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Though Conditions Have Improved, US Hotel Development Pace Remains Stalled
Peachtree Senior Vice President Michael Ritz was quoted in an article for Hotel News Now about the path forward for new hotel development in the United States.
New Full-Service Resort Marks Topping Out in Gulf Shores, Alabama
DDPartners, LLC, Peachtree Group and Woodbine Development Corporation are developing 257-room beachfront destination
GULF SHORES, ALA. (Oct. 29, 2024) – DDPartners, LLC of Birmingham, Alabama, and Marietta, Georgia, Peachtree Group of Atlanta and Woodbine Development Corporation of Dallas celebrated the topping out of Embassy Suites Gulf Shores, a full-service resort overlooking the Gulf of Mexico and its renowned white sand beaches – located in Alabama’s No. 1 tourism destination, the City of Gulf Shores.
The topping out ceremony represents a significant milestone with the placement ofthe final steel beam, signifying the structural completion of the project.
“Today’s topping out serves to celebrate our contractors and construction teams for their efforts to bring this resort to life,” said King Scovell, Managing Partner and Chief Development Officer at Woodbine.
“Since the groundbreaking, these crews have shown up day after day to construct the vision that was cast years ago. We are thankful for their efforts, and we look forward to this being a destination for people to enjoy.”
Embassy Suites Gulf Shores is a joint venture among the three firms. DD Partners and Woodbine are leading development and asset management efforts, and Peachtree will manage operations for the resort upon completion in summer 2025. The architect of record for the project is PFVS, and the contractor is Robins& Morton.
The eight-story property will have 257 all-suite beachfront guest rooms; a lobby bar and restaurant; a rooftop amenity terrace inclusive of a bar and grille, pool deck and an outdoor entertainment venue; and 13,620 square feet of enclosed meeting and pre-function space, including a 7,800-square-foot ballroom. The resort will also have a three-story parking garage and 7,618 square feet of leasable retail space that will include a Starbucks.
“We are thankful for all the people who have come together to make this project happen, including the folks at the City of Gulf Shores, our partners at Woodbine and Peachtree, and the local community – but especially the crews whose skills, strength anddedication have built the bones of this resort. Today, we celebrate their hardwork and what lies ahead for this incredible destination,” said Ron Durham, Co-Founder of DD Partners, a joint venture he formed with Ron Day.
Durham and Day have strong backgrounds in commercial real estate development in the Florida/Alabama Gulf Coast, and they joined forces with Woodbine and Peachtree to pursue the Embassy Suites Gulf Shores opportunity. The team’s collective track record in hospitality and development – as well as DD Partners’ strong relationship with the City of Gulf Shores – resulted in the group closing on the project and beginning construction after many years of pursuit.
“The topping out of Embassy Suites is a testament to what can be achieved through vision and partnership,”said Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft. “This transformative project is exactly what we envisioned for our beach area when we adopted Vision 2025. The hotel's high-end amenities and substantial conference space will bolster our shoulderseasons, support local businesses year-round and serve as a catalyst for even more quality redevelopment in Gulf Shores,” said Craft.
Peachtree Group’s CEO and Managing Principal Greg Friedman said, “The next milestone, the opening of our Embassy Suites Gulf Shores, the area's newest full-service resort, will be more than just a grand opening – it will be a game-changer for this local economy. This stunning property will not only attract visitors but will also inject new spending into the community, creating jobs and supporting local businesses. The economic impact will ripple through the city and region, benefiting everyone from the workforce to public services. In Gulf Shores, tourism isn't just about being a top destination – it's about fueling economic growth and creating lasting opportunities for our communities.”
While it boasts plenty of its own amenities, Embassy Suites Gulf Shores will offer guests a great deal o foptions within the area. The property is situated footsteps from the beach as well as the Hangout Music Festival, National Shrimp Festival and NCAA Beach Volleyball Championships. It is also located adjacent to the city’s $15 million beachfront revitalization project, which was completed in 2018 as part of a master plan to enhance the area. Other nearby attractions include Gulf State Park, the Wharf at Orange Beach, Tanger Outlets, more than a dozen championship golf courses and easy access to the sports complexes in Foley.
