SAWGRASS MARRIOTT GOLF RESORT SPA UNVEILS MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR RESORT-WIDE TRANSFORMATION

 

SAWGRASS MARRIOTT GOLF RESORT & SPA UNVEILS MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR RESORT-WIDE TRANSFORMATION **Newly Renovated package starts at $149 per night through June 30, 2014**   January 30, 2014 (Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida) - Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa in Ponte Vedra Beach has unveiled the stunning results of a multi-million dollar resort-wide renovation designed to enhance the timeless appeal of Florida's premier golf, spa and beach destination resort. The project touched every detail of the 63-acre oceanfront address, and in turn created a resort designed to welcome leisure and business travelers alike. Designed by a collaboration of MLG Architects, Monogram by Callison, Testani Design Troupe and EDSA, the transformation focused on creating a natural beach resort atmosphere that rejuvenates guests throughout their stay. The renovation also celebrates the resort's locale, being next to the championship TPC Sawgrass golf course and giving guests exclusive access. To round out the resort as a leading golf destination, Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa added the TPC Connection Cart Path, the first-ever connection from the resort directly to the home of THE PLAYERS championship and Web.com Tournament by golf cart. The resort is also home to two dozen pieces of golf memorabilia from The World Golf Hall of Fame. "The past eight months have taken our guest experience to a new level while further securing our position as a market leader and the resort as the ultimate golf experience on the northeast coast of Florida," said Tom Manno, General Manager of Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa. "The revamped Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa is more desirable than ever, offering all the amenities of a newly renovated world-class resort, including top-notch meeting facilities and convenient access to five championship golf courses," said Andrew Rosuck, Regional Vice President of Sales & Marketing. "We're looking forward to drawing even more business and leisure travelers who appreciate the resort's endless possibilities and timeless appeal." Revamped Resort Accommodations and New Villas at Sawgrass The resort's 510 guest rooms have been updated with exquisite furnishings and soothing earth tones. Located in the main resort, newly refreshed spacious Suites are decidedly spacious, with separate living areas and large workspaces, sleek ergonomic chairs and expansive bathrooms with chrome fixtures. These include the Presidential Suite, the ultimate in resort accommodation and extravagance. The resort beautifully and meticulously renovated 80 signature The Villas at Sawgrass for golfers, families and executive groups alike. The Villas at Sawgrass are distinct enclaves of resort-style accommodations, including home-like amenities with all the facilities and services of a world-class resort. These two-bedroom, graciously appointed and spacious Villas are ideal for golf buddy groups, family gatherings or a friends' getaway and corporate outings of up to eight people. New Dining Options There is a new spin on the resort's dining scene with the addition of two new signature restaurants and updates to all dining outlets. Alice & Pete's Pub, launched in 2013, is named for golf legends Alice and Pete Dye, architects of the Stadium and Dye's Valley Courses at TPC Sawgrass. With views of the Dyes' celebrated course artistry, diners enjoy appetizers, salads, sandwiches and desserts in a convivial environment reflected in mahogany-hued décor, a large terrace shaded by a wood pergola overlooking the new TPC Connection Cart Path leading to TPC Sawgrass. Vernon's, another new dining spot, is named for former General Manager and President of PGA TOUR, Vernon Kelly. Set before the resort waterfall and lagoon, the restaurant highlights flavors from Florida's First Coast with a raw bar, chowder bar, and daily selections harvested fresh from the ocean. Already in 2014, Vernon's has won six top awards from OpenTable including Diners' Choice Winner Best Overall, Diners' Choice Winner Best Food and Diners' Choice Winner Best Ambiance. The Augustine Grill has been transformed into an expanded Starbucks for visitors to grab refreshments to go. Meetings at Sawgrass Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa is the location for successful meetings. With special enhancements throughout 56,000 square feet of flexible and dynamic function space including new wall coverings, seating, light fixtures and carpeting. Carpet patterns through 12 distinct meeting spaces now mimic the trajectory of golf balls; furnishings and fixtures provide an upscale, exclusive golf clubhouse appeal; and all ballrooms, pre-function areas, meeting rooms and boardrooms have been completely revitalized with new artwork and golf memorabilia reflective of the entire resort. The Villas at Sawgrass are also available for meetings and breakout rooms for up to 12 people. The resort's use of Marriott Red Coat Direct program ensures that meeting planners have a seamless event. Marriott's Red Coat Direct provides an application for meeting planners to manage meetings and events at the hotel with the help of a Red Coat Concierge. Red Coat Concierge are assigned to meeting planners to help with requested items from additional chairs, pens and more water, without planners having to leave the event space. Meeting planners can even use the app from the car on the way to the resort to communicate with their Concierge team member prior to the event to tell them what they request or need beforehand. Exclusive Access, Beautiful Location The private Cabana Beach Club, conveniently located along the ocean just a quick shuttle from the resort, has also been updated as a casual destination for diners, active travelers and beachgoers with a new lookincorporating beach-inspired textures, materials and colors, and design touches that tie it back to the golf-centric appeal of the resort. A superb location for meetings, weddings, social occasions and events, the club is fully outfitted with beachfront pool and dining facilities including the Mediterranean-inspired 619 Ocean View restaurant, the beachside Sea Porch Bar & Grill, and the seasonal café Sharkey's. The Newly Renovated package starts at $149 per night valid seven days a week through June 30, 2014. For more information, please visit www.sawgrassmarriott.com. About The Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa Located in Northeast Florida, Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa is an ideal getaway for leisure and family travel. With 510 guest rooms and 24 suites including 80 private villas, the resort offers 9 restaurants and lounge venues, over 56,000-square feet of event space and a 25,000-square foot spa. The resort allows guests and the public to access five championship golf courses and a private beach club. The hotel is the host hotel of THE PLAYERS golf championship. www.sawgrassmarriott.com

