Luxury Regent hotel planned for property in Winter Park
By Jack Snyder | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted July 20, 2002
A unit of hospitality giant Carlson Cos. will operate the new hotel to be built on the site of the former Langford Hotel in Winter Park, the developer said Friday.
Regent International Hotels operates luxury hotels worldwide, including properties in Singapore, Jakarta, Bangkok, Berlin, New York City and Beverly Hills, Calif.
"Regent is a true luxury brand," said Mark Ellert, president of Aztec Leisure Corp. of Fort Lauderdale, a partner in Langford Development LLC.
Minneapolis-based Carlson Cos. is one of the largest privately held corporations in the United States. In addition to hospitality, it's also involved in marketing and travel. Besides Regent International, its hospitality properties include Radisson Hotels & Resorts, Country Inns & Suites by Carlson, Park Plaza and Park Inn hotels.
The Winter Park City Commission will consider Regent International for approval next week, Ellert said.
When the developers were getting development approvals from the city, commissioners wanted to know which company would operate the hotel. Because an operator had not been signed, Ellert gave the names of three companies with whom he was planning to negotiate.
None of the three worked out, so the commissioners must OK Regent.
"We can't fathom there would be any concern," Ellert said. "This is a five-star operator."
The developers have been working on the deal for more than 18 months. They completed the purchase of the old family-owned hotel on four acres at 300 E. New England Ave. for $10 million last month.
The Langford Hotel operated from 1956 until its closing in 2000.
I saw thisa in the sentential as one posibility
Langford Development LLC, which includes Orlando real estate investor Jim Heistand, plans to develop a 150-room hotel, spa and 23 luxury condominiums on the property.
Ellert said the new hotel will be called The Regent Winter Park Hotel Spa and Residences.
A sales office is to open on Park Avenue in downtown Winter Park in September. Construction on the hotel should start by next summer, Ellert said.
Jan Nichols, president of Winter Park-based Nichols Hospitality Consulting, said the hotel will target leisure guests as well as corporate groups. Nichols did a feasibility study for Regent before the company signed with the developers.
Jack Snyder can be reached at
jsnyder@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5094.
Copyright © 2002, Orlando Sentinel
