MELBOURNE, FL—Officials at Orlando Melbourne International Airport (MLB) are seeking developers for a high-end hotel with airfield access. The fly-in hotel will accommodate the coastal Florida airport’s accelerated growth in air service and major corporate tenants, with meeting space and lodging in high demand. It will be among only a handful of airport fly-in hotels in the nation.
MLB’s RFP includes a minimum 20,000 sq. ft. of meeting and event space, approximately 200 guestrooms, a fine-dining restaurant with rooftop bar, outdoor pool, sundeck, fitness amenities and a VIP/concierge floor. In addition, partnering with a fixed base operator (FBO) facility must be incorporated into a winning proposal.
MLB’s monthly passenger counts increased by double-digit percentages in fourth quarter 2018, closing out the calendar year at 489,240: its highest in more than a decade. Airport operations alone increased by 26.5% last year, with the trend expected to continue. The terminal can accommodate two million passengers annually.
The airport’s aerospace tenant base is in a major hiring mode. More than 1,000 high-wage aerospace job positions are currently open around the airfield, including the North American Headquarters of Embraer Executive Jets, the newly merged L3 Harris world headquarters, Northrop Grumman’s Manned Aircraft Design Center, Thales, Collins Aerospace, General Dynamics and others. Corporate guests will enjoy the convenience of flying directly to the hotel lobby, checking in and using conference space that reflects the region’s coastal, casual ambiance, according to the company.
“A unique clientele requires a unique airport and hotel,” said Airport Executive Director Greg Donovan. “It is mission critical that we keep pace with this growth and meet the increasing demand for upscale lodging and dining. Convenience for our corporate tenants is paramount.”
The parcel set aside for this development is 12.45 acres and provides coastal water views. “Even rocket launches will be visible from the campus and rooftop entertainment venues,” he continued.
