The new era of outdoor resort features are bigger and more ambitious than a mere pool and a row of canvas-topped cabanas. There are waterslides; surf simulators; cabanas that look like living rooms; creative landscaping; and food and beverage from A-list chefs.

As hotels editor Chrisina Jelski explored in a cover story this summer, the pool-upgrade trend ties in several pandemic-era trends: Bleisure, family travel, outdoor vacations and spending more to upgrade their vacations. And of course, a resort's investment in waterpark upgrades can pay dividends in terms of increased rates and ancillary revenue. We talk about all this and more with Jelski and Michael Scioscia, the general manager of the JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes. 

This episode was recorded Sept. 22 and has been edited for length and clarity. 

Episode sponsor

This episode is sponsored by Air France/KLM Royal Dutch Airlines https://www.afkl.biz 

Related links

Resorts make a splash with waterparks https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Resorts-make-a-splash-with-waterparks

JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/mcojw-jw-marriott-orlando-grande-lakes/waterpark/

The new era of outdoor resort features are bigger and more ambitious than a mere pool and a row of canvas-topped cabanas. There are waterslides; surf simulators; cabanas that look like living rooms; creative landscaping; and food and beverage from A-list chefs.
As hotels editor Chrisina Jelski explored in a cover story this summer, the pool-upgrade trend ties in several pandemic-era trends: Bleisure, family travel, outdoor vacations and spending more to upgrade their vacations. And of course, a resort's investment in waterpark upgrades can pay dividends in terms of increased rates and ancillary revenue. We talk about all this and more with Jelski and Michael Scioscia, the general manager of the JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes. 
This episode was recorded Sept. 22 and has been edited for length and clarity. 
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by Air France/KLM Royal Dutch Airlines <a href="https://www.afkl.biz">https://www.afkl.biz </a>
Related links
Resorts make a splash with waterparks <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Resorts-make-a-splash-with-waterparks">https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Resorts-make-a-splash-with-waterparks</a>
JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes <a href="https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/mcojw-jw-marriott-orlando-grande-lakes/waterpark/">https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/mcojw-jw-marriott-orlando-grande-lakes/waterpark/</a>

Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors explore ideas, share experiences and provide insight into what they’ve uncovered while reporting on some of the biggest trends in travel.

Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors explore ideas, share experiences and provide insight into what they&rsquo;ve uncovered while reporting on some of the biggest trends in travel.

Hosted by Rebecca Tobin, managing editor of Travel Weekly

The Folo by Travel Weekly

Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors take a deep dive into the biggest travel story of the week. 

In each episode, we invite invite our team of journalists and their trusted sources to delve into major travel trends that industry insiders, or just travelers, want to know about.  

You may be wondering: Why the Folo? Well, a folo -- f o l o -- is a journalism term, a kind of shorthand that basically means to follow a breaking news story with more in depth reporting and analysis. And at the Folo podcast, that's what we do. 

Hosted by Travel Weekly managing editor Rebecca Tobin.

Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors take a deep dive into the biggest travel story of the week.&nbsp;
In each episode, we invite invite our team of journalists and their trusted sources to delve into major travel trends that industry insiders, or just travelers, want to know about. &nbsp;
You may be wondering: Why the Folo? Well, a folo -- f o l o -- is a journalism term, a kind of shorthand that basically means to follow a breaking news story with more in depth reporting and analysis. And at the Folo podcast, that's what we do.&nbsp;
Hosted by Travel Weekly managing editor Rebecca Tobin.

Advertisement