by Paul Heney
Last updated: 12:35 PM ET, Fri February 21, 2025
There will be a lot of focus on central Florida in the coming months, with the much-anticipated opening of Universal Epic Universe on May 22. This theme park will include five immersive worlds (including ones focused on Harry Potter and Super Nintendo), along with three hotels with staggered openings.
Universal Stella Nova Resort, with 750 guest rooms, opened last month; Universal Terra Luna Resort, also with 750 guest rooms, opens on February 25th; and Universal Helios Grand Hotel, with 1,500 guest rooms, will open in May.
But there’s so much more for travelers to look forward to in the sunshine state this year. Here’s a look at some of what’s new.
Stay Interesting
Debuting in Fall 2025, the Naples Beach Club, A Four Seasons Resort, is a highly anticipated brand-new beachfront resort celebrating old Naples charm. The property will feature 215 accommodations, including 47 suites, all with expansive balconies; a reimagined HB’s on the Gulf and Sunset Beach Bar; Sanctuary Spa with 16 treatment rooms; a golf experience designed by Tom Fazio; 1,000 feet of white sand beach, and an extensive kids club.?
Daytona Beach’s new Renaissance Daytona Beach Oceanfront opened in October 2024. Its 190 guestrooms and suites are angled to the ocean with floor-to-ceiling views. Each room pays homage to the area with hints of both ocean life and racing heritage. Amenities include 12,000-sq-ft of event space, an outdoor pool with bar, cabanas, and a fire pit.
Palm House, Palm Beach’s first new hotel in four years, and just steps from the beach on Royal Palm Way, this 79-room property brings new-world luxury and classic elegance to the storied island. This is the first U.S. property for the London-based L+R Hotel’s prestigious Iconic Luxury Hotels collection. The 58 guestrooms and 21 suites are spacious, averaging more than 550 sq-ft, making them some of the largest hotel guestrooms in the ares.
Villatel Orlando Resort, on International Drive, has begun a phased opening. The 526-room resort includes apartment style suites and single-family homes, along with a 200,000 sq-ft wonderland of resort amenities featuring Aqua Bay, a captivating water park with multi-slides, a kids’ wet playground, grand resort pool, lazy river, sports courts (including basketball and pickleball(, fitness center, Top Golf Swing Suite, and a poolside bar and grill.
The oceanfront Marriott Hutchinson Island in Stuart has finished a major renovation, including updated rooms and suites, as well as new restaurants.
The newly transformed Hilton Cabana Miami Beach Resort includes 231 transformed rooms and suites, all infused with a modern tropical ambiance, contemporary décor, stylish furniture, and vibrant lighting fixtures.
Formerly The Confidante, the new Andaz Miami Beach?opens in March with rates starting at $700/night. This seaside Art Deco gem features ocean-inspired design with 287 rooms and 65 suites.
The Beach Club at The Boca Raton opened in January. This exclusive?private?club?and resort?destination experienced a $130 million complete transformation.?The reimagined hotel is an evolution what luxury guests are looking for, be they young families, couples, or friends traveling together.
The Hilton Jacksonville at Mayo Clinic is set to open its doors in the Fall of 2025. The new property will be on the Mayo Clinic Campus with 252 rooms,16,000 sq-ft of indoor event space, and amenities such as a heated outdoor pool and on-site dining.
Three Embassy Suites locations in southeast Florida have also seen renovations. Embassy Suites by Hilton Deerfield Beach Resort & Spa saw a redesign of its public spaces and event space, an aesthetic refresh of its 244 guestrooms, and a rebranding of its signature dining destination. The Embassy Suites by Hilton Fort Lauderdale 17th Street completed room renovations at the end of 2024. And the Embassy Suites by Hilton Miami International Airport saw fresh and modern updates to all 318 guest rooms, the lobby, and breakfast area.
Transportation
Brightline, the intercity train line, continues to grow, and now operates 16 daily roundtrips from Miami to Orlando. There are stops in Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, and Aventura.?
Vista and?Tri State Charter have announced a partnership,?Slate Aviation, to build on Vista’s existing XO branded shuttle service between New York and Palm Beach (PBI), with newly refurbished cabins and upgraded on-board services starting in March. The 18-seat all-business-class CRJ-200 aircraft will offer private terminal departures from several NYC airports through Slate Aviation.
Allegiant Air?has launched seven new routes to Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) from destinations that include Albany and Elmira in N.Y.; Greenville/Spartanburg, S.C.; Knoxville, Tenn.; Moline, Ill.; Omaha; and Roanoke, Va.
Starting May 22, Air Canada will offer a new express route with non-stop service between Toronto and Jacksonville. After the initial flights in May, the route will become year-round daily.
Orlando’s airport will see a slew of new routes in 2025, including Boise and Sacramento (Alaska); Manchester, N.H. (Jet Blue); Gulfport, Miss., Ogdensburg, N.Y., and Wilmington, N.C. (Breeze); Austin, San Francisco, and Los Angeles (Frontier); Nashville and Indianapolis (Delta); Munich, Germany (Discover Airlines); Paris (Air France); and San Diego and Richmond, Va. (Southwest).
Attractions
In and around Kissimmee, there’s a lot new. The new Arctic Flying Theater at SeaWorld Orlando is set to open in Spring 2025. This indoor experience will transport guests over icy landscapes and frozen waters, where they can encounter majestic wildlife such as beluga whales and orcas.
LEGOLAND Florida Resort?will unveil SEA LIFE Florida, its first-ever aquarium, in the Spring, featuring 25 exhibits and 3,000 sea creatures. And The Blue Man Group returns to ICON Park on April 3 with a new performance, featuring fresh scenes and their signature high-tech, sensory experience.?
ZooTampa at Lowry Park in Tampa is partnering with The Florida Aquarium, a short drive away, to offer a combined “Zooquarium” pass for both attractions. The zoo has completed a fantastic renovation of its Australian-focused kids’ area within the past year.
Martin County’s new Sailfish Sands Golf Course includes an 18-hole championship course, high-tech TopTracer technology, and now Florida’s first reversible 9-hole golf course.
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