Universal Orlando

UNIVERSAL AND LOEWS HOTELS & RESORTS ANNOUNCE NEW HOTEL FOR UNIVERSAL ORLANDO RESORT

Caribbean-themed Loews Sapphire Falls Resort Will Feature 131,000 Square-Feet of Meeting Space–Plus 1,000 Rooms and Suites

Connection to the Adjacent Loews Royal Pacific Resort Offers Combined Meeting Space of 272,000 Square Feet, Along With 2,000 Rooms
ORLANDO, Fla. (September 9, 2014)

When it opens in the summer of 2016, the new Loews Sapphire Falls Resort at Universal Orlando will feature a colorful, Caribbean atmosphere along with more than 131,000 square feet of meeting space.

The new Universal Orlando Resort hotel will be located between Cabana Bay Beach Resort and Loews Royal Pacific Resort. The hotel will be built around a lush, tropical lagoon and feature a towering waterfall. An air-conditioned, covered bridge will connect Loews Sapphire Falls and Loews Royal Pacific. Together, the two resorts will have 272,000 square feet of combined meeting space and 2,000 rooms.

“We are excited to continue our growth plans at Loews Hotels by building another hotel with our long-standing partners at Universal Orlando,” says Jonathan Tisch, Chairman of Loews Hotels & Resorts. “This project marks a first for our company, as we will connect the meeting space at Loews Sapphire Falls Resort with the meeting space at Loews Royal Pacific Resort, giving planners new options for their meetings and events in Orlando.”

“Our meeting and event planners repeatedly tell us that Universal Orlando provides a completely immersive experience from the moment their attendees arrive and are transported to another place,” said Tom Williams, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Universal Parks & Resorts. “We look forward to bringing them yet another incredibly themed experience featuring wonderful meeting and event options with the opening of Loews Sapphire Falls Resort.”

Loews Sapphire Falls Resort’s 131,000 square feet of meeting space includes a 41,000-square-foot ballroom, a 32,000-square-foot second ballroom, 15,000 square feet of additional meeting room space and 43,000 square feet of pre-function space. This adds to the recently announced expansion of Loews Royal Pacific Resort’s meeting space from 85,000 square feet to more than 140,000 square feet. Meeting and events planners can visit www.uomeetingsandevents.com or call 1-877-823-2042 now to book for 2016. Loews Sapphire Falls will become the destination’s fifth resort hotel and its 1,000 rooms, including 77 suites, will bring the number of on-site hotel rooms at Universal Orlando Resort to 5,200.

Inspired by the picturesque rivers and waterfalls of the Caribbean, Loews Sapphire Falls Resort will immerse guests in a themed environment featuring traditional island styling with modern touches. A resort-style pool with a water slide and sand beach will help form a central courtyard area and will be surrounded by the hotel’s guest rooms. There will be water taxi and shuttle access to all of the dining and entertainment options throughout Universal Orlando Resort.

The new hotel will be full service. Amenities will include Early Park Admission to Universal’s theme parks, a full-service restaurant with scenic views and outdoor dining, a themed lobby lounge, quick-service marketplace, valet service, and a fitness center.

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Loews Hotels & Resorts
Headquartered in New York City, Loews Hotels & Resorts owns and/or operates 22 hotels and resorts across the U.S. and Canada, including two newly acquired Midwest locations – the Loews Minneapolis Hotel, situated in the heart of Minneapolis’ entertainment district, and the Loews Chicago O’Hare Hotel, less than two miles from O’Hare Airport in the emerging city of Rosemont, IL. Located in major city centers and resort destinations from coast to coast, the Loews portfolio features one-of-a-kind properties that go beyond Four Diamond standards to delight guests with exciting, approachable and local travel experiences. For reservations or more information about Loews Hotels & Resorts, call 1-800-23-LOEWS or visit: www.loewshotels.com.

About Universal Orlando Resort
There are many choices for your Orlando meeting or event, but there is only one Universal Orlando Resort. With two theme parks, Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure, four magnificently themed on-site hotels and a nighttime entertainment complex, Universal Orlando Resort offers a variety of amazing themed venues, unparalleled entertainment and award-winning catering, allowing groups to never settle for business as usual. The resort’s 250,000 square feet of indoor, customizable meetings space and variety of unique outdoor event venues can accommodate groups ranging in size from 20 to 20,000. Visit www.uomeetingsandevents.com for more information or to plan a meeting or event.

Universal Orlando Resort is part of NBCUniversal, a Comcast company.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Universal Orlando Public Relations
http://media.universalorlando.com
(407) 363-8220

Loews Hotels at Universal Orlando
Jennifer Hodges
jhodges@loewshotels.com
407-503-9090