New hotel opening along Charlotte Harbor

July 18th, 2018

By STAFF REPORT - SUN

A new hotel is scheduled to open this week in Punta Gorda. SpringHill Suites by Marriott will start renting out its 104 suites at 101 Harborside Ave. on Thursday, according to a press release from SpringHill Suites Marriott.

The hotel, which took about 13 months to build, is expected to employ 30 employees, a spokesperson for the hotel told the Sun Tuesday. It overlooks the Peace River and offers easy access to Ponce de Leon Park, Laishley Park and the Peace River Wildlife Center. The location will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned and managed by Kana Hotel Group of Knoxville, Tennessee.

“As a brand opening a new hotel every 10 days on average, we are delighted that the SpringHill Suites Punta Gorda/Harborside is the latest addition to our growing number of properties across the United States and Canada,” said Callette Nielsen, vice president and global brand manager of SpringHill Suites in the release.

The city of Punta Gorda supported a variance to allow more height to the new building, above what was allowed in the City Center District. A city manager’s report from January of 2017, noted the hotel would help bring synergy to the downtown area. It noted the new hotel adds to the mix including other hotels, “which will benefit the (Charlotte Harbor) Event and Conference Center, local restaurants and businesses.”