The redevelopment of historic downtown Fort Myers reached a milestone with the opening of the Luminary Hotel on September 23, 2020 and now it is in full operation.

The hotel creates a new destination point to go along with restaurants such as Ford’s Garage and Capone’s and the assortment of night clubs, bars and cafes.

“I’m very excited about what’s happening downtown,” said Lisa Sbuttoni, President & CEO of the River District Alliance (RDA). “What makes Fort Myers different is it has the largest concentration of historic structures in the area. We have built on that by combining it with contemporary attractions such as the new Luminary hotel. There is so much to explore here, so many nooks and crannies.”

“Downtown is better than ever before,” said resident Nisha Saini, a local restaurant expert. “It’s become one of our favorite places to go on the weekends.”

The Luminary Hotel has 243 rooms on the waterfront in downtown Fort Myers. The 12-story tower features sweeping views of the Caloosahatchee River and a central location among shops and the marina.

The hotel offers a range of dining and beverage options, including the Beacon Social Drinkery rooftop lounge, the Silver King Ocean Brasserie, and Ella Mae’s dinner. The luminous historical figures and the southern atmosphere of Fort Myers in the early 1900s is illustrated by local artist Joshua Noom.

“The new boutique hotel’s guest rooms and suites are fresh and modern in design, surrounding guests with warm, natural tones and clean lines,” said account manager Nori Guevara. “Guest room amenities include complimentary Wi-Fi, flat screen TVs, artisan pantries with gourmet coffee service, and luxurious bedding dressed with crisp duvets and fluffy pillows, while upscale bath products add a touch of indulgence.”

The Workshop culinary theater; an indoor and outdoor fitness facility; and a spacious pool area on the fourth floor featuring an event deck overlooking the Caloosahatchee River. Luminary offers 10,000 square feet of adaptable indoor and outdoor function space ideal for a variety of events and meetings and is adjacent to the neighboring Caloosa Sound Convention Center.

The completion of the Luminary Hotel continues the objective of the River District Alliance to turn downtown into an economic and cultural hub for Southwest Florida. Events such as Art Walk and Music Walk have drawn residents and vacationers from Sanibel & Captiva, Naples, and Marco Island over the years. Visitors enjoy the eclectic mix of art galleries, live theater and boutique shops set amid authentic bricks, old-fashioned lamps and royal palm trees.