American Hotel Development to Build Staybridge at St. Petersburg Airport
JUNE 16, 2008. American Hotel Development Partners, LLC (AHDP) and the St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) announced today that AHDP will develop a $13.2 million, 106-room Staybridge Suites Hotel at the airport. The Staybridge hotel is slated to begin construction in August of this year and expected to open late 2009. The new hotel development comes in the midst of the St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport's $10 million renovation project and on the heels of the Airport's recent announcement of a $1.5 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration for safety, security, and the airport's terminal renovation projects.
"The Staybridge Suites Hotel extended stay concept is a perfect complement to St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport (PIE). The convenience of having such a preferred brand of lodging on Airport property is sure to suit both the seasonal vacation and business travelers arriving at PIE," remarked Bob Humberstone, Director of Properties, St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport.
"Both the announcement of AHDP'S hotel development along with the Airport's recent completion of its runway extension and its increased capability for international destinations is definitely a win-win-win for PIE, Staybridge Suites, and the traveling public," continued Mr. Humberstone.
Principals of AHDP expressed their satisfaction with the partnership in growing services and hospitality to visitors to St. Petersburg-Clearwater.
"We are very pleased to fill a need in the Clearwater area for a new hotel on-site at the airport. Staybridge Suites Hotels are designed for the comfort of both business and leisure travelers," said AHDP President Clyde Harris.
PIE is undergoing an extensive terminal renovation project. Additional improvements to the Airport in conjunction with the hotel's development include expansion to sidewalk and roads on the north and south side of airport, landscaping to the roadway and retention area, modifications to the existing storm pipe system, supply of an eight foot water main and sanitary sewer stub out for future development.
AHDP, based in Sarasota, Fla., is currently developing 12 hotels, including Columbia, Savannah, Tampa, Fla., and Hazleton, Pa. AHDP is a vertically integrated hotel company acting as developer, owner and manager of all facilities. AHDP's principals have a combined 75 years of experience in the hotel industry, including managing partner and CEO Dr. Alex Giannini, and CFO Armando Yanez.
When complete the hotel will be managed by Harris Hotel Group, an affiliate of AHDP. "We are involved in the communities in which we build," Harris remarked. "We seek to be good neighbors and a welcomed addition to each community."
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