On Fire

Gulf Coast hospitality development and investment sales have been rampant — but the upswing is far from over, a leading industry expert says.

By Kevin McQuaid
| 12:40 p.m. February 26, 2020
| 0 Free Articles Remaining!

COURTESY PHOTO -- The 444-room Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay is among several high-end lodging properties that have garnered investor attention along the Gulf Coast this economic cycle.

Commercial Real Estate

Despite significant hospitality development throughout the Gulf Coast, one of the nation’s leading hotel consultants and developers believes the region – and especially the Tampa Bay area – is poised to grow further in terms of overall keys over the next several years.

Lou Plasencia, founder and CEO of Tampa-based The Plasencia Group, says employment and population growth, coupled with an increased number of tourist attractions, visitor amenities and the ability of lodging operators to hike room rates, will drive further development.