ORLANDO, FL—Loews Hotels & Resorts and Universal Orlando Resort are partnering for the fifth time to open Loews Sapphire Falls Resort at Universal Orlando in 2016.
Loews Sapphire Falls Resort will feature a Caribbean atmosphere along with 1,000 guestrooms and more than 131,000 sq. ft. of meeting space.
The addition of Loews Sapphire Falls is part of Loews Hotels’ goal to add substantially to its portfolio of hotels over the next few years. In July, the company announced two acquisitions: Loews Minneapolis Hotel and Loews Chicago O’Hare Hotel. Additionally, Loews Chicago Hotel, a 400-room, new-build hotel, located downtown, will debut in February.
The new Orlando hotel will be located between Cabana Bay Beach Resort, which opened in June, and Loews Royal Pacific Resort. The hotel will surround a lagoon and waterfalls. An air-conditioned, covered bridge will connect Loews Sapphire Falls and Loews Royal Pacific. The two resorts will have 272,000 sq. ft. of combined meeting space, along with 2,000 rooms and suites.
“Our partnership with Universal is integral to our growth as we strategically expand Loews Hotels,” stated Paul Whetsell, president/CEO, Loews Hotels & Resorts. “Loews Sapphire Falls Resort will complement our four existing hotels as we increase the total number of guestrooms, and continue to strive to offer unique experiences for all guests, whether they are visiting Orlando for leisure or meetings.”
Loews Sapphire Falls will become the destination’s fifth on-site resort hotel and will bring the total number of rooms at Universal Orlando Resort to 5,200.