The cab situation is one of the biggest scams and leaves a HUGE bitter taste...its not a couple of dollars, its double to triple what a normal cab ride would cost.

Orlando really needs to wake up to this.

Food is below to average and the hotels are mediocre at best.
They feel they have you by the huevos but you as a consumer can fight back.

Something needs to change because this is the major complaint amongst people that either have conventions or children.

Leaves you with hating Orlando and it never wanting to return!

As others said, no one ever gets booked into events Downtown because there isn't enough room, except at the Marriott. The Sheraton is a Sonesta and it only has one room--the ballroom--that can hold more than 100 people for a meeting. While Downtown Orlando may be a hidden gem, meeting planners don't know that and business travelers are at the mercy of the meeting planners who plan the events. We rarely have much choice, unlike leisure travelers.

"...no one ever gets booked into events Downtown because there isn't enough room"

Absolutely not true. Different meetings = different sizes = different needs. To say that there aren't business meetings in Orlando of less than 100 people is absolutely ludicrous. To say that meeting planners are not aware of venues of various sizes is just as ludicrous.

Again, go back and read my post. I named other hotels downtown that host larger events. Crowne Plaza, Embassy Suites, etc.

Starrs - exactly! And never mind the other smaller hotels in downtown Orlando that can host people. I have been to many business conferences downtown.

So GoTravel is being ludicrous, since she supported the point that has been made repeatedly about downtown Orlando. Got it, Starrs.

GoT is no idiot.

I'll grant you that downtown Orlando may offer some satisfactory diversions, but lets face it, conferences and conventions are almost always booked in hotels around the convention center and other places very far from the city center, like Disney and Universal. Count me as another that is cringes when I have to travel to "Orlando" for business, which unfortunately is often. I grew up and lived in the area so I'm very familiar with the "diversions" the city has to offer. It just isn't sophisticated enough and finding a unique, non-chain restaurant that isn't overrun by families is more than a challenge. Ind addition, driving International Drive or I-4 is no picnic, and I live in Miami! (Yes, I know all the shorcuts)

As to those recoing people who don;t want to go to Orlando talk to convention planners - the meetings are often that of an organization you work with - and we have no control over where they go. And for obvious reasons - often pick inexpensive places like Orlando or Vegas.

My ideal - for a small meeting (up to 100 or so) we typically do a 5* hotel in a city with good flight connections. But for organization congresses we have to take what we get (orlando, vegas - and new orleans is another not favorite - since you spend too much time rounding people up out of bars). "Real" cities are better - even San diego or San Antonio - easier to make sure your people are where they're supposed to be.

We're back from my husband's business trip to Orlando. Here goes: okay, it wasn't downtown Orlando, it was the Caribe Royale Resort near Epcot, which caters to convention goers. The locals may have thought the weather was cold, but with nearly 3' of snow on the ground at home, we didn't mind 50s in the morning and low 70s in the afternoon! Thank goodness we had a rental car paid for by his employer; I wouldn't want to rely on the overpriced food at the hotel (generally, I liked the hotel, don't get me wrong). We were able to squeeze in about 15 holes of golf one day (before it got dark) after his meetings were over - very pricey, but a nice respite. While DH was in meetings, I drove to Winter Park and did some shopping. Had it been a few degrees warmer, I would have gone to the pool. We noticed people from other convention groups as well as family vacationers spending time by the pool, though. We did nothing Disney-related, so I can't comment on that. We won't mind going back for next year's conference; will just get in more golf, if at all possible.