MikeT

This is the difference between business travel and leisure travel. Sure, I can do planning, find an expensive cab, and venture out into the strip mall suburbs and downtown of Orlando. But it isn't convenient or even terribly fun, especially after spending all day in meetings.

In South Beach, you can walk out the door the Leows or the National and in five minutes find 25 restaurants, bars, shopping. You never have to get in a cab, you have plenty of options, and it is simple. In San Diego, most meetings not at the Hotel Del are in Gaslamp Quarter or Horton Square, which are both served by mass transit and have tons of shopping, restaurants, and things to do.

Orlando is just a tough place for business travel. A number of people have agreed and no one, who is a regular business traveler to the city, has rallied to its support.

It's an opinion. It's a universal complaint among business travelers.

JillDavis

I wouldn't call a few people complaining on Fodors the majority of business travelers. (your words "universal complaint" - have you polled every business person in America?)

I guess you are not realizing that Orlando has a downtown too and that you can walk out your door amd have tons of restaurants, bars, and shopping. You don't need any cabs in downtown Orlando or the Winter Park area. That is why I think before you throw comments out, you should do your research because your comments warrant no merit. You need to blame your employer for not putting you in downtown Orlando/Winter Park. That would be like your employer sending you to South Beach, but putting you 15 minutes away from the center. Same with San Diego.

Do you think everyone who responded in favor of Orlando is not a business traveler? Just because we live in the state of Florida, doesn't mean we don't conduct business in Orlando. So, your comment that no one has rallied again has no merit because multiple people have commented.

Your comment "strip mall suburbs" has no merit either. Winter Park with cobblestone streets and outdoor cafes (just like South Beach) and upscale shopping is not a strip mall. Little comments like this imply that you think Orlando is like living in the middle of nowhere. It is quite amusing.

MikeT

"I guess you are not realizing that Orlando has a downtown too and that you can walk out your door amd have tons of restaurants, bars, and shopping."

How many large hotels that host business meetings and conferences are there in downtown Orlando? In Winter Park? Besides the Grand Bohemian, there really aren't any. Most conferences are scheduled for places you tout like the Gaylord and the Ritz, both of which are terribly isolated.

I've been to Winter Park and it took 30 minutes and an expensive cab ride to get there. There aren't any high-end or business hotels around. That's a long way to go just for a little culture and a nice restaurant when you are on a business trip.

JillDavis

Mike - there are so many hotels in downtown Orlando! Have you seen the city skyline? Embassay Suites, Marriott, Radisson, etc. I have gone to many large real estate conferences throughout downtown Orlando. Do I have to name more hotels? The point I am trying to make throughout this whole thread is to not throw comments out there unitl you are 100% positive your comment has merit. Okay, so let's say you didn't want to take your cab ride to Winter Park, do you truly believe there is no culture and good restaurants in downtown Orlando? Orlando Muesum of Art, you can go to a Magic game, and then head to Tavern on the Lake which overlooks Lake Eola and has excellent food.

MikeT

So you are in the Orlando real estate business?? It's all becoming clearer.

Myer

I remember when we were a lot younger and had small kids. It was great to have a conference at WDW or the Disneyland Hotel.

An excuse to take the family and even skip out now and then to see their faces.

Or maybe even attend the odd meeting.

Just the other side.

Ryan

One reason is often the availability of hotel rooms to satisfy a large group. I had a client who had an 1200 person meeting every year for his store managers and up. He had three choices - Disney, Vegas, or OpryLand. Disney was too close to home for them, Vegas would have created "focus" problems, and so it was OpryLand by default.

Considering I once had a conference at OpryLand, consider yourself lucky that it was Orlando.

Of course there are other reasons like availability of flights, relative airfares, or just a damn good deal for the organizers.

MikeT

"Considering I once had a conference at OpryLand, consider yourself lucky that it was Orlando."

Har. I've been to Opryland. I understand your point.

I realize why business conventions and conferences get booked into Orlando and it all make good event-planning sense. But that doesn't meant that it works for business travelers without children tagging along.

JillDavis

Mike - I am actually a high school Math teacher, but I sell real estate as a second job. Plus, we own many investment properties throughout the state of Florida. So, I am not understanding what your comment "its all becoming clearer" means. I have nothing to gain from this thread.

GoTravel

There are only one or two hotels in South Beach that can handle groups of more than 150 people and most conventions are 1500 people.

South Beach is a bad example.

karens

Opreyland? Oh my word - you do have my sympathies!

NeoPatrick

How nice that they would let you CHOOSE the hotel in South Beach -- the Loews for example. But they won't let you CHOOSE the hotel in Orlando. I agree that your suggestion of South Beach is a lousy example -- for the type of business gatherings most would expect. Those just aren't logical options for hotel choices. My guess is that many businesses who would use the Swan might also use Fountainbleau or that huge Sheraton at the north end. Just try walking out your door to great choices for dinner from those.

