The new AC Hotel Gainesville Downtown, a modern 144-room property in the heart of Gainesville, Fla., is nearing completion and is slated to open in early 2018. Located just a Heisman’s throw from Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, more popularly known as "The Swamp," the property will be managed by Concord Hospitality and marks the third AC Hotel in Florida and the first outside of Miami.
Just steps from the University of Florida, consistently ranked among the top 10 public universities in the U.S., AC Hotel Gainesville Downtown offers 144 European-inspired guestrooms. Designed with AC Hotels’ signature entrepreneurial aesthetic, the spacious guestrooms are outfitted with sleek furnishings, wood tones, local artwork and essential tech gadgets for travelers on the go, including Smart TVs to stream Netflix or Hulu and multiple strategically placed USB ports.
Designed for both business and leisure travelers, the hotel offers two meeting rooms with 1,000 square feet of indoor space including The Prairie Room, named after Gainesville’s popular nature park, Paynes Prairie. The hotel will be home to Gainesville’s first rooftop fitness center, a glass-enclosed structure with cardio equipment and a selection of free weights, as well as AC Bar where guests and locals can enjoy handcrafted cocktails, local craft beers and nosh on tapas-style bites. Rounding out the amenities is a rooftop spa pool with sweeping, panoramic views of the UF campus, including “The Swamp,” which roars to life on Saturdays during fall home games.
“Gainesville is most often regarded as a college town, but it is evolving, and we believe the hotel product should follow suit,” Robert Plutto, GM of the AC Hotel Gainesville, said in a statement. “When the AC Hotel Gainesville Downtown opens this winter, our ultimate goal is to bring guests an unrivaled level of comfort and sophistication, and provide an unforgettable stay in the heart of Gainesville.”
The property will be part of the newly constructed The Standard at Gainesville, a 10-story, multiuse complex that includes luxury student housing, shops and restaurants.
“AC by Marriott Gainesville’s proximity to the University of Florida, refined design and emphasis on technology will appeal to both business travelers and visitors of the university,” Mark Laport, president and CEO of Concord Hospitality, said in a statement. “The AC Lounge will feature a locally inspired food-and-beverage experience that will encourage daytime networking and nighttime relaxation for guests and locals alike.”