Key International topped off the first phase of the construction of its Embassy Suites by Hilton St. Augustine Beach Oceanfront Resort in Florida. The resort is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2018.
The resort, adjacent to the Anastasia State Park, will have 175 guestrooms, including king, studio king, two-bedroom and queen-queen suites, and several outdoor venues with ocean views. Each suite will have a separate living area, private bedroom and wet bar. In-room entertainment will be provided by two high-definition, flat-screen TVs.
A subsequent Phase II of construction will add an additional 90 to 100 accommodations to the resort.
Amenities will include 7,500 square feet of indoor meeting and social gathering space, oceanfront pool bar, resort pool, direct beach access, dining options and fitness center.
To target the wedding market in Florida, the resort will have an outdoor dedicated wedding lawn, complete with a pergola framing the St. Augustine Beach pier, as well as an indoor ballroom. The site will have a flexible design.
J. Banks Design was selected for its expertise in coastal hospitality design. The company will incorporate local materials, including Coquina from neighboring beaches, coral stone, wood ceilings and over-scale driftwood sculptures.
Designed by PFVS Architecture, the new Embassy Suites by Hilton will pay tribute to the Nation’s Oldest City, evoking a Mediterranean villa with the amenities of a beachfront destination.
The property occupies a 6.5-acre enclave stretching from A1A Beach Boulevard to the Atlantic Ocean, allowing for maximum ocean-view accommodations. It’s location next to Anastasia State Park prevents any development to the north, preserving the vistas of St. Augustine Beach from the lobby, outdoor terrace, ballroom windows and pre-function terrace.
Key International partnered with hotel operator Hospitality Ventures Management Group to manage the resort.
The new property, which Key International acquired for $4 million in 2015, joins the firm’s portfolio of hospitality, commercial and residential real estate projects throughout the Southeast US and in Spain. Key International owns and manages a collection of hotels, several of which are under the Marriott, Hilton and IHG flags.