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The historic Island Inn, the oldest hotel on Sanibel (Est 1895), is excited to announce the launch of the next phase of its refurbishment program. The Inn’s latest multi-million dollar investment is in the replacement of the Matthews Lodge, a 12 unit concrete block building built in 1961, with the brand new Matthews Lodge, which will now offer 12 Gulf View Luxury Suite accommodations.
Set to open in January 2018, the newest addition to the Inn’s accommodation offerings were designed to provide Sanibel Island visitors with the utmost in comfort, convenience and relaxation. These well-appointed Gulf View Luxury Suites feature breathtaking views of the Gulf of Mexico and include:
- Large Private Screened Balcony
- Custom Tile Floors Throughout
- Living & Dining Room
- Full Kitchen with Stainless Appliances & Dishwasher
- Updated Bath with Dual Vanity & Sinks
- Personal Wet Bar
- High Speed & Reliable Wi-Fi
- Two 47 inch Flat Screen LCD HD TVs
- Spacious Bedroom with King Bed
- Queen Pullout Sofa in Living Room
- DVD/CD Player
- Smart Phone Docking Station
- In-room Electronic Safe
- Private Covered Parking
- 600 sq. ft. of Interior Living Space
The Island Inn is fortunate enough to be located on 10 spacious acres, so this project does not affect other accommodations and facilities. That means Traditions on the Beach Restaurant, Bar & Lounge is still open for tapas, cocktails, and dinner every day of the week at 4 pm with complimentary valet service, delicious signature dishes, and sunset views.
Island Inn Vice President of Operations and General Manager, Chris Davison, and Vice President of Administration & Finance, Steve Hatfield, have been overseeing the Inn’s ongoing upgrades and are now responsible for the direction of this current project.
“Island Inn has always had a special Sanibel charm for our guests,” says Davison. “Many are 2nd and 3rd generations whose families have been visiting the Inn for over a century. We want to continually upgrade all our facilities, ensuring that our cottages and rooms provide an authentic Sanibel experience, while offering the level of comfort and modernization today’s guests have come to expect.”
From Left: Island Inn Vice President of Administration & Finance, Steve Hatfield – Chief Executive Officer, Joe Orndof – Vice President of Operations & General Manager, Chris Davison break ground for the new Matthews Lodge Luxury Suites, April 2017
From Left: Island Inn Vice President of Administration & Finance, Steve Hatfield – President & Chief Operating Officer, Joe Orndorff – Vice President of Operations & General Manager, Chris Davison break ground for the new Matthews Lodge Luxury Suites, April 2017[/caption]
Of importance, staff levels at the Inn have remained the same, despite the temporary reduction in units. To Davison, this was an easy decision. “From the beginning we budgeted to be fully staffed through our projects. Our team is what truly makes the Island Inn so special. Everyone from housekeeping, to maintenance, to front desk… they are so diverse and talented. You can rebuild a building, but you can’t rebuild a team like we have here at the Island Inn.” Adding to this note, a million dollar state-of-the-art maintenance and housekeeping facility is being built simultaneously.
Matthews Lodge Luxury Suites Floor Plan
Matthews Lodge Luxury Suites Floor Plan[/caption]
As with their past multi-million dollar projects, the Island Inn has partnered with local contractors, making reinvestment in their community a priority. These Lee County employers include: Benchmark General Contractors; Bean, Whitaker, Lutz & Kareh Surveyors & Mappers; BSSW Architects; Lee Drywall; West Coast Structural Concrete & Masonry; Mayan King Plumbing; Christo Inc; DNR Grading Services of Florida; Kirkwood Electric; Jesus Hernandez Lawn Care & Design; Coastal Cooling; Gigi Design Group; Barrier IT Solutions; Pitchford Excavating; American Wood Framing; Convergent Technologies; Honc Industries; Advanced Disposal; Sanibel Glass & Mirror, Velocity Engineering Services; Preferred Materials; Shoreline Lumber; ACRA Electric; Raber Industries; Crown Roofing; Custom Cabinets of Southwest Florida; Cement Industries; HB Marble & Granite; TPI Aluminum Specialties; Cape Cabinet Depot; Symbiont Service Corp.
The Inn would like to thank its’ partners from the Sanibel Captiva Community Bank, Sanibel-Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce, Lee County Visitors & Convention Bureau, City of Sanibel Staff and Leadership, Comcast, Lee County Electric Cooperative, Barrier Island Title, Brown & Brown Insurance, Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A. – who have all provided significant support for this project.
For more information on the Island Inn, Traditions on the Beach, or the Gulf View Luxury Suites, please visit www.islandinnsanibel.com. Cherished Memories, Modern Comforts… Enjoy it All at the Island Inn!
