New flights, international travel set to spur more SWFL growth

Phil Fernandez | Naples Daily News May 25, 2021

Southwest Florida International had a month like no other, and like Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game baseball hitting streak, a record that likely will never, ever be matched.

April, with its 1.1 million travelers, brought an unheard of 2,000% surge from over a year ago, when a paltry 53,000 passed through the gates early in the pandemic, according to a subscriber exclusive story by Laura Layden.

And while that’s largely domestic, more will begin arriving from overseas as rising numbers are vaccinated and restrictions are reduced. Look for arrivals first from places such as the United Kingdom, Canada and eventually Germany, where Lufthansa Group bookings began Wednesday for its new 2022 Eurowings Discover flights to Fort Myers.

Even without the numerous Europeans who normally come, RSW still ranks No. 1 in the nation in passenger recovery ahead of No. 2 Phoenix, based on counts from January through April and comparing 2021 to 2019, the airport’s Victoria Moreland said.

“We’ve recovered 77% of our traffic, compared to 2019, which was our banner year, best year ever,” Moreland said.

Minnesota migration
Where are many of these folks coming from?

The Northeast, the Midwest and in particular, Minnesota, which is increasingly standing out.

Five different airlines come here from Minneapolis, topping everywhere else, although it’s the 16th largest metro area in the nation. It also provided more fliers to the region in 2020 than any other spot except Chicago, the busy hub for the nation and the world.

And as In the Know has reported, Minnesotans are involved in a lot of growth and development in Southwest Florida.

More growth and development news
Southwest Florida is a focus of expanding carriers that not only substantially have increased local direct flights to Lee County, but one is adding Punta Gorda Airport as a destination as well.

While industries, such as the airlines, recover from the impact of the coronavirus crisis, others, including in Southwest Florida, grew and expanded their business efforts in the fight against COVID-19, writer David Dorsey reported.

Four Seasons Resort in Naples

Developer chooses a five-star resort to operate the Naples Beach Club Hotel
Laura Layden | Naples Daily News – April 13, 2021 | Updated April 14, 2021

The secret is out.

Naples could soon boast a five-star Four Seasons resort.

While Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts hasn’t publicly announced its interest yet, The Athens Group has confirmed it has a letter of intent for the world-renowned brand to operate the five-star resort that will replace the landmark Naples Beach Hotel.

“Four Seasons’ destination resort hotels and residences are unsurpassed, and we believe this unique location in Naples deserves nothing less,” said Kim Richards, CEO of The Athens Group, in a statement.

“While the operating agreement is still in development, Four Seasons shares Athens’ vision for creating exceptional experiences for our resort guests and residents, as well as our Naples neighbors,” he said.

The revelation comes as The Athens Group’s purchase of the current hotel draws near. The closing on the entire 125-acre property, including the golf course and tennis center, is set for the end of May.

The developer plans to replace the current hotel with a smaller, more upscale resort, and to build what it has described as “best-in-class” residential condos on both sides of Gulf Shore Boulevard, with elevated amenities that will include golf and tennis.

According to its website, in 2020 Four Seasons signed agreements for nine new hotel, resort and residential projects, despite the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic, “tying a record for the most new deals in the company’s 60-year history.”

“With each new property, our goal is to create the best luxury experience in that market by offering a product of exceptional quality combined with unparalleled service. Each new hotel, resort and residence is a unique reflection of its local market, while also representing the future of what Four Seasons will deliver for years to come,” said Christian Clerc, the brand’s president of global operations, in an update about the company’s growth plans last month.

While Four Seasons is expected to service the residences at the new Naples Beach Club development, The Athens Group has not yet confirmed whether they’ll carry the same brand as the resort.

According to its website, Four Seasons entered into branded residential offerings more than 35 years ago — and “nearly 90% of upcoming openings and pipeline developments include a residential component.”

Four Seasons is one of only a few hospitality companies that also acts as a property manager for its residential owners.

The brand’s interest in Naples comes as welcome news to community supporters of the redevelopment project, first announced back in 2018.

“They can only improve the dynamic of the hospitality industry, as well as the neighborhood. I see it only as a positive. I see absolutely zero negative to that whatsoever,” said Joe McCabe, vice president of development at Gulf Coast Commercial Corp. in Naples.

“The Four Seasons brand is a very well-known brand worldwide, a respected brand, and something I’m sure Naples would be proud to have in the community,” he said. “When you look at how Four Seasons has maintained their brand and the amenities — and the execution of their operations — it’s nothing but good.”

He commended the developer’s efforts to continue working with the community to address ongoing concerns about some of the project’s finer details that have yet to be worked out, including proposed changes to the golf course and green space The Athens Group has committed to preserve.

“I think that these guys are serious about putting together a five-star resort, and a project that will be a star for the city of Naples,” Hutchison said. “And probably the last remaining issue now, the biggest issue, is the golf course, and what the outcome will be, for that piece of property.”

Like Hutchison, fellow Councilman Gary Price said Naples would be fortunate to attract another high-end brand such as Four Seasons.

“If Four Seasons is the brand, then I think that is a wonderful message to this community that I think we can be proud of,” he said. “Having the ability to attract such a terrific brand, a quality brand.”

While a Four Seasons may not have as profound of an effect on tourism and real estate as the opening of the first Ritz-Carlton in the Naples area decades ago, Price said a Four Seasons has the potential to draw new attention and new interest from the affluent around the world.

“We’re in a different place than we were when the Ritz came here,” he said.

While he welcomes the idea of having a Four Seasons in Naples, Price said one of his biggest worries is how to “preserve the charm of what the property has meant to the community over the decades,” and to keep it “inclusive” so residents can still enjoy its golf course and other amenities at a reasonable price.

Read the full story on naplesnews.com.