Universal Opens Loews Sapphire Falls Resort

Photo: Universal Orlando Resort

The Loews Sapphire Falls Resort welcomed its first guests with a steel drum band last week for a grand opening highlighting its Caribbean inspiration.

Sapphire Falls is the fifth on-site hotel for Universal Orlando, located between the Royal Pacific and Cabana Bay Beach resorts. With 1,000 rooms, including 83 suites, it brings the total for Universal hotels to 5,200. Room rates will start at $119 per night.

At the heart of the resort is a 16,000-square-foot pool, the largest at Universal Orlando. Surrounded by waterfalls built into rock formations, the resort-style pool has a waterslide, two white sand beaches with cabanas and a children’s play area. The architecture and design, along with the lush landscape, help brings the Caribbean to life at the resort, Sapphire Falls complex managing director Barb Bowden told TMR.

Photo: Universal Orlando Resort

The Caribbean theme extends to the resort’s dining options. The Amatista Cookhouse restaurant serves Caribbean-inspired food; its signature dish is the mojo marinated rotisserie chicken, but there are plenty of options for the less culinary adventurous, Bowden assures. Guests can enjoy indoor or outdoor dining for breakfast, lunch and dinner. There are also two private dining rooms for larger parties.

At the Strong Water Tavern, it’s all about rum, “an important part of Caribbean history and culture,” Bowden said. The tapas bar and lounge has “rum captains,” similar to sommeliers, guiding guests through 75 rum varieties.

Other amenities include a fitness center, 24-hour convenience store and 115,000 square feet of meeting space.

Guests staying at any of the hotels can enter either theme park, Universal Studios Florida or Universal’s Islands of Adventure, an hour before they open to the general public. They also get complimentary transportation to the parks and CityWalk, Universal’s entertainment and dining complex.

Universal Orlando Resort offers agents 10% commission on packages that include accommodations and theme park admission. Agents can also receive up to 40% off at Universal hotels during personal vacations.

In addition, Universal hosts regional training events throughout the United States in most major cities. More information is available on Universal’s dedicated agent website.