By Universal Orlando Resort
Universal Orlando Resort is on the cusp of a new beginning. In the early months of 2025, meeting professionals and their groups can expect an all-new Universal Orlando Resort Signature Collection property, Universal Helios Grand Hotel, a Loews Hotel. The new property will be connected to Universal Orlando much-anticipated Universal Epic Universe opening next year. All that lies ahead will further cement Universal Orlando’s role in creating immersive hotel experiences.
Universal Helios Grand Hotel: Transport to a Fantastical World
When Universal Epic Universe opens May 22, 2025, it will be the third theme park and fourth park overall at Universal Orlando. Attached to the elegantly built Universal Helios Grand Hotel, another 500 guest rooms, including 35 suites, will be added to the overall park, complemented with one-of-a-kind views of Universal Epic Universe and nearly 5,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. Helios Grand Hotel guests will have a dedicated and exclusive entrance to Universal Epic Universe, the only hotel property at Universal Orlando to have direct access to a theme park.
“This is such a pivotal moment for our destination, and we’re thrilled to welcome guests to Epic Universe next year,” said Karen Irwin, president and chief operational officer of Universal Orlando Resort. “With the addition of this spectacular new theme park, our guests will embark on an unforgettable vacation experience with a week’s worth of thrills that will be nothing short of epic! Our Universe will never be the same.”
Helios Grand Hotel’s casual Mediterranean influence will be seen all throughout the space, enhanced by its luxurious gold furnishing and finishes in the lobby, dining establishments, guest rooms and more. Helios Grand Hotel’s restaurant and lounge options include Flora Taverna, which features a breakfast buffet and Mediterranean comfort foods; Lotus Lagoon, a pool bar and grill; Aurora Market, the property’s grab-and-go area; and Bar Helios, a rooftop bar that will lend incredible views of the park.
Universal Orlando Signature Collection
Helios Grand Hotel will be the fifth property under Universal Orlando’s Signature Collection, which includes Loews Royal Pacific Resort, Loews Sapphire Falls Resort, Loews Portofino Bay Hotel and Hard Rock Hotel.
Loews Royal Pacific Resort features 1,000 guest rooms, including 51 luxury suites. In the property’s lagoon-style pool and white-sand beach, meeting professionals can rent a private cabana that includes all the niceties, such as TVs, refrigerators and beverages. On any given day, poolside activities, like ping pong tournaments, trivia, hula hoop contents and more, could be under way.
Royal Pacific Resort features a variety of on-site restaurants and lounges, including Orchid Court Lounge & Sushi Bar, with its theater-in-the-round design amid inventive sushi, sashimi and salads, as well as Japanese whiskeys, sake and beer; Wantilan Luau, which serves Polynesian food alongside hula, fire dancers and Hawaiian music; and Tuk Tuk Market, Royal Pacific’s most recent addition that serves coffee, breakfast food, its exclusive Tuk Tarts, and more.
Royal Pacific features 85,000 sq. ft. of meeting and function space, including two ballrooms, five breakout spaces and a 24-person Admiralty Boardroom. Royal Pacific is connected to Loews Sapphire Falls Resort’s meeting facilities, creating the combined 247,000-square-foot with the Loews Meeting Complex. Loews Sapphire Falls Resort features 115,000 sq. ft. of meeting space which consists of 36,000 sq. ft. of pre-function space, two ballrooms, 16 meeting room and three meeting planner offices.
Loews Sapphire Falls Resort features 1,000 guest rooms, including 83 suites, and four dining options, including New Dutch Trading Co., a grab-and-go option that features simple meals, snacks, ice cream and morel Strong Water Tavern, which serves tapas-style dining, vintage rums and a ceviche bar; and Amatista Cookhouse, a three-meal Caribbean restaurant.
Loews Sapphire Falls Resort 16,000-square-foot pool area features two sand beaches, cascading waterfalls and cabana rentals—such poolside activities are here as well.
Loews Portofino Bay Hotel brings the seaside atmosphere of Portofino, Italy, to Universal Orlando Resort. The property has over 89,000 sq. ft. of indoor and outdoor meeting space, like the 480-person Villa Lawn or the 580-person Citrus Piazza.
At Mama Della’s Ristorante, groups of up to 70 people in its private or semi-private rooms. This is one of Loews Portofino’s F&B options, including Trattoria del Porto, Sal’s Market Deli, The Thirsty Fish, Bar American and Splendido Bar & Grill.
Hard Rock Hotel® at Universal Orlando features 650 guest rooms and suites, and more than 18,000 sq. ft. of outdoor and indoor meeting space, accompanied by catering with vegetarian, vegan and kosher options. Its five restaurant options include Palm Restaurant, which serves surf, turf and Italian dishes; Velvet Bar, the hotel’s lobby level bar; and the property’s beach club poolside bar and grill.
Helios Grand Hotel is one of three properties from Loews that will open next year. Under Universal Orlando’s Prime Value Hotels, it will also open Universal Stella Nova Resort Jan. 1, 2025, and Universal Terra Luna Resort March 25, 2025.
Universal CityWalk
Universal CityWalk may not have any rides, but the eclectic F&B options here will send attendees’ taste buds on their own rollercoaster. In CityWalk alone, there are 25 restaurants, half of which are located at the Top of the Walk Food Court and is where most of the grab-and-go dining can be found. Its sit-down restaurants include Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville, which serves Caribbean-influenced food; Bob Marley—A Tribute to Freedom, a Jamaican-influenced cuisine accompanied by reggae in a replicated version of Marley’s home; and Red Oven Pizza Bakery.
Hard Rock Live Orlando, the 3,000-capacity entertainment venue at Universal CityWalk, is the center of concerts, comedy shows and live performances.
For a cool team-building experience, CityWalk opened Universal’s Great Movie Escape last year. Great Movie Escape offers two escape room experiences, inspired by Universal’s “Jurassic World” and “Back to the Future” films. Each feature eight environments with intricate sets and immersive challenges.
