Situated right in the heart of Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin hotel is getting ready to offer even more amenities to visitors with its $75 million expansion.

The expansion plan includes new exhibit and meetings space scheduled for completion in the fall of 2002 and a redesign of guestrooms by architect Michael Graves of Princeton, N.J., the hotel's original architect. A restaurant also will be added.

The hotel is owned by a partnership of New York-based Tishman Hotel & Realty Corp. and Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. "The need for the expansion is twofold, explains Bill McCreary, the hotel's general manager. "Our sense is that it's time to make some design changes, and that's in the works" says McCreary. "Two, it's time to add more space to serve conference clients who have been with us a long time and are starting to need additional space."

With the construction of the 50,000 sq. ft. Pacific Hall, the total exhibition space will expand to 111,000 sq. ft. Pacific Hall will be connected to Atlantic Hall in the Dolphin meetings pavilion. Pacific Hall will feature 26-foot ceilings and open space that divides into three sections.

Extra meeting space at the Swan includes the new Osprey Ballroom, which was completed in October 2001. The 3,800 sq. ft. ballroom, with 17-foot high ceilings, can be divided into two sections, and is complemented by two 3,000 sq. ft. outdoor garden terraces. With these new additions, the total indoor meeting space at the Swan and Dolphin will increase to 329,000 sq. ft. The Swan section will house 56,000 sq. ft. and the Dolphin hotel 273,000 sq. ft.

The redesigned guestrooms will feature slate floors in the foyers, with the same stone surface in the bathrooms. New carpeting and designer wall coverings also are part of the renovation plans. The hotel will add a specialty restaurant to bring its roster to 17 eateries.

By Cristina Gair cgair@primediabusiness.com

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