LNW Hospitality and New Castle Hotels & Resorts broke ground on a dual-brand Residence Inn by Marriott/Courtyard by Marriott on Jekyll Island, Ga. The 209-room oceanfront property, slated to open in spring 2021, will include an indoor/outdoor bar and restaurant, 2,600 square feet of meeting space, a pool, a hot tub, a splash pad for children and a fitness center.
The two companies previously have teamed up together to develop the Westin Jekyll Island and Hampton Inn & Suites Jekyll Island. LNW Hospitality has a 35-year history on the island, having also restored the Jekyll Island Club Hotel and developed the Jekyll Ocean Club.
“A dual-brand product offering gives guests more choice in accommodation while minimizing overhead through shared amenities and resources, which is particularly advantageous in a seasonal resort,” Julian Buffam, principal of New Castle Hotels & Resorts, said in a statement. In addition to co-developing the hotel, Buffam’s company also will operate it upon completion.
In the past 15 years, more than $200 million in public and private investment has been made on the island. Today, it is home to eight hotels and a convention center.
“Responsible development is always at the core of our decision making, to ensure we do not overdevelop for the sake of additional lodging,” C. Jones Hooks, executive director of the Jekyll Island Authority, said in a statement. “It’s important to understand that even with these additional 209 rooms from the new Courtyard and Residence Inn by Marriott, we will still be 100 rooms below historic ‘peak hotel room’ capacity numbers for the island, ensuring we continue to maintain the island’s natural character.”