Peachtree Senior Vice President Michael Ritz was quoted in an article for Hotel News Now about the path forward for new hotel development in the United States. Ritz gave the developer's perspective on today's market talking about Peachtree's development pipeline and the challenges to getting deals done. Click here to read the full story.
New Full-Service Resort Marks Topping Out in Gulf Shores, Alabama
DDPartners, LLC, Peachtree Group and Woodbine Development Corporation are developing 257-room beachfront destination
GULF SHORES, ALA. (Oct. 29, 2024) – DDPartners, LLC of Birmingham, Alabama, and Marietta, Georgia, Peachtree Group of Atlanta and Woodbine Development Corporation of Dallas celebrated the topping out of Embassy Suites Gulf Shores, a full-service resort overlooking the Gulf of Mexico and its renowned white sand beaches – located in Alabama’s No. 1 tourism destination, the City of Gulf Shores.
The topping out ceremony represents a significant milestone with the placement ofthe final steel beam, signifying the structural completion of the project.
“Today’s topping out serves to celebrate our contractors and construction teams for their efforts to bring this resort to life,” said King Scovell, Managing Partner and Chief Development Officer at Woodbine.
“Since the groundbreaking, these crews have shown up day after day to construct the vision that was cast years ago. We are thankful for their efforts, and we look forward to this being a destination for people to enjoy.”
Embassy Suites Gulf Shores is a joint venture among the three firms. DD Partners and Woodbine are leading development and asset management efforts, and Peachtree will manage operations for the resort upon completion in summer 2025. The architect of record for the project is PFVS, and the contractor is Robins& Morton.
The eight-story property will have 257 all-suite beachfront guest rooms; a lobby bar and restaurant; a rooftop amenity terrace inclusive of a bar and grille, pool deck and an outdoor entertainment venue; and 13,620 square feet of enclosed meeting and pre-function space, including a 7,800-square-foot ballroom. The resort will also have a three-story parking garage and 7,618 square feet of leasable retail space that will include a Starbucks.
“We are thankful for all the people who have come together to make this project happen, including the folks at the City of Gulf Shores, our partners at Woodbine and Peachtree, and the local community – but especially the crews whose skills, strength anddedication have built the bones of this resort. Today, we celebrate their hardwork and what lies ahead for this incredible destination,” said Ron Durham, Co-Founder of DD Partners, a joint venture he formed with Ron Day.
Durham and Day have strong backgrounds in commercial real estate development in the Florida/Alabama Gulf Coast, and they joined forces with Woodbine and Peachtree to pursue the Embassy Suites Gulf Shores opportunity. The team’s collective track record in hospitality and development – as well as DD Partners’ strong relationship with the City of Gulf Shores – resulted in the group closing on the project and beginning construction after many years of pursuit.
“The topping out of Embassy Suites is a testament to what can be achieved through vision and partnership,”said Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft. “This transformative project is exactly what we envisioned for our beach area when we adopted Vision 2025. The hotel's high-end amenities and substantial conference space will bolster our shoulderseasons, support local businesses year-round and serve as a catalyst for even more quality redevelopment in Gulf Shores,” said Craft.
Peachtree Group’s CEO and Managing Principal Greg Friedman said, “The next milestone, the opening of our Embassy Suites Gulf Shores, the area's newest full-service resort, will be more than just a grand opening – it will be a game-changer for this local economy. This stunning property will not only attract visitors but will also inject new spending into the community, creating jobs and supporting local businesses. The economic impact will ripple through the city and region, benefiting everyone from the workforce to public services. In Gulf Shores, tourism isn't just about being a top destination – it's about fueling economic growth and creating lasting opportunities for our communities.”
While it boasts plenty of its own amenities, Embassy Suites Gulf Shores will offer guests a great deal o foptions within the area. The property is situated footsteps from the beach as well as the Hangout Music Festival, National Shrimp Festival and NCAA Beach Volleyball Championships. It is also located adjacent to the city’s $15 million beachfront revitalization project, which was completed in 2018 as part of a master plan to enhance the area. Other nearby attractions include Gulf State Park, the Wharf at Orange Beach, Tanger Outlets, more than a dozen championship golf courses and easy access to the sports complexes in Foley.
About Robins & Morton
Robins & Morton is a privately held construction firm based in Birmingham, Alabama, with offices in Charlotte, Dallas, Huntsville, Miami, Nashville, Orlando, Raleigh-Durham, San Antonio, and Tampa. The firm specializes in the construction of healthcare, hospitality, higher education, entertainment, sports and government buildings. Since 1946, the firm has built a reputation as a trusted advisor to clients nationwide by cultivating a high-performing team that values integrity, safety, and innovative thinking. Robins & Morton is consistently ranked as one of the top 100 contractors in the United States, and one of the top 15 in the Southeast. To learn more about Robins & Morton, visit: www.robinsmorton.com.
