I’ll grow up or go home. That was the theme of the Kissimmee Committee meeting on Tuesday night. The commissioner grew and voted unanimously to partner with two hotel developers who had promised a month.
The committee selected Azure Hotels International to build a $150 million luxury, boutique hotel and new convention center on the existing Kissimme Civic Center site.
According to a report by GrowthSpotter, Skyview Companies also won full support from the committee on the mixed-use proposal at Toho Square for the development of 128-room boutique hotels and condominiums.
“Today, this sets the path where Kissimmee wants to grow,” Mayor Jackie Espinosa said.
The choice of two projects, not just one of the four proposals, was unexpected. But it also marks a milestone in Kissimmee’s long quest to attract quality accommodation to its central business district.
Azure CEO Ramon Gomez said the vision the Commissioners will turn Kissimmee’s downtown into a dynamic hub that combines rich cultural heritage with modern innovation.
“By replacing the aging Civic Center with a state-of-the-art hotel and convention center, we aim to position Kissimmee as a major destination in central Florida, setting the stage for future development and prosperity while enhancing its appeal to residents and tourists,” he said.
Gomez told GrowthSpotter that he was confident in attending the meeting and that the management team of the priority hotel and resorts had already called out to congratulate them. The developer has appointed a design partner for Panache:Pininfarina.
“This will be one of the ten we’re trying to do,” Gomez said. “Kissimmee will have the privilege of having his first navy blue ure at the Pininfarina Design Hotel.”
Azure has offered two hotel options to the city, with either 200 or 250 rooms. Gomez said they are leaning towards a higher number of rooms, but a decision could be made during negotiations. He said he was not worried about oversaturating the downtown market as the two hotels offer different rates.
Skyview initially proposed the concept of extension, but after receiving bread during a Commissioners meeting during a meeting on May 6th, it switched to a full-service Sonesta mod hotel with a rooftop bar and wedding venue.
“Boutique hotel branding can fit the design that best suits the historic façade of Kissimmee without being forced by certain brand standards,” said Stephen Liberty of Skyview, saying “the broad Sonesta brand standards are enforced inside the real estate.”
The hotel has 8,000 square feet of meeting and event space. This is a size that complements, rather than compete with the new convention center. “So both jobs can coexist,” Liberty said.
Again, Unite’s 737 hospitality workers gathered outside city hall to pack up Chambers to support competing proposals from the Kissimmee Place Development Group for the 160-room Hyatt Place hotel and office building on the Toho Square site.
However, the commissioner was stuck with a gun when requesting a project that included a home.
“What we wanted at the last meeting was as clear as the blue sky,” Vice Mayor Angela Eady said. “We wanted paid housing, we wanted retail.”
Skyview was the only bidder to include residential components and the grocery store concept in its proposal. Their proposal calls for a 20-unit condominium community in a monument on the east side of the parking garage in the Eastern Square overlooking Pocket Park.
Skyview’s project schedule utilizes rapid reviews from the city and allows construction to be 12 months for design and permit six months for permits. The targeted opening date will be the second half of 2026.
Skyview consultant Mario Farias said the committee’s decision wasn’t just who could build a top-class hotel. “It’s about someone who has the most daring vision to take into consideration while planning the future needs of our city. Who has the total capacity to start this project tomorrow morning?
The total budget is approximately $30 million, and is expected to generate $500,000 per year from property tax revenues and $600,000 in sales and tourism development taxes. Skyview is seeking a $3 million “Pioneer Grant” from the city for hotels and condominiums, seeking first-year impact fees and a 50% tax cut.
Skyview proposed the Toho Square project as a complement to Graaught Development in adjacent downtown on Ruby Avenue, which includes a full-service grocery store with a food court and 231-unit apartment tower. “We believe this master plan, which covers six city blocks in the heart of Kissimmee in the historic downtown area, will be a game-changer for downtown,” Liberty said.
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