Why a over-the-top water park might be coming to a resort near you

Clockwise from top left: Travel Weekly hospitality editor Christina Jelski, Michael Scioscia, the general manager of the JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes, and host Rebecca Tobin.

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. Host Rebecca Tobin talks 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. 

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This episode is sponsored by Air France/KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

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JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes

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