SeaWorld Orlando files application to build new 500-room hotel

ORLANDO, Fla. – SeaWorld Orlando is making progress on plans to develop its own resort hotel.

Earlier this week, the company filed a development plan review application with Orange County for a project being dubbed “Project Starboard.” According to the plans, the new hotel would be located on 29 acres of land on the theme park’s southeast corner along Central Florida Parkway and International Drive, an area currently used for backstage storage and employee parking.

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“We continue to make progress on our strategic growth initiatives related to hotels, international expansion and our digital activities,” said Marc Swanson, CEO of SeaWorld Entertainment during a recent earnings call. “We have also made meaningful incremental investments across our parks this year that we expect to fully benefit from in the coming quarters. We look forward to sharing more on these exciting and value-creating initiatives and investments in the coming quarters in 2024.”

The proposed 16-story hotel would feature just over 500 rooms and include a parking garage, retail, a rooftop bar, fitness and conference space.

Blueprints filed with the county also show the hotel would include a path that could one day connect to the existing park near Nautilus Theater.

SeaWorld Orlando is the only major theme park in Central Florida without its own hotel on property. Currently, the theme park partners with neighboring hotels to offer its guests vacation options.

Next year, SeaWorld plans to invest in many of its theme parks around the country.

In Central Florida, leaders said the marine park plans to open a new roller coaster called “Penguin Trek.” Construction on that project is now underway.

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