FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Downtown Fort Myers' skyline is growing with the addition of the Luminary Hotel and Co. It's the areas first hotel of the Autograph Collection of Marriott International and builders hope it with brighten the area.
Construction has been steady, in just two months it went from two floors to seven early this month. “About a floor a week, so they are pouring the 10th floor this week,” said Joe Collier, President, Mainsail Lodging and Development.
The hotel will be 12 stories high on 8,000 square feet in the heart of the River District. “We view it as a place of commerce where the locals will want to come to and the guests will want to stay,” said Collier.
There will be amazing views from the Luminary Hotel, but it blocks views other establishments on Bay Street downtown once had. “My beautiful view is all the seats in the restaurant, I can look at the river on the way home,” said Steve Hollister, Owner, Twisted Vine Bistro and Barrel Room.
Hollister says construction did impact his business during the off-season. “It was a tough summer for us with the road closed in front of here for six months, when they ran the utilities underground,” said Hollister.
The hotel will have a total of 243 guest rooms and suites. Guests and locals will be able to indulge their palate with the restaurants and roof top bar it'll offer. It'll also help bring 206 jobs to the area.
Collier says the hotel will be a meeting place for conventions with one already booked for October 2020. “I think it’s going to be great, it’s going to bring the convention business, convention people don’t stay at the hotel, they go and venture out, and downtown is perfect for that,” said Hollister.
The price tag for this boutique hotel is $92 million and is expected to be open August 2020.
