Mixing Business with Pleasure in Orlando

Wednesday October 7, 2009

I was lucky enough to attend the grand opening of not one, but three brand-new Hilton hotels that have opened in Orlando over the last couple of weeks. On October 1st, the Waldorf-Astoria Orlando and the Hilton Bonnet Creek opened next door to each other within the Walt Disney World resort. I'll tell you much more about these beautiful hotels soon.

I spent a fun weekend at the first of the three to open, the Hilton Orlando. Built next to the Orange County Convention Center (and connected by a covered walkway), the hotel has a split personality. One side is all business, with 175,000 square feet of meeting space. The other side is a resort, with a huge family pool, twisting water slide, lazy river, 9-hole golf course and full-service spa.

The verdict? The special events team did a fantastic job of throwing a series of parties in the ballrooms and meeting spaces - food and decor were outstanding. My 7-year-old declared the water slide "awesome!" My 2-year-old happily splashed around in the zero-entry pool. And I fell asleep in the most relaxing spa lounge I've ever come across - after a fabulous 80-minute massage that started with a foot soak. The Hilton Orlando strikes a perfect balance between work and play.

The best part: Orlando can still be a bargain. Introductory rates at the Hilton Orlando start at $129 per night.

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^{Image courtesy Hilton Hotels}