Karen- good point!!
I would rather be in a city rich with history/museums/architecture/wide variety of food choices/ for a conference - because if I have 3 hours free I would rather hit the Shed Aquarium, Field Museum, enjoy a good Indian curry, etc... You dont get that at Orlando!

And I would be happy to trek through snow to get to it!

I also have nothing against Disney, and have taken my kids there and enjoyed it. The point regarding Orlando and business travel is that a lot of people would prefer to be in a city center that has viable public transportation options, and reasonable restaurant options that you don't have to drive to. Seems sentiments are running at least 3:1 in disliking Orlando as a conference center on this thread, but I suppose to some, those folks are either illogical or ungrateful or both.

I have never been to Orlando on business (I never travel in this job), and I LOVE Orlando, especially Disney, but I can well see why it's not the best place for conventions, particulariy more serious minded ones where people actually want to get work done. For a trade show where the point is to see new product and kibbitz, it might not be bad.

My sister once went to a serious work meeting/convention that was held at Universal (not the Portofino, the South Seas one which I can never remember the name of) and found the experience somewhat less than ideal. First of all, she was busy, and really needed to be in work things all day, so the pool and the theme parks were just a big tease. She got to use the pool once, by playing hooky from a less important thingie, and never set foot in a theme park at all. Roving gangs of toddlers hopped up on sugar and excitement made for a less than business-like atmosphere in the lobby and the halls. The food was fine, actually very good (if expensive), but the entire convention would descend upon food service at the same time, in a hurry to get back to whatever, and it made things quite exciting, especially at lunchtime.

So, while she cheerfully agreed to vacation in Orlando with us (although she did keep referring to Disney as the evil empire of the mouse overlord), not her favorite convention destination, and she's NOT a really fussy traveler.

And yes, the OP could have taken a short, free bus ride to other decent (if still expensive) Disney food options, but obviously, he didn't know that, and I can understand why he was a little leery of Disney eating at that point. For the record, most Disney candy is really good, so I'm wondering if maybe the fudge was stale?

<<Lastly, I have no idea why people on this board aren't allowed to have differing opinions. It's obnoxious.>>

Exactly Wyatt, you coudn't have said it better. People speak to their own experiences and somehow that is not valid?

Have to say that this thread is having a bit of an opposite effect than the rabid defenders of Orlando might have wanted. I'm kind of starting to hate it now.

Last, the poster above who mentioned that perhaps instead of being defensive, one might want to start actually listening to people who don't like attending conferences there. He has a great point.

Even if they did not state their reasons in terms of which you approve, you might want to try to figure out, what is it that makes these people not want to be here?

So you think an $80 cab ride is ridiculous. Well, the fact is the $80 cab ride happened. What would have made this better? Better transportation options? Better communication of where fine dining could be found closer? Oversight of the cab system so the experiences I have heard over and over don't occur? Just some thoughts off the top of my head, not meant to be finite so don't jump on me about that.

You don't agree with me. Fine. Just don't tell me that my opinion is not valid.

This is definitely an interesting thread. As it unfolded, I realized my first assumption was incorrect. I originally thought that the OP was attending a company held business meeting. Further posts indicated that she chose to attend a conference held in Orlando.

For conferences/ conventions that pull attendees who volunteer to attend - I can see why the conference organizers chose a Disney hotel, because as Alana pointed out, these are great opportunities to draw attendess who bring their spouses/families with them. In that case, Orlando - and Disney - could very well be a draw.

My original comments were made when I thought this was a company held meeting. In our case, we chose Orlando for winter destinations because of the airport/weather reasons listed earlier. One year we tried a regional meeting in Asheville NC in January - and about a dozen people never made it to the meeting. Several made it as far as Atlanta via their connecting flight, but the flights to Asheville never took off. One spent two days in the Jacksonville airport - which was an especially miserable place to spend two days.

