Dive Brief:
- The 785-key Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor on Florida’s Gulf Coast has rebranded under Hilton’s Curio Collection of independent hotels, Hilton announced Monday.
- Originally opened in late 2023 by Allegiant Travel Company, Sunseeker Resort offers “stylish guest rooms, immersive amenities and a diverse selection of restaurants” that align with Curio’s brand standards, Hilton detailed in a news release.
- Hilton joins Blackstone Real Estate, which acquired the resort in July for $200 million, in stewarding the beleaguered Sunseeker to good standing after it faced a slate of financial woes in its first year of operation.
Dive Insight:
Hilton has partnered with Sunseeker Resort owner Blackstone, as well as property manager Pyramid Global Hospitality, to transform the previously troubled property into “Florida’s ultimate waterfront vacation as well as the premier meetings and convention destination,” according to the hotel company.
At the time of the resort’s sale to Blackstone, Allegiant CEO Greg Anderson said he was confident the buyer would “help realize the full potential of Sunseeker Resort” after the property’s financials did not meet expectations in its first year open, Allegiant leadership detailed during a Q2 2024 earnings call.
Sunseeker initially opened as an opportunity for Allegiant to sell hotel rooms directly to its airline passenger customers. Now, Hilton and Blackstone will focus on a different demographic: group travelers.
The rebrand “underscores the resort’s commitment to providing world-class hospitality while broadening its reach to discerning travelers, as well as meeting planners and convention organizers nationwide,” according to a Hilton statement.
The resort encompasses more than 60,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space, including two waterfront ballrooms equipped with audio-visual systems, two executive boardrooms, three designated event spaces, 12 meeting rooms and an “ideation suite” with three breakout rooms, according to Hilton.
The property also offers an adults-only rooftop lounge with an infinity pool, fire pits and a full-service bar and grill; a 19,400-square-foot ground-level pool area with serviced cabanas and a poolside food and beverage program; and more than a dozen dining venues, including a steakhouse, sports bar and casual seafood restaurant.
Meanwhile, the resort is home to Aileron Golf Club, which offers an exclusive, championship-level 18-hole course for guests, as well as an upscale full-service clubhouse with a pro shop, restaurant and bar. There is also a spa and salon on-property, in addition to a 7,100-square-foot fitness center.
Sunseeker Resort joins Hilton’s Curio Collection as the hotel company expands its lifestyle portfolio through its conversion-friendly collection brands, which also include Tapestry and Small Luxury Hotels of the World.
Earlier this year, Hilton’s Curio Collection debuted in San Francisco with the opening of Trimbri Hotel San Francisco.
