Courtyard/Residence Inn Debuts Model Rooms

by Rani Bernstein

LNW Hospitality recently celebrated the “topping out” of the Courtyard/Residence Inn Jekyll Island, and now are excited to share another milestone with you: debut of model rooms for each brand!

The purpose of model rooms is to make sure that all furniture is the correct size, everything is placed correctly in the rooms, electrical engineering (outlets, light switches, etc.) are placed in good locations, etc. It gives us a chance to make sure that everything is perfect before continue to do the same in every room. (We wouldn’t want to order 200+ couches and realize they don’t fit in the rooms!).

Because this hotel consists of two different brands, and therefore two different room products, we put together one model room for each brand. Photos are below!

Courtyard by Marriott

With 1,200+ properties, Courtyard by Marriott is typically designed for the modern business traveler. Created over 30 years, this brand has continued to evolve in the upscale category. The brand lives by the motto, “Fueled by Passion,” with the goal being to create opportunities for guests to pursue personal and professional passions while traveling. Courtyards aim to provide modern and open lobby spaces to provide guest with the opportunity to work or relax, as well as fitness centers.

Guest Rooms Offer:

• Wide, comfortable sleeper sofas

• Hospitality cabinets

• Optimally placed outlets

• Television, in-room refrigerators

Residence Inn by Marriott

With 850+ properties, Residence Inn created and defined the extended stay hotel category. Designed for longer stays, this brand offers spacious suites with separate living, working, and sleeping zones. This brand offers complimentary breakfast, outdoor living spaces with fire pits and grills, as well as lobby space to relax. Additionally, there is on-site laundry.

Guest Rooms Offer:

• Zones for working, relaxing, eating, and sleeping

• Fully equipped kitchen with full-sized refrigerator, stove, microwave, dishwasher, and coffeemaker

• Signature desk, located by windows for natural light

• Large bathrooms

Model room photo credits: Stephen Schindel, Development Associate

LNW Hospitality & New Castle Hotels Celebrate the Topping out of the New Courtyard / Residence Inn

by JJ Singh

As seen in Hotel Online, LNW Hospitality and New Castle Hotels celebrated the topping out of the new dual-brand hotel on Jekyll Island. Full announcement below!

LNW Hospitality and New Castle Hotels, the developers of the new dual-branded Courtyard/Residence Inn coming to Jekyll Island, announced the formal topping out of the building.  This important construction milestone, the completion of the support structure of the roof, was marked by a ceremony on site. 

The 209-key property, scheduled to open in the spring of 2021, features 120 Courtyard by Marriott rooms and 89 Residence Inn by Marriott rooms.  Sitting on 5.8 acres of oceanfront land, this hotel will provide an exceptional guest experience.  Amenities include the largest pool on Jekyll Island, a large hot tub, a splash pad for children, fire pits, a Bistro restaurant, an indoor/outdoor bar and restaurant, a fitness center, and 2,600 square feet of meeting space.

The hotel is being constructed by Kellogg & Kimsey, Inc. with construction management services performed by McKibbon Places.  Chamberlain Architect Services serves as the architect. 

“We’re excited about the progress of our new hotel,” said JJ Singh, Director of Hospitality for LNW Hospitality.  “We’ve got a fantastic team that has been working so hard to keep us on track and we look forward to opening our doors next spring to welcome travelers from all over the world.”

"Starting my career with Marriott over 23 years ago, this project is of significant importance to me as we welcome the Marriott Courtyard and Residence Inn brands to Jekyll Island, a community that has been my home for the past 10 years," said Trevor Stratton of New Castle Hotels, who is the incoming General Manager of the property.

"I am thrilled to see how far construction has come since the groundbreaking just last summer,” said Jones Hooks, Executive Director of the Jekyll Island Authority.  “We look forward to welcoming new business travelers and families, while remaining committed to conservation and stewardship of the island's delicate balance.”

“In over 4 million square feet of hotel construction by Kellogg & Kimsey, with a significant portion being Marriott brands, this is one of our favorite projects,” said Charles Kimsey, Executive Vice-President of Kellogg & Kimsey, Inc. “From the unique building design to accommodate the two brands and the remarkable coastal location, to the elaborate guest amenities, to the high quality professionals involved in the project with LNW, New Castle, McKibbon, and Chamberlain, it is a pleasure for our experienced team to build.”

LNW Hospitality Breaks Ground on its New Courtyard / Residence Inn

Dave Curtis, Managing Partner of LNW Hospitality; Julian Buffam, Principal of New Castle Hotels & Resorts; Jones Hooks, Executive Director of the Jekyll Island Authority

by: JJ Singh

Yesterday, LNW Hospitality and its partner, New Castle Hotels & Resorts, broke ground on a new Courtyard / Residence Inn Jekyll Island, slated to open by the summer of 2021. The hotel features 209 rooms, the largest pool in Jekyll island, a large hot tub, a splash pad for children, fire pits, a Bistro restaurant, an indoor/outdoor bar and restaurant, a fitness center, and 2,600 square feet of meeting space.

“We’ve carefully designed the hotel to provide a seamless, unforgettable guest experience,” said Dave Curtis Managing Partner of LNW Hospitality. “LNW Hospitality has a 35-year track record of success on Jekyll Island, first in restoring the Jekyll Island Club Hotel, as well as developing the Hampton Inn, Westin, and Jekyll Ocean Club. We’re pleased to partner again with New Castle Hotels and Resorts, Marriott International, and the Jekyll Island Authority, to create this stunning new getaway.”

East Elevation, Courtyard / Residence Inn Jekyll Island

“A dual-brand gives guests more choice in accommodation but minimizes overhead through shared resources, which is especially advantageous in a seasonal resort,” noted Julian Buffam, principal, New Castle Hotels and Resorts, which will operate the hotel upon completion. “The rich amenity package offered by Residence Inn and Courtyard by Marriott make both brands particularly popular with leisure travelers and convention goers. These brands will be exactly the right addition to Jekyll’s family-friendly product mix.”

Construction Crew

A barrier island off the coast of Georgia, Jekyll Island became a tourist destination for the richest families in America in the late 1800s. Over the last 15 years, over $200 million in public and private investment has been made on the island. Today, Jekyll Island is home to eight hotels, a world-class convention center, and numerous amenities to support tourism on the island. Ranked as the number one place to go for a vacation by Money Magazine in 2019, Jekyll Island is a celebrated destination. Over the last five years, the number of visitors to the island has grown by six percent per year.

“Responsible development is always at the core of our decision making, to ensure we do not overdevelop for the sake of additional lodging,” said C. Jones Hooks, Executive Director of the Jekyll Island Authority. “It’s important to understand that even with these additional 209 rooms from the new Courtyard and Residence Inn by Marriott, we' will still be 100 rooms below historic ‘peak hotel room’ capacity numbers for the island, ensuring we continue to maintain the island’s natural character. This project embodies our goal of welcoming new and different kinds of visitors, including business travelers and families, while remaining committed to conservation and stewardship of the island’s delicate balance.”