KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center completed an extensive renovation. This $134-million project culminated in unveiling a new lobby, remodeling restaurants, renovations to two major event ballrooms, and more than 1,400 of the resort’s 1,718 guest rooms. The project began in phases, starting in March 2024, with all areas complete and open to guests in January 2025. Designed to elevate the overall guest experience, these enhancements and upgrades include subtle and sweeping changes to the look and feel of the hotel from the moment the guest enters the resort. The remodeling and renovation were designed to pay homage to the elegant Mediterranean Revival style that flourished throughout the Sunshine State in the 1920s and defined Florida architecture for many years.
Here’s a look at the areas that received makeovers during the year-long renovation and Remodeling project:
A Welcoming New Entrance Lobby
Upon entering Gaylord Palms Resort, guests are greeted by a gleaming new lobby, a 22,000-square-foot space featuring marble flooring, grand chandeliers, new check-in areas, and airy openness that provides added space and preview of the resort’s indoor garden atrium. Custom artwork can be found in the heart of the lobby, with a trio of murals that capture the essence of the Florida landscape and create a seamless blend of artistry and nature.
To make the open layout, designers removed several lobby walls to provide more natural light while adding upgraded elements, including white oak wood beams, Venetian plaster, and gold-accented millwork. Marble and stone floors and archways add natural beauty to the space, which also houses a new Celebrity Services VIP check-in area.
The lobby also features intricate metal screens that allow areas to remain separated and provide visual continuity with the lobby bar and passages leading to other sections of the resort. Natural light cascades through these screens, allowing the Florida sunshine to illuminate the entire space.
The lobby’s color palette is a spectrum of greens, golds, reds, and earth tones, celebrating Mediterranean Revival architecture and complementing the resort’s plant life and wildlife inside the atrium. Handmade Moroccan tiles highlight new check-in desks, while an elaborate golden chandelier adorns a shimmering centerpiece dome. Alabaster sconces along the main corridor provide additional lobby accent lighting. The resort’s tour and transportation lobby was also wholly renovated for guests arriving by motorcoach.
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“Our new lobby was meticulously designed to increase functionality while transforming it into a space that immerses our guests in an elegant and inviting environment from the moment they enter our resort,” said Ross Barker, general manager of Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center. “Visual Artistry, light, and nature all combine to create this beautiful space, while the overall layout helps expedite our guests’ check-in and arrival experience.”
Shaken, Stirred, and Stunning
A jewel in the lobby renovation was the remodeling of Socio, the resort’s Cuban-inspired bar and lounge, which tripled in size to provide a luxurious lounge setting that now can accommodate more than 100 guests. Located adjacent to the check-in desks, Socio – “close friend” – is the perfect spot for friends, colleagues, and groups to relax or discuss the day’s business. Guests can enjoy bespoke beverages and sharable plates inside the bar and lounge or soak in the resort’s natural beauty from special seating that immerses them in the resort’s atrium environment.
Socio’s new colors, fixtures, and layout further connect to the lobby, with complementing décor including sleek wood paneling, elegant marble surfaces, gold accents, and bright tile borders around the bar. The new restaurant and lounge provide leisure and convention guests with an intimate gathering spot inside the expansive lobby while maintaining its sophisticated charm, handcrafted cocktails, and distinctive cuisine. Socio is complemented by the neighboring coffee bar, The Cocoa Bean Coffee House, a reinvented quick-service location with a new seating area.
Where Moments Become Memories: Ballrooms Updated
Building on the resort’s 2021 expansion that added more than 100,000 square feet of new meeting and event space, Gaylord Palms continued its emphasis on elevating the experience for groups, conventions, and events with a $15.7 million renovation of the Osceola and Sun Ballrooms. Representing more than 77,000 square feet of space, these ballrooms now feature new chandeliers, updated carpet, and modern fixtures to match the recently added 30,000-square-foot Coastal Ballroom.
Soak in the Sunshine State in Newly Renovated Guest Rooms
During the year-long project, over 1,400 guest rooms and premium suites were redesigned and renovated. Inspired by Florida’s rich landscape and designed for convenience and comfort, these rooms feature an ocean of colors from the Sunshine State. In 2021, more than 300 new rooms and suites were constructed in the most significant expansion in the hotel’s history.
New artwork adorns the walls of the renovated rooms, while marble entryways provide a touch of sophistication as soon as the guest opens the door. Inside, extended headboards behind each bed feature panels of aqua hues, while new carpeting evokes sea colors– deep-sea blue and green, along with hints of sandy beige and sunrise yellow.
The new design eliminated large dressers topped by televisions and instead features 65-inch, wall-mounted smart televisions hung above lounging couches and additional storage drawers.
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Guest rooms include marble nightstands and lamps, marble basins, and tiling in each bathroom area. The renovated rooms also have plenty of charging ports for the growing number of electronics carried by leisure and business travelers. The rooms were also redesigned with extra closet space and auto-illuminating closet bars.
Similarly, the resort’s Executive Suites and Deluxe Suites were also remodeled, providing more luxury and space for guests who want the comfort of separate living areas and more room to stretch out during their visit. With a total of 1,718 guest rooms at Gaylord Palms, guests can choose a Florida view featuring a wide-angle view of the 65-acre resort’s natural surroundings, a water park view that showcases 3-acre Cypress Springs Water Park, or an upgraded atrium view that includes a balcony overlooking the 4.5-acre atrium.
A Cut Above: Old Hickory Steakhouse, Reinvented
The resort’s signature fine dining experience, Old Hickory Steakhouse, also underwent a $ 7.25-million renovation. The new Old Hickory Steakhouse restaurant features an upscale theme inside the Everglades Atrium’s beautiful surroundings, an expanded bar and lounge area, all-new seating, chandeliers, wall décor, and furnishings. New display areas feature the restaurant’s wine selection and signature items, including a large, double-sided wine wall and separate displays for its famous dry-aged steaks and artisan cheeses. Shortly after the restaurant’s grand reopening, Wine Spectator magazine awarded Old Hickory Steakhouse a “Best of Award of Excellence,” ranking the restaurant’s wine list among the top 1,500 in the world.
A new show kitchen highlights the talented chefs as they prepare meals, and a private dining room has been redesigned as the perfect spot for groups and events.
About Gaylord Palms Resort
Gaylord Palms Resort features 1,718 guest rooms and more than 500,000 meeting space. Guests can explore the resort’s 4.5-acre garden atrium with its winding waterways, waterfalls, plants and Florida wildlife. Other resort features include gourmet dining, a full-service spa, the 3-acre Cypress Springs Water Park and a host of special events during the year. The resort is located within minutes of the area’s world-famous theme parks and attractions.
