TAMPA, Fla. (February 13, 2019) – HRI Properties, LLC (HRIP), Hyatt and public officials broke ground today on construction for the dual-branded Hyatt Place and Hyatt House hotels in downtown Tampa. The project will add a transformative new development to the city’s downtown area and create a hotel experience that offers an array of shared services and amenities that meet the needs of guests, whether traveling alone, with family, for business, or for leisure.
“HRI Properties is excited to be awarded this project, and today we celebrate the long-awaited groundbreaking with the City of Tampa and our friends from Hyatt,” said HRI Properties President and CEO A. Thomas Leonhard Jr. “We are constructing first-class hotels inspired by the rich history of Tampa that will complement and enhance downtown hospitality options for both visitors and locals alike. We hope this will be the first of many HRI Properties projects in this great city, and we look forward to celebrating our ribbon cutting ceremony later next year.”
In addition to Leonhard, groundbreaking attendees included Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, Hyatt Senior Vice President Julienne Smith, City of Tampa Administrator of Economic Opportunity Bob McDonough, City of Tampa Urban Development Manager Rob Rosner, and Visit Tampa Bay President & CEO Santiago Corrada. Tampa city council members Mike Suarez, Charlie Miranda, Yvonne Yolie Capin, Harry Cohen, Frank Reddick, Guido Maniscalco, and Luis Viera were also invited to attend.
The Hyatt Place and Hyatt House development opportunity was initiated by the City of Tampa and was awarded to HRI Properties through a competitive RFP process. DPR Construction was selected as the Design-Build Contractor for the property. The project will consist of a combined new 17-story, 230-room Hyatt Place hotel and a 115-room Hyatt House hotel, with approximately 4,000 square feet of meeting space, 3,200 square feet of ground floor retail space and a fully integrated 220-space public parking garage. The development is expected to open in fall of 2020.
“Tampa’s skyline is seeing rapid growth and it’s just beginning. I look forward to seeing the completion of this hotel that will serve residents and visitors for years to come,” said Mayor Buckhorn. “This city is in the midst of a renaissance and it’s projects like these that will help complete Tampa’s next chapter and add to our live, work, stay and play environment.”
The hotels will be located directly across the street from City Hall and provide connectivity between downtown Tampa and neighboring Riverwalk attractions, such as the Tampa Convention Center, The Florida Aquarium, Amalie Arena, and more. The project will create a cosmopolitan experience for guests showcasing the spirit of the city with a relaxed, locally inspired design reflecting the charm and character of the city’s downtown area. The site provides exceptional walkability, a bike lane accessible to all downtown residents and is also conveniently located next to the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority’s service lines.
“We are thrilled to soon welcome another Hyatt brand-defining project to our portfolio of Hyatt Place and Hyatt House hotels. HRI’s commitment to excellence both in development and operations is the combination we carefully pursue when growing our collection of hotels. The location is exactly where we want to be in Tampa and we look forward to celebrating its opening,” says Julienne Smith, Hyatt’s senior vice president of development and owner relations.
The Hyatt Place and Hyatt House brands are designed to deliver seamless experiences that are authentic, intuitive and modern, allowing business travelers to remain productive and worry free, without skipping a beat. For more information about Hyatt Place and Hyatt House hotels, please visit https://www.hyatt.com/info/hyatt-place-hyatt-house-why-settle.
