The Hyatt and Westin hotel groups are planning new hotels at the mixed-use development Jekyll Island Beach Village in the US state of Georgia.
Construction on the new 135-room Hyatt Place will begin in early 2013 and is expected to be completed in approximately 12 months.
The 200-room Westin Jekyll Island will begin construction early next year and is scheduled to be opened in 2014; located near the Jekyll Island Convention Center, the hotel will itself have 5,000ft² of meeting and reception space.
The two new hotels, with a total of 335 rooms, are expected to attract more conventions to the island, and create over 500 construction and 600 permanent direct, indirect and induced jobs, as well as provide a one-time economic benefit of about $66.5m and annual revenue of $64.5m.
The two hotels will receive incentives from the Jekyll Island Tourism Development Fund.
Jekyll Island Authority executive director Jones Hooks said that recession has made lending facilities difficult for the hotel construction market.
"By providing some assistance, we’re ensuring these projects get under way sooner rather than later. We’re taking the reins to accelerate movement on some critical elements of the Beach Village project, which will create new jobs and tax revenues for both the state and local community," Hooks added.
Jekyll Island, located in the Golden Isles, Georgia, is a state-owned property governed by the Jekyll Island Authority.
The Beach Village project, announced in 2010, will include the Jekyll Island Convention Center, 40,000ft² of retail space, restaurants and park space.
