Marriott International’s prestigious Autograph Collection brand has made its debut in Fort Myers, Florida with the opening of Luminary Hotel & Co, a 243-room property that draws inspiration from the city’s history.
Florida’s Fort Myers has boosted its boutique hotel offering with the opening of the much-anticipated Luminary Hotel & Co.
A concept inspired by Fort Myers’ luminaries
The fifth hotel in hospitality company Mainsail Lodging & Development’s portfolio to join the Autograph brand, this exceptional property is also the first Autograph hotel to open in the Fort Myers-Naples area. “It has been quite an adventure to get here, but thanks to the hard work and determination of the Mainsail team, and tremendous community support, the beautiful new Luminary Hotel is officially open and shining brightly in Fort Myers,” said Bob Megazzini, general manager.
Following Autograph’s individual approach, Luminary Hotel & Co has delved deep into the city’s past to truly stand out from the crowd, beginning, as Megazzini put it, ‘with a brilliant cast of audacious local luminaries’. This concept has been realised by local artist Joshua Noom, who created fanciful illustrations – displayed throughout the hotel and its branding – of these local legends who include the charismatic Captain Francis A Hendry, switchboard operator Alice McCann and the ‘Mother of Fort Myers’ Tootie McGregor.
Florida’s new culinary hub
This sense of place continues throughout the hotel’s facilities, most notably with the drinking and dining options. The extensive offering includes Ella Mae’s Diner, an all-American ground-floor eatery that serves up soul food with a twist; Dean Street Coffee Roastery & Retail; the Lobby Bar, which serves locally inspired cocktails; the rooftop Beacon Social Drinkery, due to open in October; the signature Silver King Ocean Brasserie, which will follow in November; and the riverside Oxbow Bar & Grill, set to debut in March 2021.
Megazzini continued: “It’s an exciting time and there’s much more to come, with the opening of our signature restaurant and rooftop lounge later this fall, and other outstanding additions to enhance the city’s downtown dining, shopping, and entertainment scene.”
Interestingly, Oxbow Bar & Grill’s second floor will be reserved for special events and groups, with an outdoor terrace and picture windows offering spectacular river views. This is just one of many event areas onsite, with the property boasting 10,000 sq ft of adaptable indoor and outdoor function space, as well as The Workshop, a state-of-the-art culinary theatre and lab ideal for team-building exercises. Not to mention its location, adjacent to Caloosa Sound Convention Center, which offers 40,000 sq ft of function space.
Elsewhere, the light-filled fresh and modern guestrooms have either city or marina views and artisan pantries with gourmet coffee, while leisure offerings include an indoor and outdoor fitness area and a fourth-floor pool and event deck overlooking Caloosahatchee River. The 12-storey waterfront hotel, which officially opened on 23 September, is located just 30 minutes from Southwest Florida International Airport.
Let’s take a look at some more hotel projects by Marriott’s Autograph Collection across the US:
CopperWynd Resort & Club Scottsdale
Marriott Autograph Collection El Paso Del Norte
The Citizen Hotel, Autograph Collection
Autograph Collection, a prominent brand within Marriott International’s global portfolio, is comprised of upper-upscale and luxury independent hotels with distinctive personalities in major cities and desirable destinations worldwide.