Civitas Capital Group Provides $386 Million Construction Loan for 700-Key InterContinental Orlando

Civitas Capital Group announced Oct. 26 that it has provided a $386 million senior construction loan to Flag Luxury Group and Unicorp National Developments, Inc. for the InterContinental Orlando, a 700-key luxury hotel planned for 8001 International Drive in Orlando, Florida. JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group served as advisor to the sponsors in connection with the transaction.

Site work is underway, vertical construction is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2027, and completion is expected in the third quarter of 2029, according to the announcement from the Dallas-based lender.

Civitas Capital Group Loan Details

The loan supports construction of a hotel that Flag Luxury Group ("Flag") and Unicorp National Developments, Inc. ("Unicorp") plan to deliver on International Drive, in Orlando's tourism corridor. The $386 million financing equates to roughly $551,000 per planned key. That figure is a loan-per-key measure rather than total development cost or valuation.

"Civitas' credit platform is a national leader in large-scale construction financing with an active focus on the hospitality sector," said Austin Khan, Managing Director and Head of Investments for Civitas.

"This transaction checked many of the boxes for our program, including experienced and well-capitalized sponsorship, outstanding market fundamentals, and the need for a creative structuring solution," Khan said. He added: "Orlando is well represented by institutional ownership for large-scale trophy assets, and we are excited to be a part of bringing this hotel to market."

InterContinental Orlando Design and Amenities

The hotel will offer 700 guest rooms averaging approximately 471 square feet, including 33 junior suites, 50 suites and five VIP and presidential suites. The property is planned to include multiple food and beverage outlets, approximately 105,000 square feet of meeting and pre-function space, and a six-level parking garage with approximately 730 spaces.

Other planned amenities include a conservatory, spa and wellness facility, fitness center, pool, business center, and the brand's signature Club InterContinental lounge. The property is positioned to reflect the evolution of the InterContinental brand, combining elevated amenities with culturally immersive programming, according to the announcement.

FINFROCK, a Florida-based vertically integrated design-build firm, will serve as general contractor. The company has completed more than $350 million in projects with the sponsorship and has delivered Orlando hospitality developments including the 2,800-room Endless Summer Resort at Universal Orlando and Terra Luna Resort adjacent to Universal Epic Universe.

Sponsors Describe First Phase of Multi-Billion-Dollar Masterplan

Unicorp said the financing allows it to break ground on the first phase of a multi-billion-dollar masterplan on International Drive.

"Unicorp has been building in Central Florida for decades, and International Drive has never had more momentum," said Chuck Whittall, President of Unicorp National Developments. "This loan allows us to break ground on the first phase of a multi-billion-dollar masterplan and will create jobs, anchor group business for the convention center, accommodate Epic Universe customers, and bring a world-class brand to the corridor."

Paul Kanavos, Chairman and CEO of Flag Luxury Group, said closing the financing marks the point at which the project moves from vision to construction. "Orlando is one of the great hospitality markets in the world, and this resort will be a flagship for InterContinental hotels and will set a new standard for luxury on International Drive," Kanavos said.

Orlando Hotel Market Context

The site is three miles from Universal Epic Universe and minutes from Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando. According to Visit Orlando, Orlando was the most-visited destination in the United States in 2025, welcoming 76.7 million visitors.

Orlando-area hotels recorded 73.2% occupancy, a $211.23 average daily rate and $154.65 revenue per available room (RevPAR) in the cited 2026 period, with RevPAR up 4.1%. In July, occupancy reached 74.1%, up 1.5%, while average daily rate was approximately $198.25. Forward room demand for August through October was pacing 3% ahead of the prior year.

The project's late-2029 delivery date leaves the financing exposed to factors including construction costs, schedule, tourism demand and hotel supply over the coming years. The hotel's group-oriented meeting space and luxury positioning are intended to support convention-related stays and premium leisure demand alongside theme-park visitation.

About Civitas Capital Group

Civitas Capital Group describes itself as an EB-5 regional center operator and real estate capital partner. The firm says that since 2009 it has invested in more than 50 real estate development projects with a 100% USCIS approval rate.

Sources

• Civitas Capital Group, "Civitas Provides $386 Million Construction Loan for InterContinental Orlando": https://www.civitascapital.com/news/civitas-provides-386-million-construction-loan-for-intercontinental-orlando