Ryman Hospitality Buys Grande Lakes Orlando for $1.38B

Ryman Hospitality Properties has significantly expanded its presence in the premier meetings and leisure destination of Orlando, Florida, by finalizing the acquisition of the expansive Grande Lakes Orlando Resort. This strategic move, valued at approximately $1.38 billion, integrates a substantial, high-caliber asset into Ryman's growing portfolio, reinforcing its dominance in key hospitality markets.

The newly acquired property is a sprawling complex encompassing over 400 acres. It features two distinct luxury hotel brands: the 1,010-room JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes and the 582-room Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes. This combined inventory of 1,592 rooms positions the resort as a major player capable of hosting large-scale events and accommodating significant guest volumes, a critical factor in Orlando's competitive hospitality sector.

Beyond its substantial room count, Grande Lakes Orlando boasts an impressive 320,000 square feet dedicated to meeting and event spaces. This extensive facility, coupled with 14 distinct food and beverage venues, a waterpark, a renowned spa, and an 18-hole Greg Norman-designed golf course that hosts prestigious events like the PNC Championship, offers a comprehensive luxury experience. This all-encompassing amenity set is a significant draw for both leisure travelers and corporate groups.

This acquisition is expected to unlock new opportunities for Ryman Hospitality Properties to strategically rotate large convention groups across its portfolio of convention-oriented resorts. By strengthening its foothold in Orlando, which is recognized as the nation's largest market for meetings and conventions, Ryman anticipates enhanced revenue generation and improved operational synergies. The company has already updated its 2026 financial projections to reflect the anticipated contributions from this new asset.

Management now forecasts that Grande Lakes Orlando will contribute between $30 million and $35 million in Adjusted EBITDAre for 2026. This influx is projected to lift Ryman's consolidated Adjusted EBITDAre guidance for 2026 to a range of $908 million to $945 million, an upward revision from its prior outlook. Furthermore, Adjusted FFO per share is now anticipated to fall between $606.8 million and $636.3 million, reflecting the positive financial impact of the transaction.

Following this substantial acquisition, Ryman Hospitality Properties now manages a portfolio comprising 13,956 rooms and over 3 million square feet of meeting and event space across its diverse collection of convention and leisure destinations. The company's President and CEO, Mark Fioravanti, highlighted the strategic importance of the deal, thanking the internal team and acknowledging the collaborative efforts of Trinity Investments, the seller, in facilitating a smooth transaction. He emphasized the property's alignment with Ryman's strategy to enhance group customer rotation and solidify its market leadership.