In order from left to right: Joe Thrash, Partner of The Thrash Group, Ike Thrash, Founding Partner & Managing Director of The Thrash Group, D.C. Reeves, Mayor of Pensacola, Chad Henderson, Founder and CEO of Catalyst, Dave Gooch, VP Commercial Lending of Pen Air Credit Union, and Tom Hemer, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Tandem Hospitality Group. — Photo by Tandem Hospitality Group

Catalyst, The Thrash Group, and The 1559 Collective, in partnership with Tandem Hospitality Group, hosted an official groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, November 14th for Hotel Tristan, Pensacola's first upscale full-service boutique hotel right in the heart of Downtown's East Garden District.

Catalyst Real Estate's Founder and CEO Chad Henderson was joined by key partners Joseph and Ike Thrash, Partners of The Thrash Group and Tom Hemer, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Tandem Hospitality. Local leaders, including Mayor D.C. Reeves and Nicole Stacy, Vice President of Destination Development for Visit Pensacola, were also in attendance as the group marked the start of construction at the hotel's site at the corner of Chase Street and Jefferson Street.

Set to debut in late 2026, Hotel Tristan will feature 122 beautifully designed rooms, a fitness center and multiple flexible meeting and event spaces. Food and beverage experiences include a rooftop bar--the first in Downtown Pensacola--with panoramic views, bites and handcrafted cocktails, and an on-site restaurant off the lobby featuring eclectic Mediterranean cuisine.

Paying tribute to Pensacola's rich history, particularly the Spanish explorer Tristan de Luna who first settled here in 1559, Hotel Tristan will blend timeless elegance with modern sophistication, honoring that legacy while offering something new and exciting for the community.

Chad Henderson and his team have already contributed significantly to Downtown Pensacola's growth, with previous projects including the $2.2M road beautification initiative in partnership with the City of Pensacola, renovations of 42 E. Garden Street (The Well) and 18 E. Garden Street (Papa's Pizza), and the $2.5M new construction relocation of Union Public House at the corner of Garden and Jefferson Streets. Hotel Tristan marks the next step in the continued revitalization of the area.

Hotel website

Tandem Hospitality Group
Hotel Tristan
98 N Jefferson St
Pensacola, FL 32502
United States
Hotel Website