Kola @ 60
Accommodation Shortlist & Planning Update
Prepared for Dr. Kola Olofinboba · Update call Friday, October 23, 2026
A weekend that feels grand & worth the journey
- Upscale elegance — guests should feel it was grand and worth flying to Orlando
- Black-tie main celebration, ideally at a unique off-site venue with guest transport
- Traditional influences woven in — open to wider African cultural display for the Host's many non-Nigerian friends
- No, or carefully controlled, spraying of money during dancing
- Talking drummers — a highlight the Host loved at a previous event
- DJ and live band
- A professional MC who adds elegance — or the Host's sister-in-law Funmilayo for a lively, personal Nigerian touch
- Welcome social could be on property
Host: all activities, entertainment, the golf experience and food and beverages at group events.
Guests: transfers, hotel, and meals outside group events.
Itinerary & guest groups · February 2028
Golf need not be at Evermore — the small group can be transported to another course.
What we asked each property to address
- 70–90 peak-night rooms
- Thu Feb 24 – Sun Feb 27, 2028
- Standard / deluxe mix plus VIP suites
- Group rate 2–3 days pre/post
- Attrition, cut-off & deposit terms
- Upgrades & a concierge comp room
- Fri welcome reception · ~140 guests, indoor/outdoor
- Sat birthday dinner · ~140 guests, dance floor, AV & staging
- Sun farewell brunch · ~100 guests
- Private outing for ~20, Friday morning
- Tee times, carts & caddies
- Per-player & rental pricing
- Post-round lunch & toast space
- Personal touches — scorecards, trophy
- Pricing & minimums per event
- Bar packages & dietary needs
- Cake-cutting fee
- AV, décor & vendor policies
- Resort fees, parking, transfers
- Concessions & deposit schedule
Conrad Orlando
Also: 10% off in-house AV · double Hilton Honors points · not held without contract.
Plus 26% service & 6.5% tax. Includes stage & indoor dance floor. Outdoor curfew 10pm.
$255 pp + $10 fee & tax, incl. range, greens fee & cart. 10-minute tee intervals; clubs $75. Dedicated Golf Experience Manager for pairings, scorecards & contests.
Evermore Resort — a ready-made second tier
Conrad Orlando sits within Evermore Resort — keeping the whole party on one property, which aligns with your stated preference for Evermore.
- Shared villas could be an option, with rates starting under $300 per room, per night
- Guests share Evermore's lagoon, Orlando's only private beach and resort amenities
- Removes the need to shuttle a second hotel group to every event
Confirm Evermore group pricing and identify sharing groups from your guest list to assess this option against the second-tier budget.
Group rates have not yet been negotiated. All rates shown are currently illustrative; availability, taxes and fees remain to be confirmed.
The Ritz-Carlton Orlando
Comp rooms, attrition, cut-off and deposit terms not yet stated — to request.
57,000 sq ft indoor + 70,000 sq ft outdoor; three ballrooms. F&B minimum to be set. 26% service on F&B, room rental and AV. Function agenda supplied separately.
Knife & Spoon (MICHELIN One Star) · 40,000 sq ft spa.
Courtyard by Marriott Orlando South/Grande Lakes Area
Average pricing starting around $240 / night
6-minute drive from The Ritz-Carlton Orlando
Group rates have not yet been negotiated. All rates shown are currently illustrative; availability, taxes and fees remain to be confirmed.
Drive time may vary with traffic.
- Outdoor pool and fitness center
- The Bistro for breakfast, dinner and evening cocktails; 24-hour Market
- Convenient access to Orlando attractions and the convention center
Hotel information: Official hotel website · Rates and drive times supplied for your planning.
Four Seasons Resort Orlando
Feb 24–27 is not available. The resort proposes Thu Feb 3 – Sun Feb 6, 2028 if you are open to switching.
Full customised proposal follows once dates are confirmed. AAA Five Diamond resort.
Tom Fazio-designed Tranquilo Golf Course, played only by members and resort guests. 13,000 sq ft spa; adult-only pool; minutes from Disney parks.
Wyndham Lake Buena Vista – Disney Springs® Area
Average pricing starting around $250 / night
12-minute drive from Four Seasons Resort Orlando
Group rates have not yet been negotiated. All rates shown are currently illustrative; availability, taxes and fees remain to be confirmed.
Drive time may vary with traffic.
- Official Walt Disney World hotel, within walking distance of Disney Springs
- Scheduled theme-park shuttles and advertised early theme-park entry benefits
- Resort-style pool complex, hot tub, poolside dining and fitness facilities
Hotel information: Official hotel website · Rates and drive times supplied for your planning.
