Fort Lauderdale, Florida, August 16, 2025
News Summary
Moss has started construction on The Dunes Fort Lauderdale, a 16-story, 205-room oceanfront hotel at 441 South Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard to be managed by Marriott’s Autograph Collection. The roughly 206,000-square-foot project, developed by G. Holdings (Granite) and costing more than $175 million, includes ocean-facing dining, a mezzanine event venue, a third-floor pool deck, a rooftop bar, and subterranean valet parking. The groundbreak comes amid a cooling national hotel pipeline driven mainly by higher financing costs, prompting more renovations and conversions while many planned projects remain stalled.
Moss breaks ground on The Dunes Fort Lauderdale as U.S. hotel pipeline shows large planning backlog
A new 16-story, 205-room hotel has begun construction on Fort Lauderdale Beach as the broader U.S. hotel building pipeline slows under tight finance conditions. Moss, acting as construction manager for developer G. Holdings Group and operator Marriott International, recently started work on The Dunes Fort Lauderdale, an Autograph Collection hotel at 441 South Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard along A1A. The project is part of a wider industry push to complete projects while many other planned hotels remain stalled.
Key facts up front
The Dunes is a roughly 206,000-square-foot property, estimated at more than $175 million. The 16-story building will include 205 guest rooms, an ocean-facing restaurant, a mezzanine-level event venue, a third-floor pool and bar deck, and a rooftop bar and dining venue with panoramic views. The hotel will also offer a valet-operated subterranean parking garage. Architect and interior credits list FSMY Architects & Planners and Studio Munge. No construction timeline has been released.
Why this matters now
The new Fort Lauderdale project moves forward amid a crowded national pipeline. At the end of the second quarter, about 139,000 hotel rooms were under construction nationwide, a figure that fell by roughly 15,000 rooms from the same time last year. Meanwhile, the number of rooms sitting in planning and final planning stages has swelled to more than 615,000 rooms, with rooms in final planning up nearly 10% year over year. The growing stack of planned but unstarted projects is a sign that supply growth could slow further if financing conditions remain tight.
Money and lending are the main brakes
Builders and hotel brands still want to expand, but elevated interest rates are making many deals unworkable. Higher borrowing costs have tightened loan availability for new builds, pushing developers to rethink strategies. While labor and material cost pressures exist, the slowdown in actual construction activity is driven primarily by financial constraints. As a result, many owners are prioritizing conversions, renovations, and projects that require less new debt rather than greenfield ground-up builds.
Industry response and timing
Developers, brands and construction managers are adjusting to a two-track market: a limited set of projects with strong capital support and long-term sponsors are moving forward, while a larger number of planned hotels await better financing or lower rates. A growing share of projects are stuck in final planning, where approval and design are complete but financing is not. Many industry participants remain hopeful that markets will improve by 2026, which could free up capital and let some of the stalled projects move to construction.
Where The Dunes fits in
The Dunes Fort Lauderdale represents the first Autograph Collection hotel in the city and is being built by a team with regional hospitality experience. Moss maintains offices in Florida, Texas and Hawaii and has overseen other Florida hospitality projects, including resorts and branded developments in Clearwater and Longboat Key. The project’s focus on oceanfront amenities, event space and multiple food-and-beverage venues reflects a push to capture both leisure travelers and local event demand.
What to watch next
- Financing availability: Any easing in interest rates or new lending products for hospitality could unlock a swath of projects stuck in planning.
- Construction starts: A continued decline in rooms under construction would signal a sharper slowdown in supply growth.
- Conversions versus new builds: The balance of renovation and conversion deals compared with ground-up starts will indicate how developers adapt to funding constraints.
- Local approvals and timeline: Watch for permits and a public construction schedule for The Dunes to gauge its path to opening.
Bottom line
The Dunes Fort Lauderdale is moving ahead as a notable ground-up beachfront project, but it comes amid a national environment where many planned hotels remain frozen by high rates and tight lending. The contrast between active, well-funded builds and a large planning backlog could shape how hotel supply grows in the next few years.
FAQ
What is The Dunes Fort Lauderdale?
The Dunes Fort Lauderdale is a 16-story, 205-room Autograph Collection hotel under construction at 441 South Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard. The project includes ocean-facing dining, an event mezzanine, a third-floor pool and bar deck, a rooftop dining venue, and underground valet parking.
Who is building and operating the hotel?
The project is being built by Moss as construction manager for developer G. Holdings Group and will be operated by Marriott International under the Autograph Collection flag.
How much will the hotel cost?
The development is estimated at more than $175 million, with a building size of roughly 206,000 square feet.
Why are so many U.S. hotel projects stuck in planning?
High interest rates and tighter lending conditions have made many new construction deals hard to finance. That has increased the number of projects that are fully planned but have not started construction. Labor and materials are factors, but financing is the primary constraint.
How many rooms are in the U.S. pipeline?
About 139,000 rooms were under construction at the end of the second quarter, down roughly 15,000 from a year earlier. More than 615,000 rooms are currently in planning or final planning stages.
When might conditions improve?
Many industry participants expect some improvement by 2026, but the timing will depend on interest rate shifts, lender appetite and broader economic factors.
Quick reference: Key features
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Project name | The Dunes Fort Lauderdale (Autograph Collection) |
| Location | 441 South Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard (A1A) |
| Size | 16 stories, ~206,000 sq ft |
| Rooms | 205 guest rooms |
| Estimated cost | More than $175 million |
| Key features | Ocean-facing restaurant, mezzanine event venue, third-floor pool/bar deck, rooftop bar/dining, subterranean valet parking |
| Construction manager | Moss |
| Developer & operator | Developer: G. Holdings Group (Granite); Operator: Marriott International (Autograph Collection) |
| U.S. pipeline — rooms under construction | Approximately 139,000 (down ~15,000 from a year ago) |
| U.S. pipeline — rooms in planning | More than 615,000 (final planning up nearly 10% year over year) |
| Primary cause of slowdown | Elevated interest rates and tighter lending availability |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
Additional Resources
- MSN: Construction Commences on The Dunes Fort Lauderdale Hotel
- Wikipedia: The Dunes Fort Lauderdale
- Hotel News Resource: Moss Breaks Ground on The Dunes Fort Lauderdale
- Google Search: The Dunes Fort Lauderdale
- REBusinessOnline: Moss Begins Construction on $175M Dunes Fort Lauderdale Hotel
- Google Scholar: Fort Lauderdale hotel construction
- ConnectCRE: New $175M Fort Lauderdale Hotel to Carry Marriott Brand
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Fort Lauderdale
- Hotel Online: Moss Breaks Ground on The Dunes Fort Lauderdale — An Autograph Collection Hotel
- Google News: The Dunes Fort Lauderdale
Author: Construction TX News
TEXAS STAFF WRITER The TEXAS STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at constructiontxnews.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Texas and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Texas Construction Expo, major infrastructure unveilings, and advancements in construction technology showcases. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Associated General Contractors of Texas and the Texas Building Branch, plus leading businesses in construction and real estate that power the local economy such as Austin Commercial and CMiC Global. As part of the broader network, including constructioncanews.com, constructionnynews.com, and constructionflnews.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into the dynamic construction landscape across multiple states.