My comments regarding being happy to have a job were with that frame of mind. A lot of time/ energy was spent in the choice of meeting location and it was more than irritating to have a salaried employee gripe and complain about trivial things when the company was paying for everything - flight, lodging, and meals. I (obviously) have no patience for that kind of griping.

Before MikeT jumps in with his usual, griping about the business meeting that you are being paid to attend is NOT the same as griping about leisure travel choices. I understand that we may differ on this and am quite sure that won't change for either of us.

The OP was not a salaried employee traveling to a company paid business meeting in Orlando - as I originally thought. But for the record, the folks that always had a complaint no matter where (city or hotel) a meeting was held were not highly regarded by our management team. Just keep in mind folks, that griping and moaning over and over again WILL have an impact in your career. When I think of this thread I think of one co-worker in particular. To be honest, it got to the point that no one wanted to be around his negative energy. We last worked together over six years ago, but since then I've twice been in the position to approve (by my recommendation) his being hired in a state 1000 miles away. Both times I've not been able to recommend him, and another candidate was hired. I understand that many won't agree - and that's quite all right with me - but negative energy is negative energy and griping about trivial things re a business meeting carries over with the way the person represents themselves in other business situations.

The OP made a choice to attend a conference that was completely voluntary. Evidently, she chose to stay in the host hotel. My best guess is that she had other options. Her post serves to share why she didn't like the Dolphin - or the Ritz that she visited. That may be helpful information to other business traveler traveling to Orlando for conferences.

Suki, I'm wondering where my posts fell in the 3:1 ratio. I've posted opinions why Orlando can be a valid location for business meetings, but I don't think I've shared my personal view of Orlando. :-)

In any case, it's a very intersting thread.

It's important that people like Starrs, who apparently have a role in organizing business events, understand the concerns that people have about business travel to Orlando. It's not a favorite and, as many people have pointed out, it's not popular. To continue to drag employees--or association members or customers--to places that people dread going to is not a good business decision and reflect poorly on those doing the event planning.

Sure, people are going to be stuck going there and, as people have pointed out, there are good reasons for booking Orlando. It's popular with families, there's plenty of space, flights are cheap and they aren't going to have flight delays. All are good reasons. But those good reasons should not always outweigh concerns employees--and association members and customers--have about being attending business events in Orlando, especially for those without family tagging along.

I agree that griping about the business meeting that you are being paid to attend is NOT the same as griping about leisure travel choices. But ignoring the concerns of business travelers--who have little choice in the situation if they want to keep their jobs--isn't good for companies, the travel industry, and those who plan such events.

"A lot of time/ energy was spent in the choice of meeting location and it was more than irritating to have a salaried employee gripe and complain about trivial things when the company was paying for everything - flight, lodging, and meals. I (obviously) have no patience for that kind of griping."

I understand that time goes into meeting planning. I also have little patience for meeting planners who are disinterested in the concerns of employees--salaried or not--who are dragged away from their offices and families to events that are poorly run and organized.

Oh, I made up the 3:1 ratio. :)

Complaining on a travel website about why one doesn't like Orlando as a business meeting site is, to my mind, a perfectly acceptable way to use said website. I don't think the OP was necessarily going around whining about it the entire time, but in any case wasn't seeking career advice, but rather asking meeting planners to consider the points presented. Enough posters agreed with the OP that perhaps a meeting planner would at least find this interesting reading.

Hey Suki! I agree :-)

"...to events that are poorly run and organized."

Hey Mike, where did you get THAT from the OP? I get that she didn't like the hotel, food and shopping options, but where did you get that the event was poorly run and organized?


"To continue to drag employees--or association members or customers--to places that people dread going to is not a good business decision..."

