Innisfree Hotels has broken ground on a pair of development projects in the Pensacola area, including a new Hampton Inn.
The projects—a new Hampton Inn by Hilton Pensacola Beach and the future home of the Hive Arts Academy—are expected to open in 2028 and summer 2027, respectively. The 215-room Hampton Inn by Hilton Pensacola Beach will become Innisfree’s sixth hotel on Pensacola Beach and seventh in Escambia County, increasing the company’s inventory in the region to 1,194 guestrooms and suites.
According to the Pensacola, Fla.-based company, the developments are intended to support tourism growth, job creation and educational opportunities in the local community.
“[Chairman] Julian [MacQueen] and Kim [MacQueen] have always believed that successful hospitality begins with investing in people,” said Ted Ent, president and CEO of Innisfree Hotels. “Every guest who chooses Pensacola Beach helps strengthen our local economy, and that success allows us to invest back into the community in meaningful ways. The new Hampton Inn will generate lasting economic benefits, while the Hive Arts Academy will help young people discover their talents and prepare for bright futures.”
Planned amenities for the hotel include a lazy river, poolside food-and-beverage venues, more than 4,000 sq.-feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space, expanded breakfast dining areas, a private event patio and direct beach access. The hotel is expected to employ approximately 150 people. Innisfree said the addition will bring its local workforce to more than 825 employees and contribute to annual tax revenues generated by its Pensacola-area portfolio.
Innisfree also broke ground on a new facility for the Hive Arts Academy, a program operated through the company’s philanthropic arm, the Hive Foundation. The academy serves students in grades 8 through 12 and offers instruction in visual arts, sculpture, culinary arts, sewing, fiber arts, engineering and fabrication.