Quite a lot has happened since I last wrote. We opened on October 1, 2009 with a formal Opening Celebration in the lobby of the Waldorf Astoria Orlando. I have to say that 24 hours leading up to opening was some of the most exciting (and exhausting!) of our careers. When morning came, we all came to work dressed in our best suits with fresh smiling faces ready to greet our very first guests. We had an impressive lineup of dignitaries and Orlando’s finest in attendance. Notable mentions included Governor Charlie Crist and Mayors Richard T. Crotty and Buddy Dyer. The event had a wonderful turnout and the hotel was buzzing with the excitement of opening – we even warmly welcomed a walk-in at the Waldorf Astoria Orlando right in the middle of the opening ceremony! Two women walked in a little confused as to what was going on and took a suite on the spot so we treated them to a glass of champagne to join in our festivities.
Ribbon Cutting at Waldorf Astoria Orlando
A few weeks later, we were back in celebration mode with a Grand Opening Gala at the Waldorf on November 12, 2009. It was the social event of season and special guests flew in from all over the country just for the event – we had more than 500 guests in total. The night began with cocktails and appetizers in the elegantly appointed Grand Ballroom. It was the first time we saw the ballroom all dressed up and it was absolutely stunning. After cocktails we moved into the Floridian Ballroom at the Hilton for dinner and a grand performance by the Orlando Ballet. The piece, Homage, was created just for the opening and complemented by a rain wall backdrop and beautiful National Geographic imagery. Words cannot even describe how unbelievable this performance was! It was truly breathtaking. After this incredible performance we were served pan-seared beef tenderloin and roasted Maine lobster as we were welcomed by the First Lady of Florida, Carole Crist, and Hilton Hotels CEO Chris Nassetta. We then moved outside to enjoy an impressive array of desserts under the stars on The Island – I can still taste the amazing hot chocolate that was served to keep guests warm in the cool November air. The evening concluded with a magical fireworks finale. Guests did not want this spectacular evening to end so everyone moved inside to Peacock Alley and enjoyed cordials while discussing their favorite moments of the night.
Orlando Ballet performing Homage
We hosted Kyle & Stacey from the Orlando CVB’s 67 Days of Smiles campaign. We showed them the ultimate Orlando hotel experience with fabulous dining, a poolside cabana, a wonderful suite, and topped it all off with an exhilarating helicopter ride over Orlando’s attractions.
Before we knew it, the holidays were upon us and the hotels were decked out with all the holiday trimmings. We welcomed 2010 with a grand celebration for our guests on property in the various restaurants including Bull & Bear Steakhouse and La Luce. Over the past few months we’ve received many awards and accolades, most notably: ALIS 2009 Development of the Year and Third Best New Public Course of 2009 by Golf Magazine.
Donna's Culinary Presentation on My Fox Orlando
Locals are loving the cuisine at Bonnet Creek and critics are giving it rave reviews. Our La Luce famed chef, Donna Scala, delighted morning viewers on My Fox Orlando with a culinary demonstration of how to make her famous meatballs – in the words of the very charismatic Donna, “It’s all in the balls!”. You can watch the video here to see what she meant.
Just last week our Bull & Bear Steakhouse was featured by Orlando Sentinel’s Heather McPherson and noted as an “exceptional newcomer” in the 12th Annual Foodie Awards.
The Orlando weather is beginning to warm up. We are not used to these chilly temperatures – but that hasn’t stopped our guests from jumping into the 3-acre lazy river or enjoying our Signature Cabana Pool which have been heated to a cozy 80 degrees. It’s wonderful to walk around the property and see our guests enjoying the resort – many of us worked for so long just imagining how our guests will react.
We look forward to seeing you all at Bonnet Creek soon!
