Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/149186
A THOUSAND NEW HOTEL ROOMS THE MEMBERS OF THE DOWNTOWN IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS HEAR ABOUT NEW HOTELS PLANNED AND MORE 'RENTA-COPS,' AND IT AGREES TO PROVIDE A BIKE RACK AT SMOKIN' JOE'S By Stan Zimmerman City Editor As many as six new hotels are planned for the downtown area, City of Sarasota Chief Planner Steve Stancel told the Downtown Improvement District board on Tuesday, Aug 6. town area. And just as important, Stancel noted, would be the range of room rates: "That makes a difference, because you reach different markets." One of them — the Gulfstream Sarasota — would be adjacent to the Ritz-Carlton at the intersection of U.S. 41 and the Ringling Causeway. Embassy Suites has filed pre-application paperwork for a 200-room hotel at Second If just five were actually built, they would add Street and Tamiami Trail, across the street more than 1,000 hotel rooms in the down- from the Ritz. While five of them are already well-known projects as a result of recent community discussions, Stancel said there is "potential for a sixth, which I cannot tell you about." I congratulate you on your work on lower Main Street. All the complaints in the papers are null and void. It's going very well, and you have my congratulations. Tony Souza Chairman Downtown Sarasota Alliance Plans call for the Gulfstream Sarasota hotel to be constructed on the corner of U.S. 41 and Gulfstream Avenue/Ringling Causeway. Photo by Norman Schimmel