In a city like Orlando, when you set a goal to create a new type of luxury hotel experience, it can be a challenge to stand out among the crowd. At ette hotel in Kissimmee, however, that is exactly what they've accomplished… a unique environment unlike any other in Central Florida.
According to Amado Bobadilla, ette’s general manager, every possible detail that affects the guest experience was examined and rethought, from the building design, to the amenities in the rooms and throughout the hotel, to how the guests are welcomed and pampered throughout their stay.
“Everybody knows that the main reason people come here is to visit the theme parks,” Amado says. “Even though we are right next to Walt Disney World resort, we offer a restful retreat from the theme park craziness. Visiting the theme parks is fun but also exhausting. As soon as you walk through the front door at our hotel, all that changes and you're brought into a place of restfulness, a place where you can breathe easily.”
At ette hotel, their focus is on so much more than simply providing their guests a place to sleep while visiting the area. The goal, Amado says, is to attend to the guests’ overall physical, mental, and spiritual wellness during their stay.
“The hotel's name, ette, it's an acronym that stands for earthy, true, timeless, and elegant,” he says. “Those are the four pillars upon which this entire concept was built. It's reflected in the quality of the materials that we use, the way we treat our guests, even the linens. When they arrive, our guests are greeted by a 35-year-old olive tree, which represents friendship and goodwill. As soon as you walk in, for example, you notice a really clean, natural, uplifting scent that permeates the entire building. That's the whole idea behind our property.”
As you might expect, an important part of the ette Hotel experience is the elegant dining guests enjoy there, particularly at Salt & The Cellar. Led by renowned chef Akira Bach, the menu breathes new life into traditional Mediterranean cuisine. Born in Korea, Chef Bach was raised in Colorado and had a successful career as a professional snowboarder, before beginning his culinary career in the early 2000s. In 2008, he opened his first restaurant, Yellowtail, at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. His accolades include earning a Michelin star for his restaurant, Dosa, in Seoul, South Korea.
According to Amado, it’s all part of their overall mission to create an amazing hotel experience based on wellness for their guests.
“We want this to be an oasis of calm in the midst of the craziness of the theme parks. Yes, we're very close to the Disney theme parks, the closest five-star hotel in fact. But that's where the connection stops. So you can go to our rooftop bar and watch the magic kingdom's fireworks, which are truly spectacular from that view, then have a peaceful place to relax. A place where you can breathe and be still.”
For more information about ette Hotel, visit their website at ettehotels.com.
