The Alfond Inn Ranked Among Top 15 Best Resort Hotels in Florida

Readers of Travel + Leisure have designated The Alfond Inn at Rollins a must-stay, ranking it among the top 15 resort hotels in Florida. The distinction comes just as the boutique property is in the midst of a major expansion, building on its reputation as Winter Park’s premier getaway destination and its philanthropic mission to provide financial support to generations of promising young scholars.

Rollins completed the initial phase of The Alfond Inn in 2013, and since then, the 112-room boutique hotel has served as a popular stop for locals and travelers alike. Whether booking the Inn’s 10,000 square feet of flexible meeting space for community events or simply enjoying a stay in one of the well-appointed rooms, guests enjoy a host of luxury amenities, including lush gardens, a pool and fitness center, award-winning dining, and a rotating art collection that serves as an extension of the Rollins Museum of Art.

The expansion, which is scheduled for completion in 2023, will include an additional 71 guest rooms and suites, bringing the total occupancy to 183. A light-filled lobby and cafe will greet guests as they check in, and those seeking additional views can soak in even more sunshine in the brand-new four-story atrium. Rounding out the expansion is a state-of-the-art spa, a second swimming pool featuring private cabanas, and an additional 2,400 square feet of meeting space. The existing communal spaces are getting an overhaul too, creating more room to showcase the 500-plus pieces of art currently in the Alfond Collection of Contemporary Art, part of which is on display at the inn.

“Thank you to the readers of Travel + Leisure for voting The Alfond Inn as one of the top 15 best resorts in Florida,” says Jesse Martinez, the hotel’s general manager. “As the only hotel in Central Florida ranked among the top 15, we are both proud and humbled. I take my hat off to our entire team for their ongoing work and dedication that has made a prestigious recognition like this possible.”

Architect’s renderings of The Alfond Inn’s second pool and newly designed guest rooms.

Perhaps the most notable feature that sets The Alfond Inn apart from other luxury boutique hotels is its role in providing scholarships to academically gifted students from around the world. Since its inception, The Alfond has supported more than 100 Alfond Scholars at Rollins, providing full tuition, room, and board to students like physics major Henri Balla ’23.

Balla, an international student from Albania, has taken full advantage of everything Rollins has to offer, leading future Tars through his work in the Office of Admission, participating in Greek life, serving as sports editor of The Sandspur, and conducting original research through the Student-Faculty Collaborative Scholarship Program.

“Without the Alfond Scholarship, I wouldn’t be able to study in the United States, let alone Rollins,” says Balla. “This scholarship is both a compliment and a responsibility, and I feel a duty to give back. That sense has informed my time at Rollins.”

In addition to the Alfond Scholarship, the Inn has funded more than 1,000 partial scholarships through its operations.

This isn’t the first time The Alfond Inn has been recognized as a premier destination. It has previously received similar distinction from the readers of Condé Nast Traveler and holds a prestigious AAA Four Diamond Rating.