Orlando, FL, USA — The Orlando, FL office of international architecture, planning and interior design firm, VOA Associates Incorporated, announced its contract to serve as Design Architect, Planner and Interior Designer for the upcoming B resort in the Walt Disney World® Resort, the first B Hotels & Resorts® hotel in Central Florida. The firm will oversee and implement design efforts for the renovation of the existing 394-room Royal Plaza Hotel, which was acquired by a joint venture between Weston, FL-based InSite Group and London-based Cube Capital and will debut as a B hotel in the fall of 2013.
The resort is one of four hotel projects associated with the B Hotels & Resorts® brand in less than 18 months, and once completed will join the AAA Four Diamond B Ocean Fort Lauderdale, which opened in March, 2011; the upcoming B South Beach, which is scheduled to open in early 2013; and the value full-service b2 miami downtown, which is scheduled to open at the beginning of 2013. The Royal Plaza Hotel will remain operational throughout the complete renovation and repositioning process.
According to Jonathan F. Douglas, AIA, Managing Principal with VOA, the design plan focuses on engaging guests with inviting concepts for individuals, families and business travelers, with amenities such as in-room game consoles, signature dining venues, expanded pool and family gathering public areas for hotel guests to relax and share their experiences. “VOA is known for creating leisure environments that focus on enhancing the guest experience,” says Douglas. “Our commitment to ‘Create, Inspire + Connect’ meshes perfectly with the B signature elements and experiences created by the new lifestyle brand, and we look forward to being a part of the property’s redesign, transforming it into one of the area’s most desirable resorts.”
“The B in the Walt Disney World® Resort will be a new and exciting venue for visitors who are looking for an upscale lifestyle experience combined with tranquility and relaxation after and between fun-filled days at the adventure parks,” stated Ayelet Weinstein, President and CEO of Weston, FL-based B Hotels & Resorts. “It is being designed to encourage interaction of families, couples, groups and individuals in an inspiring and stylish environment, with great amenities including international culinary concepts and a full service spa, while implementing the approachable B brand service culture.”
VOA’s Orlando office has extensive experience in design and renovation of large scale hotels and resorts throughout the US and the Caribbean, including properties from the $300M Aqua Caliente Casino • Resort • Spa, a 16-story, 340-key, four-diamond property in Rancho Mirage, CA, to the $25M comprehensive remodel, renovation and addition of the Holiday Inn Hotel, Lake Buena Vista, FL. The office is currently engaged in providing full architectural and interior design services for numerous hospitality projects throughout Florida, including a complete renovation of the Radisson Hotel at Celebration (FL), multiple projects for Bluegreen Resorts, as well as several additional retail, restaurant and hotel projects in the Walt Disney World® Resort area.
With a current staff of over 200 worldwide, VOA specializes in creating spaces for people all over the world to work, learn, heal and play. The professional design services organization offers comprehensive services in programming, architecture, interior planning and design, strategic planning, campus master planning and technology integration to clients worldwide and maintains offices in eight locations: Orlando, Florida; Chicago, Illinois; Washington, D.C.; Highland, IN; New York, NY; Sao Paulo Brazil, and Shanghai and Beijing, China.
VOA is consistently ranked among the industry’s top firms, including Hotel Management’s Top Design Firms (#26); Interior Design Magazine’s Giants in Hospitality (#30) and Top 100 Interior Design Giants (#41); Architectural Record’s Top 250 Architectural Firms (#42); Building Design & Construction’s Giants 300 / Top Architectural Firms (#25); and ENR’s Top 100 Green Design Firms (#43) and Top 500 Design Firms (#210). For more information, please visit the firm’s website at www.voa.com
