A �crescendo� to the $200 million transformation, the new 105,000 square foot Cypress Ballroom will become the largest pillar-free resort ballroom in the nation. Fully carpeted, the new Cypress Ballroom with 30� ceilings will connect to the existing Palms Ballroom and offer over 160,000 square-feet of contiguous, pillar-free, carpeted space for tradeshows or special events.  In addition, new configurations of existing space will offer meeting planners more options for divisibility, ultimately providing up to 73 breakout rooms.  The multi-million dollar space expansion and transformation project will also include additional pre-function space; ten dedicated loading docks and extra wide service corridors to facilitate an efficient back-of-house load-in and load-out experience. 

In 2004, the Orlando World Center Marriott completed the renovation and redesign of its 39,000 square-foot Crystal Ballroom, now one of the premier ballrooms in the country in terms of design, technology and flexibility, along with a $6.5 million renovation of the resort�s 110 suites, �making our overall room product one of the very best in the Orlando market,� stated Director of Sales and Marketing, Tim Swan.  �The addition of the new ballroom will open the door to larger groups requiring space for exhibits or elaborate productions.  It will also provide us with more flexibility by freeing up our existing ballrooms for smaller events.  This will clearly make the Orlando World Center Marriott one of the premier meeting and convention facilities in the entire nation for groups of all sizes.�

To meeting planners worldwide, bigger and better go hand in hand. This award-winning convention resort offers facilities, services and professional experience, which is unmatched in the market.  A self-contained 500-room tower, completed in 2000, with its own 14,000 square feet of meeting space is perfect for smaller meetings. In addition, all 66 existing meeting rooms at the resort offer T1 internet access. On-site amenities include 24-hour self-service business center, full service shipping and receiving facilities, on-site production and destination management services, and 24-hour convention concierge.

Winding through the resort�s 200 tropical acres, the 18-hole championship Hawk�s Landing golf course provides four sets of tees for golfers of all skill levels and the option to walk the course - the only such arrangement for any golf course and resort in Orlando. The finest Callaway equipment and one of �Golf Magazine�s� Top 100 Instructors, Bill Madonna, director of golf instruction at the Bill Madonna Golf Academy at Hawk�s Landing Golf Club, make for an all-around championship experience at Hawk�s Landing Golf Club. 

Orlando World Center Marriott Resort & Convention Center also features a 10,000 square-foot full service Spa and Fitness Center; ten restaurants and lounges; six swimming pools including an indoor pool and a tropical lagoon pool showcasing 1,000,000 gallons of liquid refreshment with waterfalls and a waterslide; six whirlpool spas; tennis and more. 

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC. (NYSE:MAR) is a leading lodging company with more than 2,600 lodging properties in the United States and 64 other countries and territories.