Foley is experiencing a surge in hotel development as the city continues to attract more visitors. The latest addition to the city's growing list of accommodations is the 107-room Fairfield Inns and Suites by Marriott, developed by A&R Group of Gulf Shores. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on Wednesday, Aug. 16.

The new hotel, located on Alabama 59 south of Miflin Road, is part of a broader trend of hotel construction in Foley. Another example is the 73-room Cobblestone Hotel, currently under construction near the Foley Farmers and Fishermen’s Market.

Foley Mayor Ralph Hellmich expressed his enthusiasm for the growing number of hotels and restaurants in the city, highlighting their positive impact on the local economy and city services. "It’s all very important to us because the way that we take care of our citizens is through those taxes that we earn on sales taxes and lodging taxes," Hellmich said.

The city's lodging taxes for the first nine months of the fiscal year, through June 2023, have already increased by 3% compared to the same period the previous year, even before the new hotels open their doors.

Hellmich also revealed plans for more new businesses in the city. "We’re going to continue to do projects," he said. "There are restaurants opening up all over the place. There are new major retailers coming to Foley."

Garfield Campbell, president of A&R Hospitality Management, emphasized the new hotel's potential to provide jobs for local residents, many of whom will receive training in the hospitality industry. "When we build this hotel, probably 90% of the staff will be from this very town," Campbell said. "Of that, 50% will have probably never worked in a hotel before."

The Fairfield Inn is expected to open its doors to guests in 18 months.