IHG Opens 288-Room Dual-Branded EVEN Hotel and Staybridge Suites Near Universal Epic Universe in Orlando 2026

IHG Hotels & Resorts has opened a 288-room dual-branded property on Universal Boulevard in Orlando, pairing EVEN Hotel Orlando Universal Blvd with Staybridge Suites Orlando Universal Blvd. The development, built in partnership with Daiwa House Group, sits directly in front of Universal Epic Universe and within close range of the Orange County Convention Center. The launch arrives as Orlando reports record visitor numbers and convention attendance, making the corridor one of the most competitive hospitality zones in the United States.

A Dual-Brand Strategy Built for Mixed-Demand Orlando

The property combines two distinct IHG brands under a single operating structure, a model that lets one location capture multiple traveler segments without duplicating infrastructure. EVEN Hotel targets guests prioritizing wellness, recovery, and balanced routines during their stay. Staybridge Suites serves extended-stay visitors, families, and groups who need kitchen-equipped suites and residential-style amenities.

This hybrid approach reflects a broader industry shift. Orlando's visitor base is not monolithic — theme park families, convention delegates, and long-stay business travelers arrive with fundamentally different needs. A dual-branded property lets IHG serve all three segments from one address, sharing back-of-house operations, staffing, and common areas while maintaining separate brand identities and room products.

The strategy also hedges against seasonal demand fluctuations. When convention traffic dips, leisure visitors fill the gap, and vice versa. For a market that hosted 187 convention events in 2025 alone, this flexibility carries real commercial weight.

Universal Boulevard Positioning Anchors Both Leisure and Business Demand

Location drives the property's value proposition. The hotel sits on Universal Boulevard, directly in front of Universal Epic Universe — Universal's newest immersive theme park featuring five distinct worlds: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, Dark Universe, and Celestial Park.

The same corridor connects guests to Universal Orlando Resort, the Orange County Convention Center, and the International Drive entertainment district. Nearby attractions include ICON Park, SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium, SeaWorld Orlando, and Pointe Orlando. This positions the property at the intersection of Orlando's two largest demand engines: theme park tourism and the meetings industry.

For families, the address means short transit times to park gates. For convention attendees, it offers proximity to one of the largest convention facilities in North America — the Orange County Convention Center spans 7 million total square feet, with more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, 479,190 square feet of meeting room space, and 74 meeting rooms.

288 Rooms Split Across Two Brands

The property adds 288 guest rooms to Orlando's inventory, divided between the two brands. EVEN Hotel contributes 120 rooms focused on wellness-oriented design. Staybridge Suites provides 168 rooms in studio and one-bedroom suite configurations.

Shared amenities include a 1,500-square-foot Athletic Studio, a 24-hour marketplace, a game room, a resort-style outdoor pool, guest laundry facilities, and storage units designed for long-stay visitors. The outdoor courtyard features barbecue grills and pet walking areas, reinforcing the residential feel that both brands aim to deliver.

This room count is modest by Orlando standards, where large resort hotels often exceed 1,000 rooms. But the dual-brand split allows IHG to offer distinct price points and stay experiences from a single building, maximizing revenue per available room across different demand cycles.

EVEN Hotel: Wellness Infrastructure for High-Intensity Travel

The EVEN Hotel brand is built around the idea that travel should support, not disrupt, personal wellness routines. Each room includes in-room Fitness Zones, premium bedding, cooling linens, and spa-like showers. The property features the EVEN Kitchen & Bar, serving food and beverage throughout the day, along with evening dining and morning coffee options.

This wellness positioning addresses a genuine pain point in Orlando. Theme park visitors cover significant ground on foot daily, convention attendees sit through multi-day sessions, and parents traveling with children follow packed schedules with limited downtime. A hotel product designed around recovery — better sleep surfaces, athletic facilities, healthier food access — gives these guests a way to maintain energy across demanding itineraries.

The 1,500-square-foot Athletic Studio and outdoor pool provide dedicated spaces for movement, while the 24-hour marketplace ensures food access outside standard restaurant hours.

Staybridge Suites: Extended-Stay Comfort for Families and Groups

The Staybridge Suites side of the property targets a different market. The 168 rooms include spacious studio and one-bedroom suites with fully equipped kitchens, separate living areas, and king or two-queen layouts. Guests receive a complimentary daily breakfast buffet, and select evenings feature the Staybridge Suites Social — a gathering with light bites, beer, and wine.

Outdoor spaces include fire pits and grilling areas designed to make the property feel residential rather than transactional. This matters for families on week-long theme park vacations, crews on multi-week projects, and corporate groups attending extended training programs. The ability to cook meals, do laundry on-site, and store belongings in dedicated storage units reduces the friction that makes long hotel stays uncomfortable.

