186-foot steel-truss bridge will improve pedestrian safety across Kirkman Road. The bridge will be 14-feet wide and the project also includes improved sidewalks. Completion in 2019.
www.i4ultimate.com
KareKare Curl at Aquatica will be splashing onto the scene this year. It is described as a two-person, curve shaped wave slide ride with vertical wave wall.
aquatica.com
Hyatt House expects to open on I-Drive in 2019. The $28 million property plans to have 175 rooms.
house.hyatt.com
Mooyah Burgers & an arcade will be 'mooving' in to the Hollywood Plaza Entertainment Complex in 2019.
The
Grand National 16.5-acre mixed-use project is underway on North International Drive. It will include 60,000 -square-feet of retail and restaurant space. A new TownePlace Suites by Marriott has also signed on for a 7-story, 148 unit hotel. Projects began coming online in 2018 and will continue through 2020.
www.naproperties.com/projects/grand-national/2020 and beyond
Tru by Hilton, an 8-story, 259 suite concept hotel has just started their site work. The hotel will be located across from the Orange County Convention Center and has a target opening date of February 2020.
tru3.hilton.com
ICON Orlando 360 has several new restaurants coming online. Blake Shelton's
Ole Red Orlando will begin construction in early 2019 on their 15,000 SF, 2-level restaurant. A welcome addition to ICON Orlando 360, offering Southern food & hospitality and live Country music. Expected Opening is planned for spring 2020.
olered.com/orlando Also coming in 2020 are the
Ox Grill - contemporary cuisine and
Mikado, a Japanese restaurant.
iconorlando.com
Essex at Universal began construction in October 2018 on their apartment complex with 330-units in five buildings. Amenities to include 10,000 SF clubhouse, saltwater swimming pool, dog park and two courtyards with fire-pits & water features. Completion is anticipated to be July 2020.
flournoypartners.com
Unicorp is planning $300M+ worth of additions and expansions to both
ICON Orlando 360 and
Wyndham Orlando Resort. Plans for two new hotel towers, totaling up to 800 rooms and additional meeting space are in the works for the Wyndham. ICON Orlando 360 will be adding several features including a double slingshot ride, a drop tower and a zipline ride. Openings are expected in 2020 and 2021.
www.iconorlando.com
I-Drive dedicated transit lanes from Sand Lake Road to the Beachline plan with projected completion in 2021. Approximately three miles of dedicated transit bus lanes from Sand Lake Road to the Beachline. New sidewalks, landscaping, and signage.
orangecountyfl.net
The
iSquare Mall & Hotel anticipates an early 2019 ground breaking. Including the flags Capella Suites and Solis Orlando Hotel, which will total two 23-story towers and 539 rooms, the project will also include a multi-level retail complex, seven-story parking garage, rooftop infinity pool, heliport and ice rink. Estimated completion is 2022.
www.isquareusa.com
The
Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) continues work on the planned
North-South Building Improvements. The two main projects include the Convention Way Grand Concourse and a Multipurpose Venue. Expected completion in 2023.
www.occc.net
The $250M-$300M
Kirkman Road Expansion from Carrier Drive to Universal Blvd. will be a 1.7-mile extension of south Kirkman Road. The north-south stretch is estimated to be completed in 2024.
www.cflroads.com
Awaiting details
SKYPLEX Entertainment Complex will open with Skyscraper, the world’s tallest roller coaster at more than 500 feet. Also: SkyFall - a 450-foot drop ride, Skyfly - a 600-foot zipline, Skysurf Park, SkyLedge thrill experience, Sky Jump - 500-foot free fall dive attraction, SkyPlaza - retail & dining area, open-air promenade, indoor arcade, 450-room hotel, and go-kart track. Project size: 1.5 million square feet. Projected completion unknown.
facebook.com/skyplex
The
Comfort Suites Orlando SeaWorld has begun construction in January 2019 on a 6-story hotel, including 104 rooms.
www.peakcm.com
Aloft and Element Hotel began construction in late 2018 on a 7-story dual hotel with 284 rooms.
