Nov. 20–MARY ESTHER — Construction on the new Holiday Inn Express and Suites on Mary Esther Cut-Off is winding down and the hotel is expected to open in January.
Panama City-based Sunshine Hotel Investments is developing the $8 million, 74-room hotel near Dunkin’ Donuts. Construction started late last year.
“We’re going to be the latest and greatest in technology, comforts and design,” said Charles Patel, director of development for Sunshine Hotel Investments. “We’ll have the latest in Wi-Fi hardware and Internet hookups. We’ll have all HDTVs and all HD channels. We’ll have the latest and greatest in new fitness equipment and our business center.
“It’s a beautiful building,” Patel added. “When it’s done it’s going to be really nice.”
Major construction on the three-story building is completed. Crews now are working on the final touches, such as finishing up the parking lot, swimming pool and landscaping.
Completion is so close that the hotel has started to take reservations. However, because an exact opening date is not known, the earliest reservation available now is Feb. 1.
Patel said he expects the hotel to hire 20 employees, which will start in late December. Anyone interested in working can visit the site to drop off a r?sum? and fill out an application.
“We’re close to the technology park, we’re close to Hurlburt Field and we’re maybe a mile and a half from the water,” Patel said. “We think it will be a good mix of leisure, commercial and military business.”
Contact Daily News Business Editor Dusty Ricketts at 850-315-4448 or dricketts@nwfdailynews.com. Follow him on Twitter @DustyRnwfdn.