About DD Partners, LLC
Based out of Birmingham, Alabama, and Marietta, Georgia, DD Partners, LLC was founded by Ron Durham and Ron Day. The team has more than 50 years of commercial real estate acquisition, development, construction, management and disposition experience across the Southeast. DD Partners has been involved in the Embassy resort project since its inception. DD was awarded the contract with the City of Gulf Shores through the RFP process, negotiated the terms and benefits of the Development Agreement with the City, secured the Embassy Suites by Hilton flag for the project and completed the conceptual design of the building before joining forces with hospitality partners Woodbine Development and Peachtree Group.
About Peachtree Group
Peachtree Group is a vertically integrated investment management firm specializing in identifying and capitalizing on opportunities in dislocated markets, anchored by commercial real estate. Today, the company manages billions in capital across acquisitions, development and lending, augmented by services designed to protect, support and grow its investments. For more information, visit www.peachtreegroup.com.
About Woodbine Development Corporation
Woodbine Development Corporation is a full-service real estate company with more than 50 years of development, investment, acquisition and asset management experience. Since its founding in 1973, Woodbine has been involved in more than $7 billion in commercial real estate development, including resort, resort, mixed-use, office, residential, industrial and master-planned projects throughout the United States. The Dallas-based company offers a depth of hospitality expertise and services, including ground-up development, renovation, repositioning, asset management and ownership for full-service destinations and select-service stays for global and boutique brands alike. Its portfolio also features Woodbine Legacy Investments, an acquisition platform dedicated to the purchase and repositioning of lifestyle resorts, and Woodbine Commercial, a brokerage entity focused on industrial/office. Learn more at www.woodbinedevelopment.com.
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ATLANTA and DALLAS (Oct. 3, 2024) – Peachtree Group (“Peachtree”) celebrated the groundbreaking of a new 19-story, dual-branded hotel development featuring the award-winning Marriott brands, AC Hotel and Moxy Hotel, in the heart of Uptown Dallas. The development will bring 264 upscale rooms, modern amenities and unique lifestyle offerings to the bustling McKinney Avenue corridor. The much-anticipated project promises to elevate the city's hospitality scene and is expected to open in Summer 2026
The property will offer an unmatched blend of comfort, style and convenience, featuring 110 rooms for the AC Hotel and 154 rooms for the Moxy Hotel, providing guests with distinct yet complementary experiences that will be positioned competitively with the premium hotels in the Uptown market.
“Most hotels in Uptown cater to the upper-upscale and luxury segments, leaving the submarket lacking in upscale hotel options to meet the needs of a substantial portion of Uptown's demand,” said Greg Friedman, managing principal and CEO of Peachtree. “Uptown represents one of the highest income and most desirable submarkets within the Dallas market. The dual-branded hotel will be situated in a premier location within the neighborhood, half a block from much of the area’s restaurants, bars and entertainment and easily accessible to numerous corporate demand drivers.”
With its modern design, state-of-the-art amenities and prime location in Uptown Dallas, the hotels are set to become a preferred destination for both business and leisure travelers. Positioned against the vibrant Dallas urban landscape, this dual-branded development will redefine upscale hotel accommodations, attracting visitors and fostering community engagement.
The signature Moxy Bar and Restaurant will greet guests at street level, setting the tone for a fun and energetic atmosphere. An exclusive highlight of the property will be the custom-branded bar and lounge located on the 8th floor, to feature an elevated amenity deck with an outdoor terrace, water features and breathtaking views of Dallas.
"The elevated amenity deck and custom-branded bar will create a unique destination within Uptown Dallas, driving demand from both hotel guests and locals alike," Friedman said. "This dual-branded property is designed to offer a dynamic experience that will stand out in the city’s competitive hospitality market."
Further enhancing the guest experience, the property will include a state-of-the-art fitness center, perfect for active travelers. The property also will boast a 261-stall onsite parking garage, conveniently accommodating hotel guests and visitors to McKinney Avenue’s nearby restaurants and nightlife venues.
About Peachtree Group
Peachtree Group is a vertically integrated investment management firm specializing in identifying and capitalizing on opportunities in dislocated markets, anchored by commercial real estate. Today, the company manages billions in capital across acquisitions, development and lending, augmented by services designed to protect, support and grow its investments. For more information, visit www.peachtreegroup.com.