www.ad1global.com
The
Hilton Orlando is renovating their pool-area amenities. In addition to aesthetic updates, they are adding a children's splash pad, expanding the adult-only "quiet" pool and adding a new walk-in cooler to the pool bar area. Plans to expand the Marketplace area in the lobby are also underway. The pool-area was completed this spring 2018. The Marketplace completion is unknown at this time.
www.thehiltonorlando.com
Super Nintendo World is coming to
Universal Orlando Resort. This themed area will be expansive, immersive and interactive, filled with multiple attractions, shops and restaurants based on Nintendo's iconic games, heroes and villains.
blog.universalorlando.com
The Reserve at Shingle Creek Resort has a multi-phase expansion currently in progress. Phase one, completed early 2018, was golf course improvements. Phase two will include a 133,000 SF operations building with parking and a 36,000 SF laundry facility. Phase three will be a multi-level parking garage and phase four will include a 640 room, 16-story condo tower, walk-in pool & lazy river and 150,000 SF of additional convention space.
rosenshinglecreek.com
I-Drive 2040 Vision Plan - Recognizing the importance of creating a shared vision for the International Drive Area, Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs appointed a Steering Review Group (SRG) composed of I-Drive-area stakeholders and landowners who are committed to maintaining I-Drive as the world’s premier global destination for tourism and family entertainment. She envisioned a vibrant International Drive corridor that would be a dynamic gathering place for visitors and residents alike. See the plan
here.
Quotes from I-Drive stakeholders and partners:
"I have had the opportunity to call the Rosen Inn International (formerly the Quality Inn International) located at 7600 International Drive, my home, from 1974 to 1990. Now spanning some 42 plus years as an owner-operator of multiple hotels in the district, one can only imagine the tremendous growth and development we have had the distinct privilege of being intimately involved with.
The International Drive district features our World Class Orange County Convention Center, dozens of spectacular hotels, fine dining, and numerous exciting entertainment venues. In addition, specialty retailers and an assortment of merchants can be found on virtually every street corner. We currently enjoy a robust marketplace thanks to our diverse base of visitors; tourists, conventioneers and locals.
I remain confident that we will continue to adapt to our ever changing environment and provide the finest service and hospitality anywhere in the world. I am extremely optimistic regarding future development in the district and remain poised to do my part to ensure that I-Drive remains a legendary destination."
Harris Rosen, President, Rosen Hotels & Resorts
"Unicorp National Developments sees a very big future with International Drive. And as we are currently the largest property owner on I-Drive with 77 acres, our plan is to redevelop much of this property to take advantage of the exciting, new, urbanism vision that has been approved for the I-Drive District. This will include hotels, restaurants and even more entertainment. Thousands of Orlando Eye riders experience the landscape of Central Florida from 400 feet each day and we are excited to be part of I-Drive and the growth and future of Orange County. This is where it all happens and we are thrilled to be part of it."
Chuck Whittall, President Unicorp Companies
“International Drive is the most burgeoning entertainment district in the world, and Orange County is in the process of implementing the ground-breaking I-Drive 2040 Vision that sets the tone for the District to continue to be the most visited leisure and convention market in the world. We look forward to the future as we work toward the opening this year of our 800-space parking garage complex with a rooftop restaurant and to the future opening of Skyplex."
Joshua Wallack of Wallack Holdings, COO Mango’s Tropical Café Orlando /Managing Principal, Skyplex
“AMP Group / Perfumeland was born and raised on International Drive starting with just a 1,200-square- foot perfume shop in the mid 90’s. As Perfumeland grew, so did our company with a number of new investments into the International Drive area culminating with the addition of the Orlando Crossings Mall and I-Drive NASCAR Indoor Kart Racing facility. Our company’s expansion is a direct result of the wonderful growth we have seen to Orlando and its tourism industry in the last few years. I-Drive has been a catalyst for the growth of our region. We are truly excited over the I-Drive 2040 Vision and what the future holds.”
Alejandro Pezzini, Chief Operating Officer, AMP Group
-30-
Contact: Luann Brooks, Executive Director
International Drive Business Improvement District
www.IDriveDistrict.com
P: 407-248-9590
lbrooks@idrivedistrict.com
Orlando's Most Dynamic Destination!
Updated: February 8, 2019