Theme Parks Up Close
Universal’s Events Team Seeing Blue While Thinking Outside The Ballroom
Site Visit By Michelle Martin In the two years since first launching a meetings and events division at Universal Orlando (Fla.) Resort, the imaginative minds at this amusement-filled playground have developed some exciting group-oriented experiences that are true to their theme of “thinking outside the ballroom.” Their creativity along with the resort’s growing entertainment options and venues make this “the most exciting time in Universal Orlando’s history,” said Paul Rothenberg, vice president of national, group and specialty sales.
Thinking Inside The Ballroom Combined, Universal Orlando Resort’s entertainment venues and hotels offer more than 250,000 square feet of meeting space; while much of that space allows attendees to unwind and participate in adventuresome activities, the resort also has numerous spots for more traditional events and/or “getting down to business.” Here are some examples:
The 648-square-foot Apollo Boardroom at the Hard Rock Hotel offers flexible meeting space in addition to a traditional “boardroom” setup. It also offers sofa seating, windows and access to the veranda—an ideal spot for attendees to catch some fresh air during breaks between meetings.
Also, be sure to check out the suede walls in the Hard Rock’s 3,000-square-foot Avalon Ballroom.
Just beyond the spiral staircase on the main floor, The Portofino Bay Hotel offers the 15,000-square-foot Tuscan Ballroom with 27-foot ceilings and the 7,670-square-foot Venetian Ballroom, both featuring spacious pre-function areas opening onto the Citrus Piazza.
With 85,000 square feet of function space in 23 venues, the Royal Pacific Resort offers the most meeting options of the three hotels. The 41,503-square-foot ballroom can accommodate trade shows when fully open or smaller functions with the walls in place. There are also two registration areas with storage, as well as private offices for meeting planners. |
Rothenberg, addressing journalists visiting to sample the “outside-the-ballroom” approach firsthand, was especially referring to the resort’s opening performance of the Blue Man Group at Universal Studios’ Sharp Aquos Theatre.
The trio of blue-painted performers debuted at the resort in June with their latest production called “How to be a Megastar 2.0.” A must-see spectacle, this 90-minute performance combines theatrical, musical, artistic and comedic elements—all of which can be described as hip and full of impact.
Yet, putting the imaginations of the blue men to a challenge are the men and women within the resort’s meetings and events team who have created a host of ways to customize a group experience into the performance—as if this team has its own performance called “How to Make Attendees Feel Like a Megastar.” Options range from placing logos on canvas during the paint-drumming segment, messages displayed on LED signs and posters, and fun-spirited “call-outs” of late arrivals. Groups can arrange to meet the blue men or hold a Blue Man Group-themed reception in the theater’s VIP area. And, block-seating rates and buy-outs of the 1,000-seat theater for a private performance are available.
Custom group-based options extend beyond just the Blue Man Group performances. According to Jessica Richards, business development manager of event sales, numerous areas of the park are open for group functions and teambuilding activities, such as themed scavenger hunts, a “Fear Factor” cook-off challenge (gross!), and opportunities for attendees to write, produce and star in a video using Universal Studios’ equipment, costumes and backdrops. Post-convention passes to Universal Studios and Universal’s Island of Adventures are also available.
And just as the amusement parks beckon age-forgetting fun, the resort’s “entertainment and nightlife village” called CityWalk provides an adult-appropriate atmosphere where attendees can congregate. Richards said any of the venue’s restaurants and nightclubs—including Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville, Emeril’s Orlando restaurant, Bob Marley: A Tribute to Freedom and Red Coconut Lounge, the newest nightclub—can be reserved for private functions.
The meetings and events team can also set groups up on the links through a partnership with four nearby golf courses. A golf event director assists with transportation, on-site registration, food and beverage, tournament coordination, and awards.
The team has also partnered with Loews Hotels to offer groups three distinct lodging options:
Portofino Bay Hotel,
Hard Rock Hotel and
Royal Pacific Resort. I had the opportunity to stay at the Portofino Bay Hotel, which is modeled after the Mediterranean seaside village of Portofino, Italy. One of the highlights during my stay there was alfresco dining at the authentic Italian restaurants along the piazza harbor—the food and setting were so authentic it was easy to forget I was still in Orlando and not back in Italy as I had been just a year earlier. Other perks for guests staying at the Loews Hotels included complimentary water taxi service directly to the theme parks and the Universal Express ride access for bypassing regular lines and attractions at the parks—the only way to do an amusement park! The only downside to bypassing the usual lines is the recovery time for a queasy stomach between the many thrilling, topsy-turvy rides, but it’s a small price to pay for the VIP treatment.
