Be the first to stay at these luxurious locations. Plan a road trip and book a hotel stay somewhere that isn't fully built yet.
There are 18 major hotel projects — with 200 rooms or more — under construction or recently complete in Florida, Tennessee and Georgia, according to STR, a hospitality industry analysis firm that tracks hotel activity. Claim bragging rights by being among the first guests to stay at these major hotel projects within driving distance of metro Atlanta.
Universal Orlando debuts its fifth on-site hotel this summer. Loews Sapphire Falls Resort will provide easy access to both theme parks, Universal Studios Florida and Island of Adventure.
The 1,000-room hotel will also include a 16,000-square-foot pool accessible via a white sand beach. Additionally, there will be cascading waterfalls that will create a scenic view while guests wine and dine at the poolside bar and grill.
The Caribbean-inspired resort will also include a full-service restaurant and a water taxi to other Universal Orlando Resort properties.
Opening summer 2016. 6601 Adventure Way, Orlando, Fla. 407-503-5000, www.universalorlando.com
All 27 floors of The Westin Nashville have been built, and the 454-room project should be complete by this fall.
Once finished, the hotel will include The Music City's highest rooftop bar, L27, which comes with a pool deck and seven rentable cabana spaces. There will also be two signature restaurants as well as a lobby bar called Decker & Dyer.
Relax between trips to Nashville's nearby music venues by booking a visit to the hotel's Rhapsody Spa for a massage or body treatment.
Opening October 2016. 807 Clark Place, Nashville, Tenn. 615-248-2800, www.westin.com
Graceland, the Memphis-based estate of famed musician Elvis Presley, now stands as a shrine to the king of rock 'n' roll.
Nearby construction is underway on The Guest House at Graceland, a 450-room hotel slated to open by October. Much of the resort will be modeled after Presley's mansion, and some specialty suites were even designed with input from his former wife, Priscilla Presley.
The hotel will also include a 464-person theater as well as an outdoor pool and two on-site restaurants. A grand-opening celebration occurs Oct. 27-30, and special events will coincide with the 2017 Elvis birthday celebration Jan. 5-8, 2017.
Opening Oct. 27. 3600 Elvis Presley Blvd., Memphis, Tenn. 901-332-3322, www.graceland.com/guesthouse
A new 450-room hotel along the Florida Gulf Coast broke ground last year in anticipation of an early 2017 opening.
Wyndham Grand Resorts Clearwater Beach is located along the city's Beach Walk, a promenade that provides access to Clearwater's beaches, recreation areas and entertainment sites.
The resort, once complete, will include an outdoor pool, full-service spa and multiple restaurants, according to Wyndham.
Opening early 2017. 691 S. Gulfview Blvd., Clearwater Beach, Fla. 727-443-7652, www.wyndham.com
In case you've been searching for that prime location to park your "superyacht," Miami's Island Gardens is the place to go.
Located on Watson Island in Biscayne Bay, The Deep Harbour at Island Gardens can accommodate up to 50 mega boats. The marina opened in January and will soon be surrounded by two luxury hotels as well as restaurants and retail shops. The 221,000-square-foot development is slated for completion by early 2018, but the exact names and scope of the hotel projects are not yet available.
Once complete, hotel patrons will be able to use a new water taxi transportation service to and from Miami. There is also a prime view of Miami's skyline and the marina.
Opening early 2018. Watson Island, Miami. 305-531-3747, islandgardens.com
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