ZMC Hotels Breaks Ground on 245-Room Dual-Hotel Development in Brownsville for Boca Chica Investors

BROWNSVILLE, Texas — ZMC Hotels broke ground Sept. 2 on a dual-branded hotel development at 3695 Boca Chica Blvd. in Brownsville, Texas, on behalf of Boca Chica Investors, LLC. The project will deliver 245 guest rooms across two properties — a 125-room Courtyard by Marriott and a 120-room Hyatt Studios — with an expected opening in late 2027.

The Brownsville Chamber of Commerce, its Bienvenidos Committee, community leaders, and representatives of SpaceX joined project representatives at the future hotel site near the intersection of Boca Chica Boulevard and Galonsky Street to mark the start of construction.

Project Details and Amenities

ZMC Hotels will develop and manage both properties on behalf of Boca Chica Investors, LLC. The Courtyard by Marriott – Brownsville South Padre Island Airport is planned to include meeting space, a full-service restaurant, a bar, and an outdoor patio. The property will also feature a launch-viewing suite with a rooftop patio, giving guests a vantage point for rocket launches from nearby Starbase. The Hyatt Studios Brownsville/Boca Chica will operate as an extended-stay hotel, targeting business travelers and guests requiring longer stays. Both hotels are expected to offer rooms and suites with views of launches from Starbase.

"We're excited to make this investment in Brownsville and bring two outstanding hospitality brands to the Boca Chica corridor," said Mark Hall, Chairman of ZMC Hotels and Boca Chica Investors. "Brownsville is experiencing tremendous growth and attracting attention from around the world. This location puts both properties at the center of the region's growing business and leisure activity, while the combination of Courtyard by Marriott and Hyatt Studios allows us to serve a wide range of travelers, from short visits to extended stays."

Strategic Location Along the Boca Chica Corridor

The site at 3695 Boca Chica Blvd. places the two hotels among the closest lodging options to the Brownsville South Padre Island International Airport and on the same corridor as SpaceX headquarters at Starbase, positioning the properties to serve SpaceX employees, contractors, and visitors. The development is also located near the Port of Brownsville, a liquefied natural gas shipping terminal currently under construction, Saronic Technologies, and a new petroleum refinery project.

The location additionally serves leisure travelers heading to and from South Padre Island, as well as cross-border travelers entering the United States from Mexico for shopping, dining, and other activities.

"Today's groundbreaking represents more than the beginning of a new development — it represents confidence in Brownsville and in the tremendous opportunities ahead for our community," said Esmeralda Villarreal, President and CEO of the Brownsville Chamber of Commerce. "We are proud to welcome this investment and look forward to seeing these properties contribute to our growing economy, support our visitors and become part of the continued transformation of the Boca Chica corridor."

Brownsville Lodging Market Context

The groundbreaking comes as the Brownsville lodging market has shown measurable growth. Brownsville room receipts reached $31.6 million in the first half of 2026, an 18% increase year over year. South Padre Island room receipts reached $115 million over the same period, up nearly 24%. Rio Grande Valley hotel receipts rose 10.6% to $107 million in the first quarter of 2026.

Launch activity at Starbase has contributed to demand spikes in the local market, with hotels in the area reaching occupancy levels of 85% to 90% during launch windows. More than 4,000 people stayed in Brownsville hotels during some launch periods, a dynamic that supports the pairing of a transient-focused select-service flag with an extended-stay brand on the same site.

Market Outlook

The dual-hotel development reflects a broader pattern of hospitality supply being added to markets where industrial, aerospace, port, and leisure demand converge. With aerospace activity at Starbase, ongoing port and energy infrastructure projects, and steady leisure traffic to South Padre Island all generating lodging demand along the Boca Chica corridor, ZMC Hotels and Boca Chica Investors, LLC are targeting a late-2027 opening to capture both short-term and extended-stay business as that demand continues to develop.

Sources: ZMC Hotels