Upscale Holiday Inn brand introduced on Marco Island

MARCO ISLAND — Holiday Inn joins the Marriott and Hilton on Marco Island, adding a third international brand to local resorts.

Sunset Cove, a seven story resort located at 571 W. Elkcam Circle, was officially renamed Holiday Inn Club Vacations Sunset Cove Resort on Oct. 17, as announced by its new owner. The 36-unit condominium timeshare was sold to OLCC Florida LLC in August.

Holiday Inn Club Vacations is a Kissimmee, Fla., based company, operated by OLCC Florida LLC, that owns seven vacation properties including resorts in Orlando, Brownsville, Vt., Geneva, Wis., Panama City, Fla., Gatlinburg, Tenn., Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Las Vegas.

Sale cost of the property was $6.63 million, purchased from Summer Bay Management LLC of Clermont, Fla. In April 2008, the property sold for $10.5 million to Summer Bay Management from Sunset Cove Marco, LLP.

The new owner plans to spend $1.7 million to renovate the resort’s 36 units. Work is expected to be completed by early 2012.

In a press release issued Oct. 17, Don Harrill, president and CEO of Orange Lakes Resort, the timeshare developer that manages Holiday Inn Club Vacations properties, explained why the Marco Island site was strategically important.

“Our members have asked for another drive-to destination in Florida, and Sunset Cove Resort delivers just that, with a unique and upscale experience for all owners and guests who visit.”

The company plans to renovate the 36 units, now to be called villas, to its own designs. Renovations include granite countertops in the kitchen and bath areas, ceramic tile in the living and dining areas, and textural fabrics for indoor and outdoor furniture that complement the company’s “signature collection” color palette.

The property is zoned C-4, commercial, and is located within the Town Center District Community Redevelopment Area and adjacent to Veterans’ Community Park. Close-by amenities include the Rio Waterway with access to Smokehouse Bay, the Marco River and the Gulf of Mexico, the Esplanade, Winn Dixie and many shops and restaurants in the mid-town area.

“The Chamber is very excited to have Holiday Inn Club Vacations on Marco, and we look forward to establishing a good relationship with them,” said Sandi Riedemann, executive director of the Marco Island Area Chamber of Commerce.

Holiday Inn Club Vacations was created in 2008 as a partner alliance with the Holiday Inn brand. Participants in Holiday Inn’s rewards programs can earn points for stays at Club Vacations’ resorts.

In addition, members of Holiday Inn Club Vacations can exchange their weeks for another Club Vacation property or for nights in any of the 4,500 worldwide hotels owned by InterContinental Hotels Group. Those include Hotel Indigo, Crowne Plaza Hotels, Holiday Inns, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites.

“I am thrilled to see this company make such as wise decision,” said Donna Fiala, Collier County commissioner for District 1 that includes Marco Island. “Holiday Inn is a valued brand, and it’s good to see such a high-end property coming to the area.”

Fiala also said she was looking forward to the new business bringing jobs to the area.