How the shortlist measures up
| For you | Conrad Orlando | The Ritz-Carlton | Four Seasons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preferred dates (Feb 24–27) | ✓ Available | ✓ Quoted | ✕ Alt. Feb 3–6 |
| Standard room rate | $519+ | $602 (fee incl.) | $799+ |
| Resort fee | $50 / night | Included ($55) | $55+ / night |
| vs. $500–600 target | Base rate within range | Just above range | Above range |
| F&B minimum | $45,000++ | To be determined | $60,000++ |
| Venue fees | $4,500++ | Not stated | Lakehouse $2,500+ |
| Saturday celebration | Jacaranda Ballroom | 3 ballrooms on offer | Palm Ballroom |
| Golf for ~20 | $255 pp via Evermore | Greg Norman · price TBC | Tranquilo · price TBC |
| Key terms stated | Comps, attrition, deposit | Not yet | After date confirm |
| Rating | Forbes 4★ · AAA 5◆ | AAA 5◆ | AAA 5◆ |
| Second-tier lodging | Evermore on-site | Courtyard · 6-min drive | Wyndham · 12-min drive |
| Illustrative second-tier rate | Under $300 / room / night | $240 avg. / night | $250 avg. / night |
Primary hotel figures are from proposals; "+" / "++" indicate taxes and service charges are additional.
Second-tier rates and drive times are planning figures supplied by you; group rates are not negotiated and rates are illustrative.
A distinctive setting for your celebration
Orlando Museum of Art
Martin and Gracia Andersen Rotunda
Marble floors, wood paneling and a soaring ceiling; published dinner capacity of up to 250 includes adjoining rooms.
Distinctive cultural setting; an elegant architectural backdrop for black tie.
Confirm the 140-person dinner and dancing layout; adjoining rooms may split the guest experience.
Dr. Phillips Center
Steinmetz Hall
Transformable performance hall; published banquet estimate of 600, with adjacent grand lobby included.
A grand, theatrical sense of occasion; lobby space for a welcome reception.
May feel oversized for 140; configuration and production requirements need careful scoping.
The MEZZ
Downtown private event space
Flexible venue with published capacity of 240 seated; built-in A/V and programmable LED lighting.
Freedom to create your own look; a practical format for dinner, entertainment and dancing.
Creating a bespoke luxury setting may increase setup and décor costs; confirm catering and bar inclusions.
The Balcony Orlando
Rooftop terrace & indoor gallery
Downtown skyline and Lake Eola views; birthday events promoted, with up to 350 seated advertised.
A memorable rooftop atmosphere; indoor/outdoor flexibility for your celebration.
Weather and a rain plan are essential; the raw gallery may need additional décor and production.
Disney's American Adventure
Rotunda · EPCOT
Georgian-style room with columns and a domed ceiling; wedding-page capacity of 85–150 guests.
A distinctive Disney setting; formal architecture suits your black-tie vision.
140 is near the published limit; confirm birthday eligibility, timing and required Disney charter transport.
Disney's Grand Floridian
Resort ballrooms
Victorian-style ballrooms with crystal chandeliers; a range of room configurations and event sizes.
An established formal ballroom look; adaptable space for dinner and entertainment.
Less distinctive than a museum or theater; confirm birthday eligibility, room allocation and event terms.
The Howey Mansion
Historic estate · Howey-in-the-Hills
Restored 100+ year-old mansion on more than four acres; up to 80 seated in the Ballroom, 150 in the Fountain Courtyard, or larger events on the Front Lawn.
A one-of-a-kind historic backdrop; a hidden Prohibition room adds a memorable surprise for your guests.
Your 140 guests would need the outdoor Fountain Courtyard, so a rain plan is essential; longer drive from Orlando hotels requires guest transport.
Bella Collina
Tuscan-style clubhouse · Montverde
75,000 sq ft Italian-inspired clubhouse with lake and hillside views; Formal Ballroom and Grand Lawn each up to 180, with private events up to 240.
Rare rolling-hill views and an elegant European feel; indoor ballroom with an outdoor veranda for cocktails; on-site catering.
Further from the Orlando hotels, so guest transport is needed; confirm pricing and minimums for a milestone birthday.
Four Seasons Orlando
Walt Disney World Resort
Resort event spaces including the Palm Ballroom (6,200 sq ft), The Lakehouse and Capa rooftop, as presented in the Four Seasons proposal.
Five-star service and catering in one place; a polished resort-level celebration with ballroom, lakefront and rooftop options.
A familiar resort setting rather than a one-of-a-kind destination for the event; the proposal carries a $60,000++ food-and-beverage minimum; guests at the primary hotels would need transport.
Planning assessments, not quoted terms. Confirm availability, costs and the full dinner/dancing layout for 140. Disney wedding pages do not confirm birthday eligibility.
Decisions for today's call
Strongest fit on dates, budget and your Evermore preference, with the most complete terms and golf pricing. Evermore offers a single-property second tier.
Five Diamond prestige on your dates, slightly above the target rate. Courtyard offers a nearby second tier at an illustrative $240 per night. We still need F&B minimum, golf and contract terms.
Five Diamond and Disney-adjacent, but only on Feb 3–6 and above the guest budget. Wyndham offers a second tier at an illustrative $250 per night. Worth pursuing only if you would move the date.
Thank you
The Keona Experience — Trusted curators of luxury travel experiences
vacations@thekeona.com · www.thekeona.com · @thekeona