Royal Pacific opens with a blast
By Todd Pack
Sentinel Staff Writer
June 19, 2002
Universal Orlando's third hotel, a South Pacific-themed resort with hand-carved wooden panels and faux-antique travel posters in the rooms, is like the setting for some old movie set on a balmy island half a world away.
Royal Pacific Resort plays a similar role for Universal in the real world -- a destination unto itself and, quite possibly, a stopover on Universal's way to other adventures.
Built at a cost of about $135 million over 18 months, the Royal Pacific, with 1,000 rooms, is the last of three hotels on Universal property that Loews Hotels announced almost five years ago.
"This is the final jewel in the crown," said Susan Lomax, a Universal spokeswoman.
The 750-room Portofino Bay Hotel, modeled on the picturesque Italian village of the same name, opened in 1999. The Hard Rock Hotel, a 650-room hotel with California mission-inspired architecture, opened 17 months ago.
Having all three hotels open makes Universal Orlando more of a destination resort, rather than a place people visit one or two days during their Orlando vacation, Lomax said.
Standard rates at the Royal Pacific are $159 a night, making it the least expensive of Universal's three hotels. Rates at the Hard Rock begin at $199 a night; at Portofino Bay, $249. Smith Travel Research says the average nightly rate in Central Florida is $72.
Universal and its hotel partners, Loews and Rank Group PLC, deliberately avoided a budget-class hotel. That's because the land, within walking distance of Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, is "beachfront property," meaning people will pay a premium to stay there, said Michael Sansbury, Loews' regional vice president.
But even as the Royal Pacific's first guests checked in Tuesday, Universal and Loews executives were talking about building still more hotels on Universal property.
Land adjacent to the Royal Pacific Resort already is zoned for a pair of hotels with 5,500 rooms between them, Sansbury said. Loews, Universal and Rank Group will monitor the existing hotels' performance for about six months before deciding whether to build more.
Sansbury said the partners haven't settled on a theme for another hotel. But focus groups used to help decide the look of the existing hotels also liked a proposed Egyptian theme, Sansbury said.
Mark Woodbury, senior vice president for Universal Creative, said potential customers gave thumbs down to several other concepts, including ones inspired by British hunting lodges and a Jetsons-like future world.
Judging by the reaction of guests checking into the Royal Pacific, the South Pacific theme was a good choice.
"We love it," said Kelly Armas, 38, of Fort Lauderdale, who plans to spend four nights at the hotel with her husband and three daughters.
She said they considered staying at Disney World's Polynesian Resort but decided to stay at the less expensive Universal hotel instead. Compared with the Disney hotel, "this one wins hands down," she said.
Rates at the 31-year-old Polynesian Resort, near the Magic Kingdom, start at $274 a night. Disney's hotel is aimed more at affluent tourists, while the Royal Pacific, with about 80,000 square feet of meeting space, will be marketed heavily to the convention and meeting trade.
Besides, "The Polynesian has a great view of the fireworks at Magic Kingdom," said Marilyn Waters, a Disney spokeswoman.
Robert Johnson of the Sentinel staff contributed to this story. Todd Pack can be reached at tpack@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5407.
Copyright © 2002, Orlando Sentinel
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/busi...061902jun19.story?coll=orl-business-headlines
By Todd Pack
Sentinel Staff Writer
June 19, 2002
Universal Orlando's third hotel, a South Pacific-themed resort with hand-carved wooden panels and faux-antique travel posters in the rooms, is like the setting for some old movie set on a balmy island half a world away.
Royal Pacific Resort plays a similar role for Universal in the real world -- a destination unto itself and, quite possibly, a stopover on Universal's way to other adventures.
Built at a cost of about $135 million over 18 months, the Royal Pacific, with 1,000 rooms, is the last of three hotels on Universal property that Loews Hotels announced almost five years ago.
"This is the final jewel in the crown," said Susan Lomax, a Universal spokeswoman.
The 750-room Portofino Bay Hotel, modeled on the picturesque Italian village of the same name, opened in 1999. The Hard Rock Hotel, a 650-room hotel with California mission-inspired architecture, opened 17 months ago.
Having all three hotels open makes Universal Orlando more of a destination resort, rather than a place people visit one or two days during their Orlando vacation, Lomax said.
Standard rates at the Royal Pacific are $159 a night, making it the least expensive of Universal's three hotels. Rates at the Hard Rock begin at $199 a night; at Portofino Bay, $249. Smith Travel Research says the average nightly rate in Central Florida is $72.
Universal and its hotel partners, Loews and Rank Group PLC, deliberately avoided a budget-class hotel. That's because the land, within walking distance of Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, is "beachfront property," meaning people will pay a premium to stay there, said Michael Sansbury, Loews' regional vice president.
But even as the Royal Pacific's first guests checked in Tuesday, Universal and Loews executives were talking about building still more hotels on Universal property.
Land adjacent to the Royal Pacific Resort already is zoned for a pair of hotels with 5,500 rooms between them, Sansbury said. Loews, Universal and Rank Group will monitor the existing hotels' performance for about six months before deciding whether to build more.
Sansbury said the partners haven't settled on a theme for another hotel. But focus groups used to help decide the look of the existing hotels also liked a proposed Egyptian theme, Sansbury said.
Mark Woodbury, senior vice president for Universal Creative, said potential customers gave thumbs down to several other concepts, including ones inspired by British hunting lodges and a Jetsons-like future world.
Judging by the reaction of guests checking into the Royal Pacific, the South Pacific theme was a good choice.
"We love it," said Kelly Armas, 38, of Fort Lauderdale, who plans to spend four nights at the hotel with her husband and three daughters.
She said they considered staying at Disney World's Polynesian Resort but decided to stay at the less expensive Universal hotel instead. Compared with the Disney hotel, "this one wins hands down," she said.
Rates at the 31-year-old Polynesian Resort, near the Magic Kingdom, start at $274 a night. Disney's hotel is aimed more at affluent tourists, while the Royal Pacific, with about 80,000 square feet of meeting space, will be marketed heavily to the convention and meeting trade.
Besides, "The Polynesian has a great view of the fireworks at Magic Kingdom," said Marilyn Waters, a Disney spokeswoman.
Robert Johnson of the Sentinel staff contributed to this story. Todd Pack can be reached at tpack@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5407.
Copyright © 2002, Orlando Sentinel
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/busi...061902jun19.story?coll=orl-business-headlines
:sohappy: