Dolphin tours, John's Pass, and a whole lot of grouper. Those are just a few of the things Madeira Beach is renowned for. But there's more on the way.

The Beachmaker Hotel is being built in the area soon, and will be part of Marriott Hotels' luxury Autograph Collection, a flag reserved for independently owned, upscale hotels. With 161 units, the hotel/condo complex is planned for 14500 Madeira Way, and is part of a ~$200 million investment into the area's development efforts.

We spoke with Jeff Beggins, a Century 21 Real Estate agent who's part of the ownership group behind the venture. He told us construction will start on The Beachmaker when ~50% of units are sold. Beggins also said buyers have come in from Tampa, Lakeland, and South Florida, as well as from Canada, Ireland, and Germany.

Facts + figures

Units start at $700,000, with penthouses priced from $3 million.
Beggins is still on the hunt for restaurants, bars, and other retail businesses for the mixed-use ground floor space, including plans for an upscale steakhouse option. The space will span ~30,000 sqft.
The Beachmaker will also have a wedding + event venue, boast two pools, and offer views of the Gulf of Mexico.
A skybridge will also cross over Gulf Boulevard, so guests can make the journey to the sand safely.

How does it work?

Buyers will have access to their property for up to 90 days per year, which can be booked via an online portal. The rest of the year, units will be rented out to vacationers, with owners getting 55% of the revenue from those stays.

With private closets for belongings, owners can leave creature comforts there without the hassle of packing for each visit. So even if you're not planning to buy a unit, The Beachmaker will be an option for weekend getaways by the beach for us all.