The full kitchens also serve a budget-conscious segment. Orlando trips involve significant spending on park tickets, dining, and transportation. Suite-style accommodation with cooking facilities lets families control food costs without sacrificing proximity to attractions.

Orlando's Record-Breaking Demand Context

The opening lands in a market operating at record capacity. Visit Orlando reports that the destination welcomed 76,663,200 visitors in 2025, including 70,325,600 domestic visitors and 6,337,600 international visitors. The Orange County Convention Center hosted 187 events in 2025, drawing 2,047,768 attendees — a new destination record.

These numbers explain why IHG and Daiwa House Group chose this moment and this location. Universal Epic Universe has driven fresh leisure demand to the Universal Boulevard corridor since its opening. The convention center's record attendance signals that business travel to Orlando remains strong despite hybrid meeting trends. Adding 288 rooms of flexible inventory directly between these two demand centers positions the property to capture both streams.

International visitor recovery also factors in. The 6.3 million international visitors in 2025 represent a segment that typically stays longer, spends more per trip, and values kitchen-equipped accommodation — a natural fit for the Staybridge Suites product.

What This Opening Signals for Orlando's Hospitality Evolution

The dual-branded model represents a calculated response to changing traveler expectations. Visitors increasingly resist being forced into a single stay model. A family might want suite space and a kitchen for most of their trip but also value wellness amenities and a proper bar for evening relaxation. A business traveler might need an extended-stay setup for a two-week assignment but still want fitness facilities and healthier food options.

By combining EVEN Hotel and Staybridge Suites in one building, IHG lets guests access both product types without switching properties. The shared amenities — pool, courtyard, marketplace, game room — serve both brands, creating operational efficiency while expanding the guest experience.

For Universal Boulevard specifically, the opening signals continued corridor development. As Epic Universe matures and draws repeat visitors, the surrounding hospitality infrastructure will need to scale. This property establishes a template for how that growth can happen: not through massive single-brand resorts, but through targeted dual-brand properties that segment demand efficiently.

Data Table

Metric	Figure
Total Guest Rooms	288
EVEN Hotel Rooms	120
Staybridge Suites Rooms	168
Athletic Studio Size	1,500 sq ft
Universal Epic Universe Worlds	5
OCCC Total Square Footage	7,000,000 sq ft
OCCC Exhibit Space	2,000,000+ sq ft
OCCC Meeting Room Space	479,190 sq ft
OCCC Meeting Rooms	74
Orlando 2025 Total Visitors	76,663,200
Orlando 2025 Domestic Visitors	70,325,600
Orlando 2025 International Visitors	6,337,600
OCCC 2025 Events	187
OCCC 2025 Attendees	2,047,768

Key Takeaways

• IHG has added 288 rooms to Orlando's Universal Boulevard corridor through a dual-branded property combining EVEN Hotel (120 rooms) and Staybridge Suites (168 rooms).
• The property sits directly in front of Universal Epic Universe and near the Orange County Convention Center, positioning it between Orlando's two largest demand drivers.
• Orlando welcomed 76.6 million visitors in 2025, and the convention center set a record with 2.04 million attendees across 187 events.
• The dual-brand model lets IHG serve wellness-focused travelers, extended-stay guests, and families from a single location with shared infrastructure.
• The project was developed in partnership with Daiwa House Group, marking a significant investment in one of America's highest-volume tourism markets.

FAQ

What is a dual-branded hotel? A dual-branded hotel combines two distinct hotel brands within a single building, sharing infrastructure like staffing, laundry, and common areas while maintaining separate room products, brand identities, and guest experiences.

How far is the IHG dual-branded property from Universal Epic Universe? The hotel sits directly on Universal Boulevard in front of Universal Epic Universe, offering immediate proximity to the theme park and easy access to Universal Orlando Resort.

Does Staybridge Suites Orlando Universal Blvd offer kitchens in every room? Yes, all 168 Staybridge Suites rooms feature fully equipped kitchens, separate living areas, and studio or one-bedroom layouts designed for extended stays.

What wellness amenities does EVEN Hotel Orlando provide? EVEN Hotel offers in-room Fitness Zones, premium bedding, cooling linens, spa-like showers, a 1,500-square-foot Athletic Studio, outdoor pool, EVEN Kitchen & Bar, and a 24-hour marketplace.

Who developed the IHG dual-branded hotel in Orlando? The property was developed through a partnership between IHG Hotels & Resorts and Daiwa House Group.

Orlando's hospitality market just gained a smarter, more flexible inventory — and Universal Boulevard's transformation is far from finished.

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