Unicorp’s Chuck Whittall: Here’s what’s next for I-Drive 360 hotel plans, more
As I-Drive 360’s plan for a hotel with a brand that’s new to the tourist corridor gets closer to reality, subcontractors and vendors wanting a piece of the action should keep an eye out for bid packages expected to come out within a couple of months.
Unicorp National Developments’ Chuck Whittall, who developed I-Drive 360, said plans for a $30 million Element hotel at I-Drive 360 are on schedule for an early 2018 groundbreaking and the hotel will open in summer 2019. That’s just in time to capitalize on the surge of tourists coming to town for the new Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, which also is set to open in 2019.
Whittall said Welbro Building Corp., the contractor for the hotel, should begin seeking subcontractor bids in February or March 2018.
Unicorp originally filed plans for the hotel with Orange County in August, saying it will be a Marriott family brand with 165 rooms in the Gooding’s Plaza next to the I-Drive 360 complex. The Elements brand is new to Orlando, and in Florida it can be found only in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Pensacola, as of now. Executives with Marriott could not be reached for comment.
In addition, Whittall has plans for more new lodging in that area. “We are still looking at doing a hotel behind the [Coca-Cola Orlando Eye observation wheel in the I-Drive 360 complex].”
Hotel development has been growing to keep up with increases in visitation to the region.
According to Visit Orlando data, the Orlando’s tourism industry experienced growth during the first half of 2017. Hotel occupancy reached 81 percent for the first half of this year, a flat change from the previous year. Average daily room rates were $125.23, up 4.4 percent for the same six-month period. In addition, attendance at the Orange County Convention Center was up 17.6 percent to 1.07 million attendees.
As a result, the demand for more hotels is still there for projects like the planned Element hotel at I-Drive 360.
Meanwhile, Unicorp also is in early stages of working on a $100 million expansion plan to add apartments and more attractions to the I-Drive 360 complex. That includes adding up to 500 apartments on an existing parking lot behind the Coca-Cola Orlando Eye, plus a new zip-line ride, another tower thrill ride attraction, a rope obstacle course and an indoor flight simulator.
I-Drive 360 is a major draw for tourists visiting Orlando. The southern end of the popular International Drive tourist corridor has welcomed many new additions, including the I-Drive 360 attractions, Mango’s Tropical Cafe, Andretti Indoor Karting & Games and more.