On Oct. 21, the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA) Board of Commissioners selected Chartwell Hospitality, LLC as developer and hotel operator for a 14-story on-airport hotel and parking garage development directly adjacent to Nashville International Airport’s (BNA) upcoming new central terminal. The cutting-edge hotel, Hilton BNA International, is scheduled to open in late 2023.
The development will be a public-private partnership and a key component of the airport’s multi-faceted BNA Vision expansion and renovation plan. Chartwell’s cost for the hotel approaches $95 million and MNAA’s cost of the garage and plaza is approximately $82 million.
“The addition of this hotel will bring a new level of convenience and a host of exceptional amenities for our travelers,” said Trey Harwell, chair of the MNAA Board of Commissioners. “We appreciate Chartwell’s investment in this project and are eager to move forward.”
With 292 guest rooms, including six luxury suites, the upscale hotel is designed to meet top emerging global trends for on-airport hotels and growing demand for business and leisure travelers, groups and meetings. The emphasis is on high-comfort, resort-style amenities, entertainment and wellness. Amenities will include a high-design Grand Lobby with inspiring public artwork, Grand Bar and Music Lounge and high-end contemporary restaurant. A Grand Plaza will include open-air dining, a bar, café and compelling landscaping. The innovative meeting and event spaces will total 16,500 square feet, including an 8,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom/Event space. A large, state-of-the art fitness center will be located on the 12th floor with dramatic views. And on the 14th floor rooftop, there will be a prominent Glass SkyBar Lounge and open-air SkyPool, providing spectacular views over BNA to Nashville’s dynamic skyline.
The hotel tower will crown a four-level parking garage, with hotel parking on the ground level, public parking on the upper levels, and a covered pedestrian bridge connecting the hotel Grand Plaza and garage to BNA’s central terminal.
“This high-end hotel, and the many amenities it brings, adds a special touch to our BNA Vision expansion,” said Doug Kreulen, president and CEO of Nashville International Airport. “It’s easy to see the appeal for passengers catching an early morning flight, arriving late at night or who simply want the convenience of a hotel room right here at the airport. We think it will be a popular venue for corporate functions and business meetings with unique airport views and sightlines. The time has come, and we look forward to breaking ground.”
“We are highly honored and deeply committed to this exceptional project and to a long-term strategic alliance with MNAA. We are excited to deliver this modern and luxurious on-airport hotel that is a powerful symbol of the hospitality and global connectivity of BNA, and expresses Nashville’s spirit of creative innovation and dynamic transformation into a world-class city,” said Rob Schaedle, CEO and founder of Nashville-area based Chartwell Hospitality.
“Our all-star project team has worked very hard with the wonderful BNA team to deliver a sophisticated world-class on-airport hotel and parking development that represents our great city’s unique culture and dynamic global economic region, and is positioned to be one of the top-performing on-airport hotels in the U.S. and recognized around the world,” added Scott Kendall, VP Hotel Development for Chartwell.
Chartwell, which was selected after a two-year RFP process, will develop and operate the hotel, while MNAA will own the land and garage beneath the hotel. Construction will begin in fall 2021 with completion of the Terminal Garage slated for summer 2023, followed by the hotel in late 2023.
The master architect for BNA Vision is Corgan. The hotel team includes Rabun Architects, one of the top upscale hotel architects in the U.S.; HBA International, a worldwide hospitality interior design firm; Page Duke, a luxury landscape architect in Nashville and the eastern U.S.; and McMurry Construction, lead contractor specializing in hotels. The parking garage team includes Messer Construction and Moody Nolan Architects — the same team BNA engaged for its new Terminal Garage 1, pedestrian plaza and airport administrative building.
Launched in July 2016, BNA Vision is the dynamic expansion and renovation plan for Nashville International Airport. Completed projects include upgrades to the existing interim International Arrivals Building, a six-level Terminal Garage with 2,200 parking spaces and a dedicated Ground Transportation Center, new Concourse D, ticketing and baggage claim expansions and phase 1 of the Terminal Apron and Taxilane Expansion. Projects nearing completion include the upper levels of a second six-level Terminal Garage, pedestrian plaza and airport administrative building.
Additional projects to be completed by 2023 include a major terminal renovation, expanded central security checkpoint, state-of-the-art International Arrivals Facility and major airport roadway expansion.
As with all other airport capital improvement projects, no local tax dollars will be used to fund BNA Vision.
