DALLAS – October 29, 2026 -- Civitas Capital Group has provided a $386 million senior construction loan to Flag Luxury Group and Unicorp National Developments for the InterContinental Orlando, a 700-key luxury hotel on International Drive.
Loan funds a 700-room hotel with 105,000 square feet of meeting space
The project at 8001 International Drive includes multiple food and beverage outlets and about 105,000 square feet of meeting and pre-function space. It also includes a six-level parking garage with roughly 730 spaces. A conservatory, spa, fitness center, club lounge and pool complete the amenity package.
Guest rooms will average about 471 square feet. The room mix includes 33 junior suites, 50 suites and five VIP and presidential suites, along with the brand's Club InterContinental lounge.
Site work is underway, with vertical construction due in Q1 2027
Vertical construction is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2027, with completion targeted for the third quarter of 2029. FINFROCK, a Florida-based design-build firm, is general contractor. The firm has completed more than $350 million in projects with the sponsorship. Its Orlando hospitality credits include the 2,800-room Endless Summer Resort at Universal Orlando and Terra Luna Resort, adjacent to Universal Epic Universe.
JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group advised Flag and Unicorp on the transaction.
Civitas cites sponsor strength and a structuring need behind the deal
Austin Khan, Managing Director and Head of Investments at Civitas, said the deal met the program's criteria: experienced, well-capitalized sponsorship, strong market fundamentals and a need for a creative structuring solution. He described Orlando as well represented by institutional ownership of large-scale trophy assets.
Orlando drew 76.7 million visitors in 2025
The hotel sits three miles from Universal Epic Universe and minutes from Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando. Visit Orlando reports that Orlando was the most-visited U.S. destination in 2025, with 76.7 million visitors.
Unicorp President Chuck Whittall said "International Drive has never had more momentum." He said the loan lets the developers break ground on the first phase of a multi-billion-dollar masterplan. Whittall expects the hotel to anchor group business for the convention center and accommodate Epic Universe customers.
Flag Luxury Group Chairman and CEO Paul Kanavos said the closing moves the project from vision to construction. He described the property as a flagship for InterContinental hotels.