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 Slows
Construction has started on The Dunes Fort Lauderdale, a new 16-story, 205-room property in Fort Lauderdale, while nationwide hotel building activity shows signs of cooling. The project is being built by Moss on behalf of the developer identified as G. Holdings (Granite) and will be operated by Marriott under its Autograph Collection brand. The site is 441 South Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard along A1A.
Top-line construction figures and pipeline strain
At the end of the second quarter, roughly 139,000 rooms were under construction across the United States, a decline of approximately 15,000 rooms compared with the same period last year. Meanwhile, more than 615,000 rooms remain stuck in planning or final planning stages. Rooms in the final planning stage grew by nearly 10 percent year over year, highlighting a growing backlog of projects that have not yet broken ground.
Why projects are stalling
The primary force slowing new hotel construction is the cost of financing. Elevated interest rates have tightened lending and increased borrowing costs, making many deals financially unworkable. Secondary pressures include labor and material constraints, but these have not been the main drivers of the slowdown. As a result, many developers are shifting focus toward property conversions and renovations rather than greenfield new builds, and industry participants expect some improvement in conditions by 2026.
Details about The Dunes Fort Lauderdale
The Dunes is planned as a roughly 206,000-square-foot hotel with an estimated cost of more than $175 million. It will be the first Autograph Collection hotel in Fort Lauderdale and includes several public amenities designed to capitalize on its beachfront location:
- Ocean-facing restaurant
- Mezzanine-level event venue
- Third-floor pool and bar deck
- Rooftop bar and dining venue with panoramic views
- Valet-operated subterranean parking garage
The hotel was designed by FSMY Architects & Planners with interiors by Studio Munge. Moss is serving as construction manager. No official construction timeline for opening was released at the time ground was broken.
Moss’s local and regional experience
The construction manager has offices in Florida, Texas, and Hawaii and has overseen hospitality projects in Florida including the Opal Sol Resort in Clearwater, a St. Regis resort and residences project in Longboat Key, and a JW Marriott resort in Clearwater. The Dunes joins that list as a beachfront, full-service hotel project with meeting and food-and-beverage amenities.
Broader industry implications
The swelling number of rooms in planning but not under construction signals that the nation’s already slow supply growth could stall further. Brands continue to push new products and developers remain interested in growth, yet many planned projects are effectively paused because the math no longer works under current financing conditions. With final planning activity rising, a large portion of the pipeline could still move forward if borrowing costs return to more favorable levels.
In the near term, expect to see a mix of project types: renovations and conversions that require less new capital and fewer financing hurdles, and selectively executed ground-up builds where sponsors can secure acceptable financing and returns. Many industry participants are watching for a potential turn in lending conditions in 2026 that could unlock a portion of the paused pipeline.
What to watch next
- Changes in interest rates and commercial lending availability
- Movement of projects from final planning into active construction
- Shifts in developer strategy toward conversions and asset repositioning
- Occupancy and revenue trends that influence brand and investor appetite
FAQ
How many hotel rooms are currently under construction in the U.S.?
About 139,000 rooms were under construction at the end of the second quarter, down roughly 15,000 from the same time last year.
How many planned hotel rooms are waiting to break ground?
More than 615,000 rooms are stuck in planning or final planning stages, with final planning up nearly 10 percent year over year.
Why are so many projects delayed?
Elevated interest rates and tight lending are the primary reasons. Higher borrowing costs make many deals financially unworkable. Labor and material pressures exist but have not been the main cause of the recent slowdown.
What is The Dunes Fort Lauderdale?
The Dunes is a 16-story, 205-room hotel being built at 441 South Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard. It includes multiple dining and event spaces, a third-floor pool deck, a rooftop dining venue, and subterranean valet parking. The project size is roughly 206,000 square feet and is estimated to cost more than $175 million.
When will The Dunes open?
No official opening timeline was released when construction began.
Are developers optimistic about the future?
Many developers remain hopeful that financial conditions will improve by 2026, which could restart some of the projects currently in planning.
Key project features at a glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Project | The Dunes Fort Lauderdale |
| Address | 441 South Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard (A1A) |
| Rooms | 205 guest rooms |
| Height | 16 stories |
| Size | Approximately 206,000 sq ft |
| Estimated cost | More than $175 million |
| Design | FSMY Architects & Planners; interiors by Studio Munge |
| Key amenities | Ocean-facing restaurant, mezzanine event venue, third-floor pool/bar deck, rooftop bar/dining, subterranean valet parking |
| Construction manager | Moss |
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 FL News
FLORIDA STAFF WRITER The FLORIDA STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at constructionflnews.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Florida 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 Florida Build Expo, major infrastructure projects, and advancements in construction technology showcases. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Associated Builders and Contractors of Florida and the Florida Home Builders Association, plus leading businesses in construction and legal services that power the local economy such as CMiC Global and Shutts & Bowen LLP. As part of the broader network, including constructioncanews.com, constructionnynews.com, and constructiontxnews.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into the dynamic construction landscape across multiple states.
