What is The Athens Group's redevelopment plan for the property?
- The creation of a world-class destination resort that embraces the site’s natural attributes along its beautiful white-sand Gulf coast setting
- The replacement of the existing 319-room hotel with a new 216-room luxury hotel, of which up to 20 of the guest rooms are hotel condominium units (up to 10 condominiums that each can be configured into two hotel rooms)
- The renovation and improvement of the beloved HB’s on the Gulf and the Sunset Beach Bar for the community to enjoy as always
- The retention and improvement of the 104 acres of recreation and open space pursuant to a restrictive easement to continue to provide in perpetuity expansive recreation and open space
- The preservation as permeable land in perpetuity of 70 acres of the 104-acre recreation and open space restricted area in order to provide preferential flood insurance premiums for the entire City of Naples
- Unparalleled resort activities, including golf and tennis
- The addition of luxury beachfront condominiums and golf-side residences into the resort experience – totaling up to 185 residences
- The creation of the Gulf Shore Garden along Gulf Shore Boulevard North –- a lushly landscaped pedestrian and vehicular experience that utilizes native plantings and natural materials
- The addition of a small Market Square that will be anchored by a restaurant with a bowling alley and the resort’s full-service spa and fitness facility
- The improvement of the previous resort’s parking experience through a first-class valet service program coupled with on-site parking underneath the hotel and Market Square
- The reduction of the resort’s total meeting space from 24,000 square feet to 12,000 square feet
- The redesign and improvement of the hotel’s parking, on-site access and circulation to reduce the traffic on Gulf Shore Boulevard North
Who is the capital partner on the project?
MSD Partners, L.P., an SEC-registered investment adviser in New York. The firm was formed in 2009 by the principals of MSD Capital, L.P. to enable a select group of investors to invest in strategies that were developed by MSD Capital—established in 1998 to exclusively manage the capital of Michael Dell and his family. MSD’s other luxury resort and real estate projects include Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, Four Seasons Resort Maui, The Boca Raton and Fairmont Miramar.
Will there still be a hotel on the property?
Yes. The Athens Group will replace the existing 319-room hotel with a new 216-room luxury hotel.
Will golf and tennis continue to be a part of the resort?
Golf and tennis will continue to be an important part of the resort lifestyle at the Naples Beach Club, a Four Seasons Resort. Additional recreational amenities and experiences are expected to be included in the resort to elevate the entire experience.
Will HB’s and the Sunset Beach Bar still be open to the public?
Yes. Both HB’s on the Gulf and the Sunset Beach Bar will be renovated and will reopen to the public at the same time the new hotel opens.
Will the new resort improve parking and traffic?
At the new resort, parking will be provided in garages underneath the hotel and Market Square, and under each of the residential buildings to accommodate the resort’s parking needs.
Traffic engineering studies have concluded that traffic trips will be reduced by more than 10 percent on Gulf Shore Boulevard North. This is due to many factors including 99 fewer hotel rooms, a 50 percent reduction in the amount of meeting and conference room space from the previous hotel, and parking underneath each building that will eliminate the need for most of the valet trips along and across Gulf Shore Boulevard North.
What is the construction timetable for the project?
The Athens Group anticipates that the project’s site work will begin in the first half of 2022. The project is expected to be developed in three phases, with the first phase consisting of the development of the new luxury hotel, Market Square, and the beachfront condominiums along with the redevelopment of the Clubhouse conference center. The first phase is expected to be completed in 2024.
Who will operate the hotel?
Four Seasons has been selected as the operator for the luxury hotel.
Why was The Athens Group selected as the successor to the Watkins family for The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club?
The Athens Group was selected by the Watkins family because of Athens’ vision for the future of the property, their understanding of and sensitivity to the Naples community, and their first-class development portfolio of authentic high-end hotels, resorts and residences that they have created over the past 30 years. The Athens Group is committed to embracing the legacy of The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club by preserving the hotel use, beach access, HB’s on the Gulf, and the Sunset Beach Bar, along with the resort’s expansive recreation and open space in the heart of Naples. You can learn more about The Athens Group and its portfolio at AthensDevCo.com.