Hyatt Place and Westin Coming to Jekyll Island Beach Village

JEKYLL ISLAND, Ga., Nov. 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Plans for the new Jekyll Island Beach Village are becoming a reality with the addition of two globally recognized hotel brands. Unveiled in 2010, the mixed-use Beach Village project combines public and private development components to create a unique attraction at the commercial core of the state-owned island. In addition to new hotels, the plan includes the Jekyll Island Convention Center, a variety of retail shops, restaurants and park space along a beachfront promenade.

The Jekyll Island Authority has made progress with the public components of the project, including the Jekyll Island Convention Center, which opened May 2012. Most recently, the Center was honored with ConventionSouth magazine's "Best New or Renovated Convention Center" award. The new adjacent hotel facilities will allow the project to reach its full potential.

The new Hyatt Place will offer select-service accommodations and state-of-the-art technological amenities within a contemporary design compliant with Jekyll Island's design guidelines. The 135-room hotel will be one block from the beach and adjacent to the convention center in the heart of the Jekyll Island Beach Village. Hyatt Place is ranked the No. 1 Select-Service Brand by Business Travel News' 2012 Hotel Chain Survey, scoring highest in In-Room Amenities and second highest in Overall Price/Value. Spacious guestrooms feature the Hyatt Grand Bed™ and Cozy Corner sofa-sleeper. Construction is set to begin in early 2013 and should be completed in approximately 12 months.

The Westin Jekyll Island will offer full-service accommodations, with 200 guest rooms, on approximately four acres overlooking the Jekyll Island beach. The property is also adjacent to the Jekyll Island Convention Center and has 5,000 square feet of meeting and reception space. Construction is set to begin in early 2013, and is expected to be completed in 16 to 18 months.

Together, the new Westin and Hyatt Place hotels will provide 335 new hotel rooms which will help attract more conventions to the island on the Georgia coast. Both new hotels will receive incentives from the Jekyll Island Tourism Development Fund, which was created this year by the Jekyll Island Authority board to stimulate stalled development.

"The effects of the recession have created a difficult lending market for hotel construction," said Jones Hooks, Executive Director of the Jekyll Island Authority. "By providing some assistance, we're ensuring these projects get under way sooner rather than later. We're taking the reins to accelerate movement on some critical elements of the Beach Village project, which will create new jobs and tax revenues for both the state and local community."

An economic benefits analysis indicates the two hotels will create a combined 524 construction jobs, with 443 of these in the local community. Construction will generate a one-time economic benefit estimated at $66.5 million, with most of this accruing in the local Glynn County economy.

Approximately 606 permanent direct, indirect and induced jobs will be created by the two hotels' ongoing operations, which will generate additional economic benefits of $64.5 million annually, with $52.6 million accruing in the local economy.

"We are pleased to announce that Jekyll Island's revitalization is on track," said Bob Krueger, Chairman of the Jekyll Island Authority board. "The two new hotels will play a significant role in attracting businesses as well as leisure guests from across the country to Jekyll Island and the coast of Georgia."

In addition to the two new hotels, the Jekyll Island Authority also announced the first new tenants for the Beach Village retail development. The Jekyll Island Authority will self-develop the retail component through a loan from the OneGeorgia Authority. Approximately 40,000 square feet will be leased to include shops, restaurants, real estate offices, banks, a health clinic and grocery market. Development cost is projected to be approximately $6 million with an additional private investment of $3 million from retail build out. Construction should begin in early 2013.

About Jekyll Island

Located in the Golden Isles, Georgia, Jekyll Island is rich in history, but celebrated as a place of retreat, sanctuary and balance that has attracted guests for more than 125 years.  Owned by the State of Georgia and governed by the Jekyll Island Authority, development is limited to 35 percent of available land, to preserve the critical barrier island ecosystem.  Within the limited development, guests on Jekyll Island can enjoy 10 miles of beach, more than 20 miles of bicycle trails, four golf courses, a museum, a tennis center, a water park, wildlife viewing platforms and many other eco-tourism and cultural tourism opportunities including the Georgia Sea Turtle Center.  On Jekyll Island, you'll be close to nature, close to home, and experience a place you will hold close to your heart.  For more information, please visit www.jekyllisland.com or call (877) 4-JEKYLL.

SOURCE The Jekyll Island Authority