Ritz-Carlton Orlando
Ryman Hospitality Properties Inc. has agreed to acquire Grande Lakes Orlando, the 409-acre luxury resort complex that includes the Ritz-Carlton Orlando and JW Marriott Orlando, for $1.38 billion.
The Nashville-based hospitality company is buying the property from Trinity Investments, which owns the resort through a joint venture with Elliott Investment Management. The transaction is expected to close during the third quarter of 2026.
Grande Lakes Orlando includes the 1,010-room JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes and the 582-room Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes, along with an 18-hole championship golf course designed by Greg Norman. The sprawling Central Florida destination also features extensive meeting, dining, recreation and resort amenities.
Ryman plans to help finance the acquisition through an offering of 5.1 million shares of common stock, with cash on hand and debt expected to provide additional funding as needed.
The acquisition expands Ryman’s presence in the large-scale resort and convention hotel market. Its portfolio includes Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Kissimmee and the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa.
Trinity and Elliott acquired Grande Lakes Orlando in 2018 and subsequently invested in a major renovation of the property, including the addition of a water park. In 2023, the joint venture secured a $750 million commercial mortgage-backed securities refinancing for the resort.
The $1.38 billion transaction ranks among the largest recent hospitality deals in Florida. Earlier this year, BDT & MSD Partners acquired the Four Seasons Resort Orlando in a $750 million transaction, while Bass Pro Shops recently agreed to acquire a luxury fishing resort in Islamorada for more than $300 million.
The deal also comes as Ryman evaluates other parts of its portfolio. The company has reportedly explored a potential sale of its interest in Opry Entertainment Group, whose properties include the Grand Ole Opry and Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.