Shop till you drop? Inn may fill bill
Hotel proposed near Sawgrass Mills
SUNRISE—The sprawling Saw grass Mills shopping, dining and entertainment complex in Sunrise could add a hotel to its list of offerings for tourists and locals.
Entities tied to the mall’s owner, Simon Property Group, are seeking permission fromthe city to build an eight-story AC by Marriott hotel on a 1.3-acre parcel adjacent to the complex, according to documents submitted to Sunrise officials.
The AC Hotel Sunrise would rise between Blue Dolphin Boulevard and Purple Parrot Place, near the mall at 12801W. Sunrise Blvd., according to a proposed development agreement authored by Sunrise Mills (MLP) Limited Partnership and Sawgrass Parking Deck LLC.
The property would have at least 170 rooms and feature a breakfast restaurant, ground level-bar offering light fare and meeting space to accommodate up to 200 people. Its rooftop would be the home of a fitness facility, a water feature and patio with seating for 50 people. The property would also showcase a “museum-quality art display” and have an area for revolving local artist presentations.
Sunrise officials are expected to vote on the development agreement Tuesday. It already has been recommended for approval by some city staff.
Officials from Simon and Sawgrass Mills declined comment Friday through a spokesperson.
Sawgrass Mills, billed as the largest outlet and value retail shopping destination in the country, already attracts large numbers of local residents and tourists to more than 350 stores and dining and entertainment venues. Officials at Indianapolis-based Simon view the on-site hotel as a missing component for the mall complex.
“The proposed hotel will provide an additional benefit to the mall property which does not [exist] today – overnight accommodations,” wrote Jocelyn Gubler, a Simon vice president for development, in a June 27 letter supporting the development proposal.
Gubler added: “The proposed hotel will allow guests to stay in Sunrise for days on end, walking to the many restaurants, as well as entertainment opportunities, and shopping at the hundreds of retailers operating at Saw grass Mills. The addition of the hotel gives Sawgrass Mills an all-inclusive feel — shop, dine, be entertained and stay overnight to do it all again the next day.”
The AC Hotel Marriott brand is considered a “lifestyle” property that’s part of a chain but sports the features of smaller boutique hotels. Each AC Hotel is typically customized to its location and highlights local artists and culture.
There were 17 AC Hotel properties opened across the nation as of March and more in development, according to Marriott Development. The joint venture brand was launched by Marriott International and AC Hotels of Spain in 2011. AC Hotels aim to attract millennials including younger business travelers.