Holiday Inn Reopening Reconnects to Disney World

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL-After nearly four decades operating outside the perimeter of Walt Disney World, Holiday Inn has unlocked its first hotel on resort property. The 14-story, 323-room hotel formally opened last week and reported a nearly sold-out crowd in its first weekend.

InterContinental Hotels Group, which owns the iconic Holiday Inn brand, invested $35 million in renovations to the hotel that originated in 1973 as a Howard Johnson hotel and later carried the Courtyard by Marriott brand. The hotel was acquired by IHG in 2003 and has been closed for the past six years after sustaining hurricane wind damage.

Although Holiday Inn has several locations throughout the area surrounding Disney World west of Orlando, this is the first location to actually open on Disney property. The longtime hotel flag has had a strong presence near Disney’s four local theme parks dating back to the 1971 Magic Kingdom opening.

“Our opening could not come at a better time, with a brand that customers know and trust,” says Tony Johnson, regional vice president of operations and general manager of the Holiday Inn Disney World. “Being on Disney property and maintaining high standards will assure we achieve the highest marks possible from our customers and our industry.”

Features of the newly reopened hotel include a glass-ceiling atrium, new bedding and 32-inch HDTVs, a restaurant geared to families with young children. It also offers complimentary transportation to Disney parks and is within walking distance to the Downtown Disney retail/entertainment complex.

British-based IHG, which has North American headquarters in Atlanta, is continuing its $1-billion relaunch of the Holiday Inn brand with new signage at approved locations. The hotel at Disney World is owned by CIG LBV LLC.

Rates at the Holiday Inn Disney World range between $90 and $150 per night, in line with the current $95 local average. Occupancy at Orlando area hotels measured 52.5% in the first week of February, while revenue per available room fell just below $50, according to Hendersonville, TN-based Smith Travel Research.

Holiday Inn and Disney World could face competition this spring from rival theme park Universal Orlando, which plans to open its “Wizarding World of Harry Potter” attraction Memorial Day weekend. Universal is offering four-night hotel and admission packages starting at $285 for adults or $829 for families of four.