Hotel development deals are benefiting from favorable supply-demand dynamics post-COVID. John Schellhase, AVP of investments at Peachtree Group, joins The Opportunity Zones Podcast with Jimmy Atkinson to discuss Peachtree's approach to Opportunity Zone investments, their focus on developing hospitality assets, and the broader real estate market trends currently shaping investment opportunities.
Hosted by OpportunityDb founder Jimmy Atkinson, The Opportunity Zones Podcast features guest interviews from fund managers, advisors, policymakers, tax professionals, and other foremost experts in the Opportunity Zones industry.
Disclaimer and Forward Looking Statements
This is a marketing communication. This presentation is neither an offer to sell, nor the solicitation of an offer to purchase, any security, the offer and/or sale of which can only be made by a private placement memorandum. This presentation is provided for informational and discussion purposes only and is not and may not be relied on in any manner as legal, business, financial, tax or investment advice or as an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy an interest in any fund sponsored by Peachtree Hotel Group or its affiliates (each, a “Fund”). A private placement of interests in a Fund will only be made pursuant to a confidential private placement memorandum (as may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the “PPM”), a Fund’s subscription documents, and a Fund’s limited partnership agreement, as may be amended and restated (collectively, the “Offering Documents”), which will be furnished to qualified investors on a confidential basis at their request and should be reviewed in connection with any consideration of an investment in a Fund.No assurance can be given that a Fund’s investment objectives will be achieved. This presentation does not contain all of the information and risk factors that would be important to an investor in making an investment decision and is not an offer to sell a security or the solicitation of an offer to buy a security.The Funds described herein have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the securities laws of any U.S. State or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction. The Funds will not be registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. As such the Funds discussed are available only to Accredited Investors. Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other U.S. or Non-U.S. securities regulatory authority has passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this presentation or approved or disapproved of the prospective investment described herein. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. Significant restrictions, under both applicable law and a Fund’s limited partnership agreement, exist on the transferability of a Fund interests. There is no guarantee that an investor will receive any return on, or even a return of, an investor’s capital contributions. A discussion of material risks involved in an investment in a Fund is included in the PPM. In connection with the Offering, the Funds have entered into an exclusive managing broker- dealer agreement with Peachtree PC Investors, LLC, an affiliate of Peachtree Hotel Group II, who will receive selling commissions, a managing broker-dealer fee, a marketing reallowance fee and/ or placement agent fees in connection with these Offerings. There is a conflict of interest between us, our Sponsor and its affiliates, including Peachtree PC Investors, LLC, as dealer manager because the agreements for services, including the dealer manager agreement, are not arm’s length agreements and will not be as favorable to investors as if the parties were operating at arm’s length. Finally, our Sponsor is the indirect owner of Peachtree PC Investors, LLC. As a result, Peachtree PC Investors, LLC’s operation and management will be influenced or affected by conflicts. Peachtree Hospitality Management, Stonehill and Peachtree PC Investors, LLC are all wholly owned subsidiaries of Peachtree Hotel Group II, LLC.Some of the statements in this Presentation constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements relate to expectations, beliefs, projections, estimates, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. The forward-looking statements in this Presentation are subject to inherent qualifications and are based on a number of assumptions. The forward-looking statements in this presentation involve risks and uncertainties, including statements as to:(i) general volatility of the securities markets in which we plan to trade; (ii) changes in strategy; (iii) availability, terms, and deployment of capital; (iv) availability of qualified personnel;(v) changes in interest rates, the debt securities markets or the general economy; (vi) increased rates of default and/ or decreased recovery rates on our investments; (vii) increased prepayments of the mortgage and other loans underlying our mortgage-backed or other asset-backed securities; (viii) changes in governmental regulations, tax rates, and similar matters; (ix) changes in generally accepted accounting principles by standard- setting bodies; (x) availability of trading opportunities in mortgage-backed, asset-backed, and other securities, (xi) changes in the customer base for our business, (xii) changes in the competitive landscape within our industry and (xiii) the continued availability to the business of PHG/Stonehill’s resources described herein on reasonable terms.The forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions, and expectations, taking into account all information currently available to us. These beliefs, assumptions, and expectations can change as a result of many possible events or factors, not all of which are known to us or are within our control. If a change occurs, the performance of instruments and business discussed herein may vary materially from those expressed, anticipated or contemplated in our forward-looking statements.
THIS IS NOT AN OFFER OR SOLICITATION TO PURCHASE ANY SECURITY. AN OFFERING IS MADE ONLY BY THE PRIVATE PLACEMENT MEMORANDUM.
