The agreement with Shahid Khan through his real estate firm, Iguana Investments Florida LLC, will see a 170-key property coming to downtown Jacksonville, Florida.
Sports site
Anticipated to open in 2026, Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences Jacksonville will be the centrepiece of Jacksonville Shipyards development, located adjacent to the area’s Sports Complex and proposed Stadium of the Future – a renovated and reimagined EverBank Stadium that will serve as home to the Jacksonville Jaguars while playing host to national and international sports and entertainment events.
As well as offering 170 luxuriously appointed rooms and suites, along with 26 private residences, the hotel and residences will blend imaginative urban design on the banks of the St. Johns River.
Opulent amenities
The property will showcase four dining and lounge outlets including a signature rooftop restaurant and bar, all-day restaurant, pool bar and grill and lobby bar.
Other amenities will include a world-class spa, multiple outdoor pools with cabana service, a well-appointed gym; and expansive meeting and event space. Guests, residents and locals will also have access to a redeveloped marina offering unique experiences along the St. Johns River.
Experienced designers
The initial conceptual design for the project was created by Pininfarina America. HKS is the lead design architect, partnering with ODA for interior design and EDSA for landscape design. HKS has worked on Four Seasons projects including in The Bahamas, Hawaii, Orlando and Denver.
The property will be the second Four Seasons property for Khan. In September 2016, he purchased full ownership of Four Seasons Hotel Toronto, regarded as the flagship property for the Toronto-based brand.
Ship-shape development
In addition to the Four Seasons site, phase one of the Jacksonville Shipyards development will comprise a six-storey office building, a revamped full-service marina, a reinvigorated Metropolitan Park, a marina services building and a public park.
Phase two of the project will include a five-acre (two-hectare) property slated for mixed-use development. Initial plans include a medical component, while other potential uses include retail, residential, additional parking and green space.
Fast-growing city
Bart Carnahan, executive vice president, global business development and portfolio management, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, said: “Four Seasons is incredibly proud to bring our renowned service and hospitality offering to one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States.
“As Jacksonville continues to enhance its offerings for people to live, work and play, we look forward to working with Mr Khan to expand our presence in Florida and extend our long-time partnership together, contributing to the city’s bright future and achieving our shared vision of building communities and creating exceptional luxury experiences.”
Game-changer
Khan commented: “I have immense love and respect for Jacksonville and Four Seasons alike. So, for me, it’s always been about connecting the two, because they have so much to offer each other.
“Four Seasons is an iconic brand that will redefine Downtown Jacksonville and provide a luxury destination that we have been unable to offer until now. Jacksonville, in turn, will offer the new Four Seasons Hotel a spectacular setting on the banks of the St. Johns River and provide our entire community a reason to rally around the Shipyards, the Stadium of the Future and the overall future of Downtown Jacksonville. I’ve said all along that Four Seasons will be a game-changer for Jacksonville, and the change begins now.”
American Seasons
Elsewhere in Florida, the brand is also headed to Naples in the form of Four Season Naples Beach Club. The new luxury 216-key property will take shape on the site of the former Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club, with completion due in Q1 2025.
Further north in South Carolina, another development looks to be in planning for Charleston, transforming the former location of a Days Inn budget motel into Four Seasons Hotel Charleston by 2027. Preceding this, further south in Mexico, Four Seasons Resort and Residences Cabo San Lucas at Cabo Del Sol will bring another 80 keys to the tourist hub in Q1 2024.
