The hotel company will buy six acres from the Parker-Cigna partnership to develop the full-service hotel and fitness resort, which will be in the final final planned phase of Summit, at the corner of Aliso Viejo Parkway and Enterprise. Leisure Sports is scheduled to break ground on its resort in the summer of 2004 and open late 2005 or early 2006.

Russ Parker of Parker Properties notes that the hotel will complement existing development at Summit and will be part of a final stretch of development that will also include five more office buildings totaling 720,000 sf, plus another restaurant. The first phase of new office buildings will be available for occupancy in early 2006.

The new property will be styled after the Renaissance ClubSport Hotel & Fitness Resort Walnut Creek, which was developed and is managed by Leisure Sports and is also affiliated with Marriott International by a franchise license and co-branding agreement. Besides its 175 rooms, the hotel will include an 85,000-sf fitness resort complex, a full-service restaurant and a day spa. Leisure Sports says the combining of the hotel and fitness resort in one property trims development costs by economizing on land use and by sharing facilities that sports clubs and hotels each would need to provide.

A hotel has been in Parker Properties plans since the inception of Summit Office Campus in 1997, notes Lee Redmond, president of Parker, who says the hotel will provide an added amenity both for visitors to Aliso Viejo and for Summits tenants.