ORLANDO, FL—Hotelier Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. of Stamford, CT reports it plans to open the Element Orlando hotel less than a mile from Universal Studios here in July 2016.

At the time of the opening, Element will have three new hotels in operation in Florida. Next year the brand plans to open the Element Orlando North and the Element Miami Doral hotels.

The 151-room extended-stay Element Orlando is owned by Barakat Orlando Resort, LLC, and will be developed by GCD Associates of Walkersville, MD and managed by Paramount Hotel Group of Fairfield, NJ.

“Element Orlando will offer travelers a smart, sustainable extended stay option in an unbeatable location near Orlando's world-renowned theme parks,” says Brian McGuinness, senior vice president of specialty select brands for Starwood. "At Element, guests enjoy a bright, energizing environment that's conducive to both work and play, as well as innovative brand-led programming.”

The hotel, located at 5875 Carrier Drive, is one mile from I Drive Live, a development opening in late 2014 that will feature a Ferris wheel, Madam Tussaud's Wax Museum, Sea Life Aquarium, several restaurants and a brewery.

Among the hotel's planned amenities include a state-of-the-art, 24-hour fitness center, outdoor pool, and a 750-square-foot meeting room with modular furnishings, a flexible layout and state-of-the-art technology.

“Element is on track to double its portfolio in the next two years, fueled by the success of the brand's positioning and emphasis on clean, sustainable living,” says Allison Reid, senior vice president of North America development, Starwood Hotels & Resorts. “Equipped with everything guests need for a life in balance, Element Orlando will offer an entirely fresh perspective on the extended stay experience that will appeal to travelers visiting this popular tourist destination.”