In our case, no one dreaded going to Orlando. We always had great meetings in Orlando. My team never experienced the kind of complaints the OP shared here. We had our favorite hotels and restaurants and had a good time together. We alternated (as much as possible) so everyone's voice was heard. For national conventions (not under our control) held at the convention center we would stay at the Peabody so we could walk across the street but we could opt out and stay elsewhere if it remained within the budget guidelines. FWIW, folks griped about Sanibel and the Panhandle and even the Breakers vs Four Seasons, but no one complained about Orlando locations. Well, one diva complained that she had to walk to a Starbucks in Winter Park, but she only lasted a year :-)

We entertained customers a lot too and they were always happy with the Orlando meetings too.

Your conclusions are interesting, MikeT.

<<It's not a favorite and, as many people have pointed out, it's not popular.>>

And you're basing this on what, exactly?

Here is the problem. Suppossedly, Orlando is not a place to walk outside your door and have restaurants, shopping, and culture. People on this thread simply do not want to hear that we do have all of that. You can stay in a hotel in downtown Orlando (not Gaylord or Ritz) and walk outside your door and have plenty of amazing retaurants (Manuals on the 28th), plenty of shopping (Thorton Park), and culture (muesems, Bob Carr theatre for ballets and shows.) Lots of bars and pubs to have drinks after the long day. I think people here are assuming that we are saying to stay at the Ritz, Gaylord, or Disney. We are not. By all means, stay in our city center and have all of the options you were hoping for! You will not need a cab ride anywhere. You can walk everywhere downtown.

No one is denying that Orlando is not a New York or Chicago, but to say we don't have a downtown is just not true. We have quite a big downtown area where many business travelers go every year.

Jill, name the downtown Orlando hotels that are hosting large business meetings/trainings/conventions/events? Because I've been to Orlando at least 1/2 a dozen times and NEVER had the event downtown. Except for the Grand Bohemian, there aren't any hotels downtown that host major business events. That's why everyone gets stuck at Disney/Universal, Gaylord, the Ritz

"That's why everyone gets stuck at Disney/Universal, Gaylord, the Ritz"

Not everyone :-)

""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. ""

Mike, only the Loews can handle groups of more than a couple hundred. The others have very little meeting space.

No offense but from your posts it is obvious you've never been on the planning side of conventions or conferences.

You also have to take into count the cost of the hotel room and the time of year.

Sept, October, March, and April are peak months for meetings and hotels will book out YEARS in advance. Those same months are off season for Orlando hotels and peak season for South Beach with the exception of Easter Week in Orlando.

The average room rate at the South Beach hotels during that time is probably $300+ a night whereas the Orlando hotels will be around $125.

There are just so many more logistics that go into a well planned conference than the location.

"There are just so many more logistics that go into a well planned conference than the location."

I understand that. But Go Travel, isn't it helpful to know that many business people don't find Orlando a desirable location, especially if they aren't traveling with their families? Isn't it incumbent on event planners to consider the needs and concerns of attendees--and not just those putting on the event--when it comes to planning a training?

Orlando is cheap and therefore events will be planned there. Most business people understand that. But it doesn't mitigate the fact that many find the place pretty miserable or undesirable.

Just today, unsolicited, I got an email from a colleague saying he had to attend a training in Orlando and how much he was dreading it. His exact words were: "Why Orlando again. I'd rather go to Omaha."

GoTravel, to Jill's point. If downtown Orlando is so grand, have you ever booked an event downtown? Why aren't there more conferences/training/conventions in downtown Orlando since it is supposedly more appealing for people traveling without families?

"But Go Travel, isn't it helpful to know that many business people don't find Orlando a desirable location,"
And, many business people don't have a probem with Orlando, ESPECIALLY for business meetings.

"But it doesn't mitigate the fact that many find the place pretty miserable or undesirable"
And, many people don't, ESPECIALLY for business meetings.

I think we've found a source for one of the problems on this thread - the difference between "fact" and "opinion" ;)

Always said it was an opinion, Starrs. An opinion many other people supported.

I think there's a thread about dogs or ice cream over in the Fodors Lounge calling your name. Back to your usual haunts. :)