About Robins & Morton
Robins & Morton is a privately held construction firm based in Birmingham, Alabama, with offices in Charlotte, Dallas, Huntsville, Miami, Nashville, Orlando, Raleigh-Durham, San Antonio, and Tampa. The firm specializes in the construction of healthcare, hospitality, higher education, entertainment, sports and government buildings. Since 1946, the firm has built a reputation as a trusted advisor to clients nationwide by cultivating a high-performing team that values integrity, safety, and innovative thinking. Robins & Morton is consistently ranked as one of the top 100 contractors in the United States, and one of the top 15 in the Southeast. To learn more about Robins & Morton, visit: www.robinsmorton.com.
About DD Partners, LLC
Based out of Birmingham, Alabama, and Marietta, Georgia, DD Partners, LLC was founded by Ron Durham and Ron Day. The team has more than 50 years of commercial real estate acquisition, development, construction, management and disposition experience across the Southeast. DD Partners has been involved in the Embassy resort project since its inception. DD was awarded the contract with the City of Gulf Shores through the RFP process, negotiated the terms and benefits of the Development Agreement with the City, secured the Embassy Suites by Hilton flag for the project and completed the conceptual design of the building before joining forces with hospitality partners Woodbine Development and Peachtree Group.
About Peachtree Group
Peachtree Group is a vertically integrated investment management firm specializing in identifying and capitalizing on opportunities in dislocated markets, anchored by commercial real estate. Today, the company manages billions in capital across acquisitions, development and lending, augmented by services designed to protect, support and grow its investments. For more information, visit www.peachtreegroup.com.
About Woodbine Development Corporation
Woodbine Development Corporation is a full-service real estate company with more than 50 years of development, investment, acquisition and asset management experience. Since its founding in 1973, Woodbine has been involved in more than $7 billion in commercial real estate development, including resort, resort, mixed-use, office, residential, industrial and master-planned projects throughout the United States. The Dallas-based company offers a depth of hospitality expertise and services, including ground-up development, renovation, repositioning, asset management and ownership for full-service destinations and select-service stays for global and boutique brands alike. Its portfolio also features Woodbine Legacy Investments, an acquisition platform dedicated to the purchase and repositioning of lifestyle resorts, and Woodbine Commercial, a brokerage entity focused on industrial/office. Learn more at www.woodbinedevelopment.com.
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Peachtree Senior Vice President Michael Ritz was quoted in an article for Hotel News Now about the path forward for new hotel development in the United States. Ritz gave the developer's perspective on today's market talking about Peachtree's development pipeline and the challenges to getting deals done. Click here to read the full story.
New Full-Service Resort Now Underway in Gulf Shores, Alabama
DD partners, LLC, Peachtree Group and Woodbine Development Corporation join forces to develop 257-room beachfront destination.
GULF SHORES, ALA. (Nov. 3, 2023) – DD Partners, LLC of Birmingham, Alabama, and Marietta, Georgia, Peachtree Group of Atlanta and Woodbine Development Corporation of Dallas announced the development of Embassy Suites Gulf Shores, a full-service resort overlooking the Gulf of Mexico and its renowned white sand beaches – located in Alabama’s No. 1 tourism destination, the City of Gulf Shores.
Now underway, Embassy Suites Gulf Shores is a joint venture among the three firms. DD Partners and Woodbine are leading development and asset management efforts, and Peachtree will manage operations for the resort upon completion in summer 2025. The architect of record for the project is PFVS, and the contractor is Robins & Morton.
The eight-story property will have 257 all-suite beachfront guestrooms; a lobby bar and restaurant; a rooftop amenity terrace inclusive of a bar and grille, pool deck and an outdoor entertainment venue; and 13,620 square feet of enclosed meeting and pre-function space, including a 7,800-square-foot ballroom. The resort will also have a three-story parking garage and 7,618 square feet of leasable retail space that will include a Starbucks.
