A new hotel boom is underway in Polk County, with several opening recently and more preparing to open. The county's tourism agency believes there's a hotel room shortage, and developers are responding.
- New hotels in Winter Haven seek to accommodate Legoland guests
- Hotel owners fear all the new hotels will cause glut
- Older hotels may suffer once spring training, Sun N' Fun Fly In are over
Tracy Garcia with Visit Central Florida said a lack of hotel rooms and hotels with meeting space is keeping some major events away.
“It’s very difficult to get a hotel room during this time,” said Garcia. “Our team can only attract certain types of events that max out at a certain size, not only for hotel rooms but also meeting space,” she said.
The success of Legoland is seen as a driving factor for new hotels planned for the Winter Haven area. Legoland itself plans to open its Legoland Beach Retreat on April 7.
But there are concerns that all the new properties may cause a hotel room glut.
“We have too many hotels now,” said Lakeland Days Inn and Suites owner Sujoy Daskundu.
Daskundu believes once baseball spring training and annual Sun ‘n Fun Fly In are over, it will be tough times for some hotels. He believes older hotels in particular will suffer, with all the new hotels opening.
“They are kind of doomed,” he said.