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Orange Beach Developer Breaks Ground On New Gulf-Front Hotel
By Ashley Wright

A brand new gulf-front hotel has begun rising from the sands of Orange Beach thanks to local developer Julian MacQueen. MacQueen's Balmaquien Hospitality LLC, an Innisfree affiliate, has already begun preliminary work on the 2.6-acre site across from the Shoppes at Palm Pointe that will house a 160-room Hampton Inn and Suites. The new hotel is slated for a 2011 debut and will include garage parking, a pool bar and a dune walk-over as well as a second-floor fitness center with Gulf of Mexico views, 5,000 square feet of gulf-front meeting space, and an indoor pool.

The hotel's economic impact on the region is anticipated to be significant, and Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon said that the new development is a positive indicator for the city. "The addition of a new hotel project fills a niche in our community and definitely fits a need that currently exists," he said. "We would rather have a flagged hotel on this site instead of a condominium project. And the direct proximity to the retail center at Palm Pointe on the north side of the highway is a major consideration on the project, as hotel rooms and meeting space fit well with the retail mix and potentially complement each other."

Ivan Peteranecz, principal at Behar and Peteranecz, is the architect for the project and designed the hotel with an emphasis on efficiency while maximizing the guest experience by providing expansive views of the beach and pool. Landscaping will also play an important role in the design of the hotel, and Chad Watkins, principal at Watkins-Acy- Struck Design, said the landscaping would create an atmosphere that would draw visitors of all ages to the property. "We're going to create a fun and attractive pool amenity for the guests," he said. "With an indoor/outdoor beach entry pool, a splashpad for kids of all ages and a hot tub, we have plentiful water activities for those who tire of the sand." He also said a tiki bar area with an event plaza would allow for mingling and dancing. "And for a cool breeze in the late evening we have a chimney with a gas fire to add ambiance to an evening spent outside enjoying the surf and the stars," he said.

Prior to purchasing the property, Innisfree Development worked with the City of Orange Beach to create and design a master access plan for the properties to the east and west of the hotel. Kit Alexander, engineering and environmental services director for the city, said the initiatives outlined in the plan would work well to alleviate traffic congestion in the area. "The City of Orange Beach greatly appreciates the actions that Innisfree and other property owners in the area have taken to work with the city and the Alabama Department of Transportation to develop a comprehensive access management plan that will ensure safety in an area with significant traffic," he said. "The plan that has been developed will improve traffic safety along Ala. Hwy. 182 as vehicles enter and exit the properties."

The economic impact of the project will be far reaching, said project officials. More than 20 subcontractors and 400 tradesmen are projected to be needed for the construction of the hotel. "Tourism is a huge driver of the Baldwin County economy, as is construction, and Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance officials said they are excited that Innisfree Hotels is going to build a facility in Orange Beach to enhance our tourism efforts, provide short- and long-term jobs, and flow new dollars through our economy," said Robert Ingram, president of the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance. The hotel will employ more than 75 people when it opens.

In 1987, MacQueen, founder and CEO of Innisfree, built the first hotel in Orange Beach-a 94-room Days Inn. He currently owns two Orange Beach hotels: the Holiday Inn Express and the Hilton Garden Inn. MacQueen has also developed three condominium projects in the area and owns the Hilton Pensacola Beach Front and Hampton Inn on Pensacola Beach. Innisfree also began construction of a 206-room Holiday Inn on Pensacola Beach in September.