AC Hotels by Marriott has opened its newest property, AC Hotel by Marriott Jacksonville St. Johns Town Center. OTO Development, part of The Johnson Group, developed AC Hotel Jacksonville St. Johns Town Center in partnership with Simon, a real estate investment trust engaged in the ownership of premier shopping, dining, entertainment, and mixed-use destinations, including St. Johns Town Center.
The four-story hotel comprises 118 modern guestrooms; a well-equipped fitness center; 1,500 square feet of flexible meeting space, including a private boardroom; an activated AC Lounge; and an outdoor oasis with a fresh-air patio, a pool and game space.
“Travelers love staying at AC Hotels by Marriott—and we love building and operating them,” OTO Development COO Matt McClelland said in a statement, noting this is the fourth AC Hotel located at a Simon property and the 10th within OTO’s owned and managed portfolios. “Guests will especially appreciate the synergy created by connecting this stylish hotel to St. Johns Town Center, putting them within walking distance of an appealing array of market-exclusive retailers and popular restaurants."
The hotel also has easy proximity to the region’s best beaches and other recreation opportunities including TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, Jacksonville Beach, and EverBank Stadium, home of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The beach comes metaphorically inside via elements like the sand-and-neutral palette, varied textures and materials, and sculptural details ranging from an unconventionally shaped front desk to a large piece of artistically displayed driftwood in the lobby. The hotel exterior mimics the navy blue waters of East Florida via reflective windowpanes of varying blue hues, creating a rippling effect across the building; vertical sunshades add depth to the façade while textured sand-colored tiles suggest the nearby beach.
“The hotel is filled throughout with the details that matter most to the modern traveler, from activated amenities to intuitive technology,” General Manager Hope Jenkins said. “One standout feature is what we call our ‘oasis,’ a fresh-air patio adjacent to the AC Lounge with an outdoor pool, a water feature and yard games, making it the perfect place to enjoy Jacksonville’s 200-plus days of sunshine per year.”
AC Hotel Jacksonville was developed by OTO and Simon with project partners DLR Group, architect and interior designer; and Kellogg & Kimsey, general contractor.