Report: New W Hotel Is Coming to Universal Orlando

A new W Hotel is reportedly coming to Universal Orlando’s expansion in Central Florida.

According to Growth Spotter, national hotel developer and real estate firm Buccini/Pollin Group, which has 80 hotels in its portfolio, is planning a 22-story, 400-room W Hotel next to Epic Universe, the resort’s new theme park.

The hotel, the first from the Buccini/Pollin Group in Orlando, is expected to include a 2,000-seat concert and entertainment venue. The hope is that the hotel and its offerings will attract tourists, business travelers, and locals.

Outside of the accommodations and entertainment venue, plans also call for a separate adult pool that’s set up like a day club or nightclub with cabana rentals, along with a separate rooftop pool for all guests, and five bars and restaurants. Construction is expected to start before the end of 2023.

Universal Orlando is currently in the midst of constructing Epic Universe, one of the most highly anticipated projects in the resort’s history. Plans were initially unveiled for the theme park, the third at the resort, in August 2019.

COVID-19 changed Epic Universe’s construction timeline—Universal says that it is now expected to open in the summer of 2025. Its location is a couple of miles south of the resort’s other two gates—Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure.

The park will include Super Nintendo World with some iconic characters including the Mario Brothers, Yoshi, and Donkey Kong. It will also include IP from the universal Monsters series and more Harry Potter-themed areas.