“The Gulf Shores region has sustained solid momentum among leisure travelers thanks to its natural beauty and many attractions, and this destination’s amenities are designed to contribute to that momentum. Also, given the success of local meetings and events, we believe Embassy Suites Gulf Shores will be a sought-after destination for those who are traveling for business and special events,” said Ron Durham, co-founder of DD Partners, a joint venture he formed with Ron Day.
Durham and Day have strong backgrounds in commercial real estate development in the Florida/Alabama Gulf Coast, and they joined forces with Woodbine and Peachtree to pursue the Embassy Suites Gulf Shores opportunity. The team’s collective track record inhospitality and development – as well as DD Partners’ strong relationship with the City of Gulf Shores – resulted in the group closing on the project and beginning construction after many years of pursuit.
“We are excited to have Embassy Suites breaking ground here in Gulf Shores. This is the type of transformative project we envisioned for our beach area when we adopted Vision2025,” said City of Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft. “Having a high-end, full-service hotel with significant conference space in the heart of our beach district will boost our shoulder seasons, support local businesses year-round and be a catalyst for higher quality redevelopment in this area.”
Peachtree Group’s CEO and Managing Principal Greg Friedman said, “We are excited to advance this development with our partners and bring the dominant Embassy Suites brand to the vibrant Gulf Shores community. This resort aligns perfectly with the city's promising economic outlook, and as its operator, we anticipate its unparalleled location and all-suite offerings will establish it as the standout performer in its competitive segment, providing an enticing value proposition for business travelers and vacationers in the region.”
While it boasts plenty of its own amenities, Embassy Suites Gulf Shores will offer guests a great deal of options within the area. The property is situated footsteps from the beach as well as the Hangout Music Festival, National Shrimp Festival and NCAA Beach Volleyball Championships. It is also located adjacent to the city’s $15 million beachfront revitalization project, which was completed in 2018 as part of a master plan to enhance the area. Other nearby attractions include Gulf State Park, the Wharf at Orange Beach, Tanger Outlets, more than a dozen championship golf courses and easy access to the sports complexes in Foley.
About DD Partners, LLC
Based out of Birmingham, Alabama, and Marietta, Georgia, DD Partners, LLC was founded by Ron Durham and Ron Day. The team has more than 50 years of commercial real estate acquisition, development, construction, management and disposition experience across the Southeast. DD Partners has been involved in the Embassy resort project since its inception. DD was awarded the contract with the City of Gulf Shores through the RFP process, negotiated the terms and benefits of the Development Agreement with the City, secured the Embassy Suites by Hilton flag for the project and completed the conceptual design of the building before joining forces with hospitality partners Woodbine Development and Peachtree Group.
About Peachtree Group
Peachtree Group is an investment firm driving growth with a diverse portfolio of commercial real estate assets and other ventures. The company has executed hundreds of investments since its inception, focusing on real estate acquisition, development and lending valued at $9.0 billion in total market capitalization. Today, Peachtree manages over $2.5 billion in equity, augmented by services designed to protect, support and grow its investments. For more information, visit www.peachtreegroup.com.
About Woodbine Development Corporation
Woodbine Development Corporation is a full-service real estate company with 50 years of development, investment, acquisition and asset management experience. Since its founding in 1973, Woodbine has been involved in more than $7 billion in commercial real estate development, including resort, resort, mixed-use, office, residential, industrial and master-planned projects throughout the United States. The Dallas-based company offers a depth of hospitality expertise and services, including ground-up development, renovation, repositioning, asset management and ownership for full-service destinations and select-service stays for global and boutique brands alike. Its portfolio also features Woodbine Legacy Investments, an acquisition platform dedicated to the purchase and repositioning of lifestyle resorts, and Woodbine Commercial, a brokerage entity focused on industrial/office. Learn more at www.woodbinedevelopment.com.