Key Largo is set to welcome its first new-build resort in more than 21 years as demand soars for the Florida Keys.
The eagerly awaited Playa Largo Resort & Spa is scheduled to open in late summer. The full-service resort, the newest addition to Marriott’s Autograph Collection, will offer 144 rooms and suites, 10 secluded bungalows and a standalone luxury guest house.
At the property, set over 14.5 acres, guests can enjoy an expansive waterfront pool, a beachfront Tiki Bar, several restaurants, a full-service spa, fitness offerings and a wide range of water sports programmes from the white-sand beach. There will also be a 6,000-square-foot ballroom ideal for destination weddings, corporate events, meetings and banquets. The Key Largo property is the ninth partnership between Florida developer Prime Hospitality Group and Shaner Hotels, a hospitality owner-operator. playalargoresort.com
The Playa Largo Resort & Spa is the latest in a series of newly opened Keys properties. Since late 2014, eight new hotels – comprising just over 1,000 rooms – have opened or are soon to launch.
The growth of hotel capacity in the Florida Keys reflects the increasing popularity of the subtropical island chain – with the UK among the fastest-growing source markets. According to VisaVUE® statistics, 2015 saw 84,000 UK visitors travel to the Keys, an increase of 14.6 percent on 2014 visitor numbers.
Stacey Mitchell, Director of Sales for the Florida Keys & Key West Tourism Council, commented: “The Florida Keys & Key West are attracting more and more interest as British travellers look to add distinctive, genuine local flavour to their traditional Sunshine State holiday. Key Largo is an iconic stop on a Keys road-trip and we believe that the opening of the Playa Largo Resort & Spa will encourage Brits to spend a little longer exploring here before continuing south to the other Keys districts.”
Travel to the Florida Keys
Purely America (0844 80 444 80 / reservations@PurelyTravelGroup.co.uk) has an eight-night fly-drive holiday to the Florida Keys from £1,369 per person, based on two adults travelling and sharing room-only accommodation. The price includes return Virgin Atlantic flights from London Heathrow to Miami, eight nights’ accommodation (three nights at Playa Largo Resort & Spa, Key Largo; two nights at the Hawks Cay Resort, Duck Key, including a $50 food and beverage credit; and three nights at the Hilton Garden Inn, Key West) with car hire for the duration. Valid for departures in November 2016.
For further information on the Florida Keys & Key West, visit: fla-keys.co.uk