All Aboard the Networking Party Bus 

Recently 33 local entrepreneurs and professionals hopped aboard the Networking Party Bus for a Guided Tour of Horizon West! Now the 3rd fastest growing master planned community in the nation, HW is creating tremendous opportunities for existing and new businesses.

Participants began their evening with cocktails, h’ordeuvres and open networking at The Big Easy Windermere, one of Lakeside Village Center's newest eateries serving up New Orleans Home-style Cooking. Once aboard the bus, guests were greeted with swag bags loaded with offerings from local businesses and a copy of the Horizon West Happenings Annual Resource Guide to use as a reference for maps and other pertinent information.

The evening’s tour guide was Horizon West Happenings’ publisher, Cynthia Dailey , a resident of HW since 2003. Cynthia immersed guests in the history of Horizon West which once consisted of nothing but miles and miles of orange groves. The tour route incorporated a visit to each of the five villages, a drive down to the Southern-most tip of Horizon West at the intersection of Hartzog Rd. and Avalon Rd. in Village I and a glimpse at the future Disney Flamingo Crossings project area.

A highlight of the evening was the visit to the developing town center of Horizon West, known as Hamlin, where guests were given a detailed overview of the $100 million Proton Vision Therapy Center slated to break ground within two years as well as a sneak peak of the Cinepolis luxury movie theater which will open next month. A special surprise awaited guests in the Hamlin Groves plaza when Planet Smoothie Hamlinowner, Adam Bermudez, climbed aboard the bus with a variety of fresh and delicious smoothies for all to enjoy!

Other tour highlights included Phase 1 of the 78,0000 square foot free standing emergency department and medical pavilion currently under construction by Orlando Health and slated to be completed this year. Curiosities were peaked with a discussion of the 220-acre Horizon West Regional Park which will offer an array of exciting amenities to possibly include botanical gardens, sports fields and an outdoor live performance venue. The tour concluded with an update on the new commercial offerings coming to Lakeside Village as guests prepared to head off the bus and back into The Big Easy for more cocktails and networking.

This highly engaging and informative event was coordinated by Horizon West Professionals , a microlocal referral based networking group that emerged last fall thanks to the collaborative efforts of Tracey Forrester , Realtor with Keller Williams Classic Realty and Horizon West Happenings. HWP's mission is to build a positive networking atmosphere where business professionals can meet, share ideas, offer support, create lasting relationships and create solid business alliances across Horizon West!

Horizon West Professionals meet the First and Third Wednesdayof each month from 7:45 to 9:00 am at ScribbleSpace in Summerport Village Center. Quarterly events with a unique and fun twist such as Speed Networking and the Networking Party Bus are also organized at varying times and locations. If your business serves the HW community and you'd like to become involved with HWP please contact Stephanie Lang at Stephanie@HorizonWestHappenings.com for additional information.