A nearly 40-year-old hotel on International Drive recently revealed a $7 million renovation just in time for the long-anticipated grand opening of Epic Universe.
The Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Orlando Resort & Suites, located at 6500 International Dr., announced that it completed the renovation of 164 guest rooms and bathrooms in the hotel’s south tower. The revamped rooms, which start at $129 per night, feature the Ramada brand’s signature Roja room design and a more modern look with new furniture, flooring, and finishes. While the renovation mostly focused on improving guest rooms and bathrooms, there were also some minor improvements made to the hotel’s public spaces, lobby, and meeting rooms.
The 295-room hotel also features a second tower, added in 2012, with suites that come with kitchenettes and sleeper sofas. Guests at the Ramada have access to amenities such as an outdoor pool, a gym, a lobby with a continental breakfast and dining area, and a complimentary shuttle service to Universal and Disney. Ramada Plaza, one of Ramada’s five brands, offers guests a lower “upscale” experience with affordable rates.
“This renovation marks a new era for our hotel,” said Swapnil Shah, President and Owner of Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Orlando Resort & Suites, in a press release. “We’re excited to offer families and theme park enthusiasts an elevated and stylish stay that’s not only affordable but conveniently located to all the attractions that make Orlando a world-class destination.”
The property is located about ten minutes away from Epic Universe, which is expected to drive significant demand for hotels within Orlando’s tourism corridor once it opens to the public on Thursday.
“With Epic Universe opening its doors, there’s no better time to experience everything Ramada – and Orlando – has to offer,” Shah said.
At least a few other hotels in Orlando’s tourism corridor recently underwent comprehensive renovations. For example, the Fairfield Orlando I-Drive Convention Center at 8214 Universal Blvd. and the Holiday Inn & Suites Across from Universal Orlando at 5915 Caracan Ct. both received multimillion-dollar renovations in 2023. All 160 guest rooms and public spaces at the Fairfield Inn got a facelift, while the Holiday Inn similarly revamped its 239 guest rooms and 151 suites.
Last year, Monarch Alternative Capital rebranded a 400-room hotel on 7800 Universal Blvd. as Hotel Landy after completing a comprehensive renovation with an updated lobby and revitalized guest rooms. The interior atrium and lobby of the 15-story hotel were refreshed with a color palette in shades of teal, compared with the previous color scheme of black, white, and gray.
Additionally, New Jersey-based Leo Capital Management LLC purchased the 246-room Embassy Suites by Hilton Orlando International Drive ICON Park last summer for $37.66 million. Gary Li, Leo Capital Management’s Principal, previously said that the company plans “to introduce a completely new design, furniture, and fixtures in the guest suites, and new guest experiences and revamped meeting spaces in the public areas.”
Paul Sexton, Managing Director of HREC, told GrowthSpotter that hotels in the tourism corridor have been preparing for the opening of Epic Universe for years.
“There has been a lot of jockeying within the Orlando Market hotel investment/asset management world over the past several years in anticipation of the opening of the new park. Although the proof of individual strategies will be in the Epic pudding, we expect to see terrific momentum on the asset sales side starting in late 2026 as investors look to realize gains on their investment strategies,” he said.
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