3,500 square feet of office space, had been totally reno- vated and converted for use as a temporary FBO terminal. “We took the hangar and made an atrium of it,” he noted. “We put big glass in all the hangar doors for great visibility in and out, painted, carpeted the floor in places, provided benches and installed air conditioning and heating.” Other amenities in the new atrium/han- gar included a vintage Aeronica Chief aircraft suspended from the ceiling, interior string lights and hanging lamps. The hangar did so well in its new role that, as Wade explained, it is now a dedicated event space, available to aviation groups for meetings or banquets, as examples. In December 2016 and February 2017, the new Golden Isles Aviation FBO and the hotel, respectively, opened for business. The hotel, an 88-room midrise building, does busi- ness under Hilton Hotels and Resorts’ Home2® Wade reiterated that the FBO, itself, was specifically designed to be a “home away from home” for its guests. “We wanted to avoid a corporate or ‘mom-and-pop feel’ by embracing the feel of a nice private home,” he said. The building also offers a full kitchen with bistro seating, a wrap- around porch with seating and furniture, a fireplace, and a bi-plane hanging in the grand lobby/living room—some- thing, he admits, is not seen in many private residences. At the same time, the FBO offers many services and amenities that pilots have come to expect from a first-rate operation. As examples, both Avis and Hertz have rental car counters in the FBO. Private shower and bathroom facilities are available, as are courtesy cars for guest use. Other amenities include a con- ference room, a quiet room and a pilot lounge. The FBO is also equipped with its own practice put- ting green, but the facility’s pilot guests also have access Aviation Business Journal | 3rd Quarter 2018 Suites brand. to a full golf course, under Golden Isles Aviation’s membership, at the King and Prince Beach and Golf Resort. “We pay greens fees, and even furnish clubs, while our guests pay cart fees,” he explained. The FBO terminal building and hotel are physically connected by a large porte-cochere. The hotel amenities, which are available even to FBO guests who are lodging elsewhere or are there just for the day, include a wing- shaped pool next to the airport ramp, a fitness center, bicycles, a fire pit with seating and gas grills. Parking for guests’ vehicles, rental and courtesy cars are also new. “We wanted to build an FBO experience that served as a great ‘front door’ to our community with Ritz Carlton trained service, beautiful facilities, and multiple creative amenities that would serve our guests well,” said Wade. “An aviation association, such as a pilot/aircraft membership group, can fly to the FBO, stay at the hotel, have their aircraft right on the ramp, and have meetings and events in our facilities.” The Golden Isles Aviation project also included the renovation of its seven hangars, which total 75,000 square feet. A few of the hangars, said Wade, provide office Continued on page 55 53
