Allegiant Air (G4, Las Vegas Harry Reid) has announced plans to diversify its business model to include the property development and hospitality industries.

During a press conference on Tuesday, August 29, the budget carrier formally unveiled its Florida Gulf Coast-based Sunseeker Resorts project which will include a hotel, nine condominium towers, retail and restaurant facilities, and a marina spanning 22 acres/89,000 sqm.

Allegiant said interested buyers will have the option to purchase one-, two- and three-bedroom condominiums. Owners will have the opportunity to place their condos in a resort rental program, creating easy-to-manage income properties.

"This project builds on Allegiant's profile as a leader and innovator in leisure travel," said John Redmond, Allegiant president. "Our growth and success with air service in Punta Gorda, visitor trends in the region, and this unique, spacious waterfront property all point to an exceptional opportunity for a resort that vacation home owners and hotel visitors will love. In my years of experience developing resort properties around the world, it's rare to find such a perfect alignment of factors."

Redmond has been a key proponent of the Sunseeker Resorts project having been the CEO at MGM Grand Resorts. He has also served on the board of the Tropicana Las Vegas and has held senior executive positions at Caesars World Inc.

Set to open by early 2020, Sunseeker Resorts will be built in Port Charlotte, a small town near the Gulf of Mexico located less than ten kilometres from Punta Gorda, FL, a local public airport where Allegiant is the sole commercial scheduled carrier.