BAY HILL NAMED TO PRESTIGIOUS CONDE NAST TRAVELER GOLD LIST (2014)

 

               

ORLANDO, FL (January, 2014) –  Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge is proud to have been named a recipient of the highly regarded 2014 Condé Nast Traveler Gold List Award.   The Gold List is considered to be the authoritative index of the world’s highest ranking hotels, resorts, and cruise lines selected by nearly 70,000 Condé Nast Traveler readers.  It is especially exciting to note the service related aspects of the Bay Hill guest experience received a well-deserved 100% ranking.  For more information or reservations call (888) 422-9445 or visit www.BayHill.com. 

“We are extraordinarily proud to receive this award and be in the company of such highly respected resort destinations throughout the world, shared Ray Easler, Vice President Hospitality and Operations.   Our guests consistently rate our amenities and service among the finest in the industry and we are committed to always providing an unforgettable experience. ”

Bay Hill is the winter home of legendary golfer Arnold Palmer, and the host site of the PGA TOUR’s Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard.   Visit this link to see the complete story of this treasured destination:  History of Bay Hill. 

Located just 20 minutes from downtown Orlando, Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge is the site of the annual Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard golf tournament.  The 70-room property features 27-holes of golf, the Arnold Palmer Golf Academy, tennis on four Har-tru courts, a full service spa and salon, fitness center, four dining locations, and 9,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space.  For reservations or membership information, call (888) 422-9445 or (407) 876-2429.

IAGTO awards Costa Rica Golf Destination of the Year 2014

Costa Rica has made a name as a natural paradise in recent years and has become a world leader in sustainable tourism. The small country in Central America achieved another important milestone, receiving the 2014 Golf Destination of the Year Award for Latin America & Caribbean from the prestigious International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO).

IAGTO is the organization of global commerce for the industry of the golf tourism. Founded in 1997, members of IAGTO includes 2,122 credited golf tour operators, resorts, hotels,  national tourism organizations, media  and businesses in 95 countries. Operating in 62 countries, these golf tour operators control more than 85% of the golf packages sold annually around the world.
 With a total of six championship courses in addition to some very fine 9-hole layouts, Costa Rica is considered to be a small, but indeed an exclusive insider tip for golfers. Due to all the exciting non-golf activities available in Costa Rica, this is just the right amount of good golf to create a memorable golf experience. The environments surrounding the courses put you in touch with Mother Nature at her finest. True to the country’s strategy of always acting in a most sustainable, social and eco-friendly way, all these courses are recognized by Audubon International (www.auduboninternational.org) for their environmental friendly efforts.

Some of the game’s top architects have their names on the courses, including the La Iguana Golf Course at the Los Suenos Marriott Beach & Golf Club, designed by Ted Robinson; the Reserva Conchal Golf Club at the Westin Golf Resort & Spa, designed by Robert Trent Jones II; the Four Seasons, designed by Arnold Palmer; and the Cariari Country Club, designed by George Fazio and built by his nephew Tom Fazio.

