Kissimmee approves Azure Hotel public‑private partnership and master development agreement

The City Commission of Kissimmee on Aug. 20 adopted a resolution finding an unsolicited public‑private partnership proposal from Azure Hotel International in the public interest and approved a master development agreement to redevelop the Civic Center site into a hotel and convention center.

The action authorizes Azure to build a proposed 4.5‑star hotel and a roughly 45,000‑square‑foot convention center on the Civic Center footprint, with the hotel developer financing the project and the city contributing $10 million toward the convention center’s construction. The city will own the convention facility, lease it back from Azure and receive ongoing payments and other benefits under the agreement.

Why this matters: The agreement is structured so most financial and construction risk rests with Azure while the city gains a public convention facility without incurring the project’s full public debt, additional meeting space for public use and a perpetual share of hotel profits.

Azure Hotel International presented concept drawings and a verbal overview during the public hearing. Jorge…