dpPENSACOLA BEACH, Fla. — Pensacola Beach is now full in terms of hotel development.
Friday morning, Innisfree Hotels broke ground on a Hampton Inn and Suites Hotel on Via De Luna Drive. The Island Authority says the parcel was the last remaining piece of land that could house a hotel.
The site is the former home of the Clarion Hotel, which was destroyed by Hurricane Ivan.
The new hotel is going to be 185,000 square feet with 215 rooms.
It will have a large pool with water slides and lazy river, and a two-story restaurant and bar.
“When we acquired this property in 2021, we knew that whatever we did here it had to be really special,” said Ted Ent, CEO of Innisfree Hotel. “We spent a long time designing and redesigning the building. Deep thinking how we wanted to do the food and beverage, how we wanted to design the pool deck. Realizing there’s no waterslides out here, so we decided to add a waterslide complex.”
“With the tax revenue they are anticipating over $16 million in additional tax revenue for Escambia County,” said Ashlee Hofberger, district 4 commissioner. “That’s going to be split by SRIA fees and property taxes , the LOST if that renews, and also the heads in bed tax — the tourism development tax.”
Construction on the hotel will begin on Monday with completion expected in early 2028.
The hotel will bring about 150 new jobs.
“Between Escambia County and Santa Rosa County, all of those jobs will come from there,” Ent said. “We’re a company that really promotes from within. Almost any general manager, assistant manager, director of sales at the home office, we’re all promoted from within within the company. “
“It’s a $100 million investment that I’m making and the Innisfree is making into the community,” said Julian MacQueen, chairman and founder of Innisfree Hotels. “That $100 million will generate taxes and employment and create this lovely ripple effect throughout the community.”
For years, Pensacola Beach has had issues with summer traffic gridlock and limited parking.
County leaders say those concerns were part of the planning process.
“All of the parking this facility will need will be on site,” Hofberger said. “So they will have enough parking for not only their workers, but also anyone who comes and stays at the hotel.”
While the hotel will be the most expensive on the beach, Innisfree says room rates will be competitive with other hotels out on the beach.
“This is our last opportunity to do something special on the beach,” Ent said. “We know the reputation of the beach and the level of service the entire community gives our visitors will be more of an attractant for the guests who want to come here.”
