Hospitality Investment
Buy Hotels & Hospitality Properties in Orlando
Orlando draws 75 million annual visitors — one of the world's top tourism economies. Hotels, motels, vacation rentals, and theme park corridor retail offer 4.5–10%+ cap rates backed by structural visitor demand. We source, underwrite, and close hospitality acquisitions across Central Florida.
Property Types
Orlando Hospitality Investment Options
Value-Add Motels
6.5–8.0%Older 2–3 star properties in secondary corridors (downtown, airport, US-192). Renovate and reposition as boutique hotel or STR. 15–25% IRR potential with execution.
Stabilized Brand Hotels
4.5–6.0%Established Marriott, IHG, or Hilton properties near theme parks with long-term franchise agreements. Predictable income, investment-grade operations.
Vacation Rentals / STR
6.0–10.5%Single-family and small multifamily near Disney and Universal. $180–280/night, 75–85% occupancy. Higher yields, more active management.
NNN Theme Park Retail
5.5–7.5%Restaurants and retail leased to national credit tenants (Chili's, Olive Garden, Starbucks) near I-Drive and Kirkman. Passive NNN income.
Extended-Stay Hotels
5.5–7.5%28+ day focused properties capturing remote workers and long-stay guests. Lower turnover, higher per-night revenue than traditional STR.
Destination Resorts
4.5–6.5%Large resort properties (300+ keys) with diversified revenue (F&B, spa, activities). Institutional-grade acquisitions for family offices and funds.
Market Fundamentals
Why Orlando is a top hospitality investment market
Structural Tourism Demand: Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, EPCOT, SeaWorld, Orange County Convention Center, and year-round sports events generate 75M annual visitors — a demand floor that withstands recessions.
International Visitor Spend: 40–50% of theme park visitors are international, driving premium nightly rates and multi-night stays. International guests spend 25%+ of vacation budgets on lodging and ancillary hospitality.
Supply Discipline: Hotel development in Orlando requires navigating significant entitlement barriers near theme parks. Supply growth has lagged demand growth — supporting occupancy and rate.
Multiple Entry Points: $250K vacation rental to $200M+ resort — hospitality is one of the few CRE asset classes with meaningful opportunity at every capital stack level.
Investor Checklist
Before you make an offer
Strategy
Match your strategy to your capital
$500K – $3M
Vacation Rental Portfolio
2–5 single-family homes near Disney or Universal. Start with 1 property, learn operations, scale. 12–18% annual return for cash buyers.
STR strategy guide →$2M – $8M
Value-Add Motel
40–80 room motel in secondary market. $12K/room renovation, lift occupancy 55% → 75%, exit at 5.5% cap. 15–25% IRR target.
Conversion playbook →$10M – $50M+
Stabilized Brand Hotel
Marriott, IHG, or Hilton franchise near I-Drive or theme parks. 4.5–6% cap, professional management, institutional financing.
Hotel opportunities →Common Questions
What types of hotels can I buy in Orlando?
Value-add motels ($1.5–4M), stabilized brand hotels ($10–50M+), vacation rental portfolios ($250K/unit), NNN theme park retail ($2–8M), and destination resorts ($50M+). Multiple entry points for different capital sizes.
Can I use a 1031 exchange to buy a hotel?
Yes. Hotels and income-producing hospitality properties qualify as 1031 replacement properties. NNN-leased theme park retail is an especially clean target — investment-grade tenants, 15–20 year leases, fully passive.
What cap rates should I expect?
4.5–6% for stabilized brand hotels near theme parks. 6.5–8% for value-add motels in secondary markets. 6–10.5% for STR/vacation rental portfolios. Always test DSCR at 70% occupancy, not OM assumptions.
How does hospitality financing work?
Brand hotels: conventional CMBS or bank loans at 65–70% LTV. Value-add: bridge lenders, portfolio lenders, or SBA 7(a). STRs: DSCR loans, portfolio lenders, or seller financing. Expect 7–8.5% rates and 25–30% down.
Ready to buy a hotel or hospitality property in Orlando?
Tell us your investment criteria — budget, cap rate target, asset type, and hold strategy — and we'll source matching opportunities across Central Florida's hospitality market.