AC Hotel by Marriott Opens in Jacksonville’s St. Johns Town Center

March 6, 2024 | Development

AC Hotels by Marriott, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of over 30 extraordinary brands, has opened its newest property, bringing the signature AC Hotel experience to Florida’s First Coast.

AC Hotel by Marriott Jacksonville St. Johns Town Center — located within Northeast Florida’s premier outdoor shopping, dining, and lifestyle destination — welcomed its first guests on Wednesday, March 6.

The four-story hotel comprises 118 sophisticated, modern guest rooms; a well-equipped fitness center; 1,500 square feet of flexible meeting space, including a private boardroom; and an activated AC Lounge that opens to a fresh-air patio with an outdoor pool and game space.

“We’re delighted to open the doors to this ‘Perfectly Precise Hotel’ experience,” says General Manager Hope Jenkins, who heads up a leadership team that includes Director of Sales Quentin Jones and Food & Beverage Manager Terrance Kinman. “Modern travelers seek out AC Hotels, where our mantra is to provide everything guests need — and nothing they don’t — with equal emphasis on sophisticated style and practical comforts.”

OTO Development, part of The Johnson Group, developed AC Hotel Jacksonville St. Johns Town Center in partnership with Simon, a real estate investment trust engaged in the ownership of premier shopping, dining, entertainment, and mixed-use destinations, including St. Johns Town Center.

“Travelers love staying at AC Hotels by Marriott — and we love building and operating them,” says Matt McClelland, COO of OTO Development, noting this is the fourth AC Hotel located at a Simon property and the 10th within OTO’s owned and managed portfolios. “Guests will especially appreciate the synergy created by connecting this stylish hotel to St. Johns Town Center, putting them within walking distance of an appealing array of market-exclusive retailers and popular restaurants.”

The hotel also offers easy proximity to the region’s best beaches and other recreation opportunities including TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, Jacksonville Beach, and EverBank Stadium, home of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Intuitive design creates a sense of place at AC Hotel Jacksonville. The beach comes metaphorically inside via elements like the sand-and-neutral palette, varied textures and materials, and sculptural details ranging from an unconventionally shaped front desk to a large piece of artistically displayed driftwood in the lobby. The hotel exterior mimics the navy-blue waters of East Florida via reflective windowpanes of varying blue hues, creating a rippling effect across the building; vertical sunshades add depth to the façade while textured, sand-colored tiles suggest the nearby beach. Guest rooms and shared spaces strike the perfect balance of form and function, with thoughtful touches to ensure an elegant, effortless stay.

“The hotel is filled throughout with the details that matter most to the modern traveler, from activated amenities to intuitive technology,” Jenkins says. “One standout feature is what we call our ‘oasis,’ a fresh-air patio adjacent to the AC Lounge with an outdoor pool, a water feature, and yard games, making it the perfect place to enjoy Jacksonville’s 200-plus days of sunshine per year.”

The AC Kitchen serves a European-inspired breakfast centered around fresh croissants, sliced prosciutto and cheese, fruit, yogurt, and Nespresso. The AC Lounge features all the brand’s favorites — flatbreads, sandwiches, and shareable plates, both small and large — plus some local flavor and flair. Along with AC Hotels’ Signature Gin Tonic, the bar menu mixes Jacksonville-distilled favorites into cocktails such as the First Coast Sunbeam (made with Four Fathers vodka and City Gate orange-and-cream moonshine) and the JAX Sour (made with small-batch whiskey from Citrus Distillers); there’s also local craft beer from Aardwolf and Bold City breweries.

AC Hotel Jacksonville was developed by OTO and Simon with project partners DLR Group, architect and interior designer; and Kellogg & Kimsey, general contractor.

The new hotel is located within St. Johns Town Center at 5323 Big Island Drive in Jacksonville, Florida. For reservations and more information, visit Marriott.com/JaxAE. Connect on social @ACHotelJacksonvilleSJTC.