On Friday, March 3, 2017, Innisfree Hotels, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, and Robins & Morton hosted a “Final Countdown” celebration to recognize the progress and hard work by contractors and partners involved in the construction of the Hilton Garden Inn in Fort Walton Beach, Fla.

The new hotel is located directly on the beach overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. It features 175 rooms, a lazy river pool, meeting space, dune walkover for easy beach access, and an on-site restaurant. The Hilton Garden Inn is the second phase of Innisfree’s Enhanced Use Lease with the United States Air Force, next door to sister hotel the Holiday Inn Resort.

The hotel’s opening date is set for April 2017, with stays available for booking as early as May 24. For more information including pre-opening deals, please visit www.hiltongardeninnfortwaltonbeach.com.

The “Final Countdown” was not only a congratulatory event, but also a motivational occasion to prepare for the final, and often intense, push for the completion of construction. The celebration featured music, food and prizes for the construction workers.

Matt Self, Senior Project Manager for Robins & Morton, said the new construction is a product of “681 tons of rebar, 7,150 cubic yards of concrete … and 170,000 man hours.”

In a speech to contractors regarding those man-hours, Founder and CEO of Innisfree Hotels Julian MacQueen said:

“I built my first hotel when I was 32 years old. I want y’all to know I can connect with the struggles and sacrifice y’all make to come here every day.. when everyone else is playing hard, we’re working harder. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you’ve done to get to this point.”

Because the new Hilton Garden Inn is in such close proximity to the beach, watersports, fishing and golfing, as well as the Emerald Coast Convention Center and Eglin Air Force Base, it is perfectly situated to accommodate a wide range of guests.

The Hilton Garden Inn Fort Walton Beach team includes developer Innisfree Hotels, General Contractor Robins & Morton, Architect Bullock Tice Associates, Interior Designer ACCD, Landscape and Pool Architect WAS Design, Civil Engineer Choctaw Engineering, and valued financial partners the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. Financing was provided by Pen Air Federal Credit Union with other participating lenders, including Navy Federal Credit Union.

– Logan Singleton

Writing Intern, Innisfree Hotels