2014 Preview: 10 Most Anticipated Orlando Venues for Meetings and Events –

ORLANDO Here’s a look at the most anticipated Orlando restaurants, hotels, party rooms, corporate event venues, conference centers, and private rooms to open this year. These new and renovated Orlando venues can accommodate groups large or small for private and corporate events, meetings, business dinners, cocktail parties, conferences, weddings, and more.

1. The long-awaited $500 million Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts has scheduled a series of grand opening events for early November. The 330,000-square-foot facility in downtown Orlando will house two performance theaters, a community theater, an outdoor plaza and performance space, and classrooms. The majority of the facility will be available for rental for meetings and other private events.

2. Four Seasons Resort Orlando will open August 3 on the grounds of Walt Disney World. The hotel will have a 37,750-square-foot conference center with a dedicated drop-off area. The largest venue will be a 14,000-square-foot ballroom. There will also be two options for outdoor events for as many as 720 guests. The resort will have a rooftop restaurant, a Tom Fazio-designed golf course, and a spa.

3. Universal Orlando’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter inside Islands of Adventure is a popular location for corporate social events, and this year the park is expanding the environment into the adjacent Universal Studios Florida theme park. Guests will be able to travel between Hogsmeade, the original attraction, and the new Diagon Alley and “London” aboard the Hogwarts Express train. The area will include shops, a restaurant, and a ride, “Harry Potter and the Escape From Gringotts.” Diagon Alley is scheduled to open this summer.

4. South Beach mainstay Mango’s Tropical Café comes to Orlando this year. The dining and entertainment venue is known for its live music and exotic choreographed dance shows. The 55,000-square-foot International Drive location is scheduled to open in the fall and will have a private room for as many as 500 people. The entire venue will be available for buyout and will accommodate 2,500 people.