But Costa Rica not only scores with its golf courses but also with its excellent hospitality and gastronomy. The exclusive hotel selection ranges from the cherished and smaller luxurious resorts like The Springs Resort to prestigious and international luxury hotel groups such as Marriott Hotels, The Starwood member Westin Golf Resort & Spa Conchal and The Four Seasons  Peninsula Papagayo Resort.

“Costa Rica has grown tremendously as a destination since I started golf tour here in 1996,” said Landy Blank, owner of Costa Rica Golf Adventures. “The combination of new golf courses, year-round climate and the natural beauty of Costa Rica makes it perfect for golfers seeking a new adventure.”

Costa Ricans are the happiest people on the planet according to the “Happy Planet Index,” measuring the experienced well-being of its population, life expectancy and the ecological footprint of 151 countries in the world. That makes them very likeable and pleasant hosts, an important reason more to come over and experience an unforgettable golf holiday in Costa Rica.

For more information:
Landy Blank, owner Costa Rica Golf Adventures, landy2255@gmail.com, Tel: 1-215-554-2129, 1-888-672-2057 / +506-2293-9785  www.golfcr.com

Happy New Year from The Pompano Beach Club!

We send you warm winter greetings and hope that 2013 was a good year for you! Despite the challenging economic times we’ve experienced the past several years, we are grateful to have hosted many of you at our resort and want to sincerely thank you for staying with us.

Thanks to you, we were recognized by Conde Nast Traveler Magazine several times last year. In their January issue, we were honored to have made their 2013 “Gold List” of properties for the Atlantic & Caribbean Islands. We continue to receive rave reviews regarding our cuisine – with our chefs’ superb work resulting in our resort being rated as one of “The 35 Best Island Resorts for Food” in the magazine’s June issue (we were ranked #14 overall and were one of only two Bermuda resorts to make the list).

This year, our Cedar Room’s dinner menu will be expanded to give you even more culinary options. The evening menu will continue to change on a nightly basis, you’ll just have more appetizers and entrees to choose from than in previous years. Thanks to those of you who took the time to fill out Conde Nast Traveler’s 2013 Reader’s Choice Awards survey because in their November issue, we received the #2 ranking out of all the resorts in the Atlantic Region!

We continue to re-invest in our property so that we can offer you the very best facilities possible. Here are a few of the recent enhancements we’ve made and will be making to our resort:

• This past spring, all of our deluxe rooms were refurbished. Custom built dark mahogany furniture with sand colored granite tops were added to give our top room category a fresh new look. New draperies are currently being installed in all of our guest rooms.
• Dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows were added to our lower lobby, making our panoramic ocean views that much more spectacular!
• The Sunset Lounge and Coral Reef Café were both renovated this past year, with new interior and exterior chairs added to each area.
• Our new ATV has enabled us to keep our beach well groomed and has proven to be an effective way to remove seaweed.
• A printer was recently added to one of our lobby desktop computers, making it easier for you to print out boarding passes and other documents.
• Living on an island in the middle of the ocean has its challenges – one of them being the internet. We are happy to report that our internet access is much better in our guest rooms thanks to major upgrades to our internet system.
• We’re excited to announce that we are currently building another townhouse unit. It will have 3 bedrooms and 2 1/2 bathrooms and will be located adjacent to our tennis court, on the hillside above Cuda Cottage. We expect the townhouse to be ready for occupancy by mid-April. It should be popular with larger families and couples traveling together.

Those of you who like to travel in the spring, fall or winter can take advantage of our popular “4th Night Free” promotion. Click here for specific details or you can view the information listed on our website.

Golfers will be happy to know that we recently negotiated significantly reduced green fees at the adjacent Robert Trent Jones designed Port Royal Golf Course — widely recognized nowadays as the island’s top course (home of the PGA Tour’s Grand Slam event for the last five Octobers). Our annual spring and fall season Couples Golf Tournaments and Ladies Pro-Am Golf Classic (held in early March each year) continue to attract lots of participants — many of whom return to play in the events year after year. Tournament details (click here) are listed on our website for your reference purposes. We’ll be happy to mail you tournament brochures if you are interested.

On behalf of our family and the entire Pompano staff, we wish you a happy, healthy new year! Hope to see you soon!

Sincerely,

Tom Lamb	Larry Lamb
Managing Director	General Manager

For more information about us, visit www.pompanobeachclub.com, email us at info@pompanobeachclub.com or call us at 1-800-343-4155.