Marriott Announces Luxury Hotel Coming to Northport’s University Beach Lagoon Resort

Marriott Hotels will build a 144-room luxury hotel at Northport's University Beach lagoon resort, they announced on Wednesday, bringing a premium product to the Tuscaloosa market to serve as the centerpiece of the property.

In a press release from stakeholders, Marriott said University Beach has selected its Autograph Collection as a hotel partner. Their curated property here will feature 12 luxury waterfront suites complementing 132 king and queen rooms, private access to a beach on the 10-acre lagoon, an infinity pool and a state-of-the-art fitness center.

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The property will be built by Northport's Harrison Construction Company, with work starting in early 2026 and a targeted Fall 2027 open date.

Aimbridge Hospitality will oversee operations at the resort hotel, according to the press release.

“We’re thrilled to be the first to bring unprecedented accommodations and service to Northport and the greater Tuscaloosa market. Partnering with Marriott and Aimbridge Hospitality ensures all visitors, whether traveling from afar or right around the corner, experience unparalleled hospitality and coastal-style grandeur in the heart of Alabama,” University Beach developer Kent Donahue said in a release.

Citing an independent study conducted by Hotel & Leisure Advisors, Donahue said the development is expected to create 700 new jobs in Northport and generate hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue over the next 30 years.

Northport City Council President Christy Bobo celebrated the news in a statement to the Thread.

"This partnership between University Beach, Marriott Autograph Collection, and Aimbridge Hospitality is a game-changer for Northport. We are honored to welcome the region’s first luxury hotel to our city, and even more excited about the nearly 700 new jobs and long-term economic impact this development will bring," Bobo said. "This project reflects the momentum and promise of Northport’s future, a city where world-class amenities and opportunity thrive side by side."

For more coverage of news from Northport about University Beach and other projects, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.