"It's an opinion. It's a universal complaint among business travelers." (Referring to Orlando).
Care to back that up? I see dozens of polls that show Orlando is the #1 choice for conventions! And when not #1, it still ranks very high. Are you sure you aren't trying to speak for everyone here?

MikeT

I've been to business meetings at the Loews and the National. I also know people who have been to the Delano and the Ritz. Sure, there are larger hotels further up Miami Beach that are as inconvenient as the Gaylord or the Disney hotels in Orlando. My experience in South Beach has always been positive, although I haven't ended up at the Fountainbleu or, worse, the Diplomat in Ft. Lauderdale.

None of the hotels in Orlando where there are frequent business meetings are as convenient as the National or Loews. They just don't exist. Orlando has nowhere that is as convenient and attractive for someone from out of town on business as Lincoln Road, even with all the problems with Lincoln Road.

starrs

The reason?
It has a big airport that rarely has weather delays.
Good airfare can usually be found from across the US.
There are big hotels that can host meetings of varied sizes.
It's a tourist destination and has the infrastructure that comes with a tourist destinations.

I arranged meetings in Orlando at least 3 times a year and atteneded large conferences that met at the convention center.

We never booked a Disney hotel though. Sometimes I would book a Universal hotel (the Portofino) because I liked it so much, but none of us ever went to the park before or after the meeting.

My guess is that because of the recession the event planner got a really good rate. In any case, I understand not enjoying being in the midst of the Disney hubbub during a work meeting. We said the same thing about meetings in Hawaii - or any really nice resort destination.

But, Orlando is a great meeting destination for many reasons.

karens

NeoPat - why are you so angry about this? You seem personally offended that many people don't like to go to Orlando for business meetings.

When we went to Orlando in February, the weather was miserable. It was 55° and rainy all four days. We had a fun time at Epcot, but we only interacted with those fellow employees who chose to go to that park. We interacted a lot more with all the attendees at our other venues.

The people who loved Vegas thought the Vegas trip was terrific. What I liked was that we went, as a group option, to Valley of Fire SP.

In the Bahamas, we stayed at Sandals, which I was not impressed with. Their beach was very small.

By far, Cancun was terrific. It was so nice to get away from the cold weather to sunny warm Cancun and its beautiful beaches. We took several trips here, and really got to explore the area. We got to see Chitchen Itza, Xcaret (was fun with a big group like ours), Isle Mujeres, Tulum, etc. What was really fun was a big group pirate cruise. As we entered the ship, my husband's boss was held hostage, and all tied up, by the "pirates".

DancingBearMD

Funny, elsewhere folks say the business travellers ruin the atmosphere at the Swan and Dolphin, and it's not Disney enough.

I understand some folks don't want to go to the Swan & Dolphin. But there's a nice pool there, several decent (though certainly pricey) restaurants on property, first-class golf on property, and if you take the family they'll be occupied. I really don't see how Phoenix is a much better experience. And Dallas, really?

NeoPatrick

Personally angry? Just because I'm trying to use a little logic and because I'm questioning totally inane comparisons? I'm not the least bit angry. And I don't particularly care for Orlando myself, but half of what is being said simply makes no sense at all.

And Wow. 55 degrees! How horrible. Wonder what it was in Chicago -- or New York -- or Seattle. These are the kind of inane comments I'm talking about. Complaining about 55 degree weather in February, and acting as if it were normal. Hey who are you blaming that it happened to be a lousy four days? That can happen anywhere, but chances are good that it will be a lot better weather in Orlando in February than 90% of the rest of the country. In fact, it sounds like it was! That's one of the main reasons SO MANY other people prefer Orlando for winter business meetings, whether you want to admit it or not.

karens

Yeah, you don't sound angry at all, lol.

And yes, 55 in Orlando is horrible compared to 80 in Cancun. (How terribly inane of me to think so).

Toucan2

I can't speak for everyone else. I can speak for myself. I don't enjoy Orlando for conferences. You don't have to agree with my opinion, but I have every right to have it.

I suspect that conferences and conventions in Orlando are indeed chosen for some of the reasons mentioned above--airfare, hotel room availability, good deals for event planners etc. They aren't really chosen for my personal pleasure, so I go, I do my work, attend my conference, but I can't tell you that it is an enjoyable experience as far as the locale. I enjoyed the conference I just attended there very much. I did not enjoy Orlando. I might if I were coming there for vacation or pleasure.

karens

Toucan2 - my husband attends many business functions in Orlando, and he feels just as you do. He feels the convention center location is isolated. He's personally not a fan of Vegas, but much prefers to go to trade shows there.