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| · October 27, 2003 · |
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· Sandestin Golf And Beach Resort Announces New Accommodations And Amenities For 2004-2005, As It Continues $400 Million Redevelopment Plan Resort Officially Celebrates 30th Anniversary and the 2003 Opening of The Grand Sandestin,
with a Look Ahead at Future Plans for a Spa and New AccommodationsDESTIN, Fla. (October 24, 2004) - A European spa, additional accommodations and commercial expansions within The Village of Baytowne Wharf are part of Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort's development plans for 2004 and beyond. These resort additions are part of the resort's 10-year, multi-phase, $400 million redevelopment plan that began in 1998 with the resort's purchase by Intrawest Corporation. The next phases of development were announcement by Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort's Vice President and General Manager, Mike Stange at an event held on Friday, October 17 to officially celebrate the opening of The Grand Sandestin and the resort's 30th anniversary. The Grand Sandestin, which was completed in August, is the resort's signature luxury accommodations with 168 units housed within a magnificent, Southern-plantation style structure that adjoins The Village of Baytowne Wharf, which opened in 2002. Nothing captures the charm and grace of the South like The Grand Sandestin, whose Southern-inspired architectural design and detail is central to the feeling and experience of superior service, style and hospitality the resort hopes to convey to its guests. The Grand's rooms and suites have been appointed with high-end touches and comforts, private access elevators, its own concierge and check-in area, a sweeping two-story veranda, fountains, and a bistro. Grand is indeed the best way to describe the new accommodations and the experience it is sure to provide to its guests. Looking Forward to the Future Following the opening of The Grand Sandestin, the resort is now focused on its next phases of development. Coming up for Spring 2005 is the addition of the resort's own full-service, high-end European spa, which will be located adjacent to the Sandestin Tennis Center near The Village of Baytowne Wharf. Early plans call for a 12,000 square-foot spa featuring health and beauty services and treatments by a professional and certified staff. New accommodations are also planned for 2004 and 2005. The new units will be added to the resort's current Village accommodations and will be housed in two new buildings. Lasata, which will be located alongside The Village of Baytowne Wharf and The Grand Sandestin, will feature 96 units and is scheduled to open in Spring 2004. Earlier this year, Sandestin broke ground on a second new building for the Village - Bahia, which will be located across from Lasata and will feature another 109 units, and is set to open in Spring 2005. Over the next one to three years, Sandestin is also planning several expansions to The Village of Baytowne Wharf's commercial space. This will include the addition of another 16,000 to 20,000 square feet of commercial development for small retail specialty shops, at least one major restaurant, and some smaller eateries. A children's play area in the Village is planned as well. In addition to The Grand Sandestin, the resort also opened the adjoining Baytowne Conference Center earlier this year. At 60,000 square feet, with 32,000 square feet of meeting space, the Baytowne Conference Center represents a strategic move by Sandestin to attract and accommodate more and larger groups. Expanding the resort's meeting offerings, the Baytowne Conference Center provides groups with not only the latest state-of-the-art capabilities, but also unique versatility and choice. Similar to The Grand Sandestin, the new Baytowne Conference Center's style and lay-out also highlight the charms of the South - from its Grand Lawn to The Magnolia Ballroom - the largest in Northwest Florida. Together, The Village of Baytowne Wharf, The Grand Sandestin and the Baytowne Conference form the resort's central hub, with the Village serving as its heart and soul. Located on the bayside of Sandestin overlooking Choctawhatchee Bay, the 28-acre village - a signature element of each resort in the Intrawest family of properties - was inspired by the leading cities of the South in its architectural design and merchant mix. The Village is home to more than two-dozen restaurants, shops and entertainment venues providing guests with everything they need during their stay from sun-up to sundown without ever having to leave the resort. The Village Events Plaza also provides the ideal setting for special events and performances to be held year-round. "The Grand Sandestin, Baytowne Conference Center and The Village of Baytowne Wharf represent the best of the best in Southern hospitality, style and service, which has remained a 30-year tradition at Sandestin," said Mike Stange. "These new additions, along with the future developments planned, also represent our ongoing commitment to evolving and enhancing the guest experience at Sandestin so that we can continue to meet our primary objective - creating vacation memories that our guests will treasure for a lifetime." Celebrating 30 Years The event on October 17 also served to celebrate the resort's rich past and those that have contributed to its long-standing success. At 30, Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort stands for the best of the best in hospitality, style and service with a unique Southern twist as inspired by the leading Southern cities that surround it. As the largest resort in the area, Sandestin has enjoyed a unique place in Northwest Florida's tourism history, as well as its place along the beautiful stretch of white sand beaches on the Emerald Coast. Even before the resort was purchased by Intrawest, Sandestin was already established as a unique resort with its three championship golf courses (Intrawest has since added a fourth, the Raven Golf Club at Sandestin); world class tennis; full-service marina; retail shops, and other amenities spread across the resort's 2,400 acres. Unlike Sandestin's previous owner-developers however, Intrawest came in with a long-term vision for the future focused on operations and on taking care of guests from the time they make their reservations, to the time they depart and beyond. Marking the resort's success over time is as much a part of the people that make up the Sandestin family, as it is about the resort's growth and development. Among those who have been essential to Sandestin's success over the years are Director of National Sales, Patricia Wagner; and Director of Grounds and Golf Course Maintenance, George Kleinpeter. Both have been with Sandestin for 29 years and were recognized at the 30th anniversary celebration event on October 17th for their long-standing service and loyalty to Sandestin. Also honored during the event were representatives from General Motors in Atlanta, which has been holding its annual meeting at the resort for the last 29 years; and The Ferris Family from New Orleans, one of the resort's most frequent guests, having visited Sandestin 18 times. The resort also recognized Betty Main, Sandestin's earliest resident and homeowner since 1973. To reserve a package at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, call the reservations department at 800/470-7389, or book online at www.sandestin.com/pr.asp. Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort is a 2,400-acre resort located in Northwest Florida, between Pensacola and Panama City, eight miles east of Destin. Sandestin is an award-winning resort located on 7.5 miles of beach and bayfront property with 1,300 accommodations and 65,000 square feet of meeting space. Sandestin guests enjoy a wide variety of complimentary amenities, including the new Village of Baytowne Wharf, property-wide tram service, daily use of the Sandestin health club (adults only), complimentary use of bicycles, canoes, kayaks, boogie boards and tennis court time, plus free children's fishing licenses for our many stocked ponds. To further enhance the guest experience, Sandestin introduces the Surf Club, the new exclusive VIP section of www.sandestin.com. Intrawest Corporation (IDR:NYSE; ITW:TSX) is the leading developer and operator of village-centered resorts across North America. The company owns nine mountain resorts, including Whistler Blackcomb, North America's most popular mountain resort. Intrawest also owns Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in Florida and has a premier vacation ownership business, Club Intrawest. The company has a 45 per cent interest in Alpine Helicopters Ltd., owner of Canadian Mountain Holidays, the largest heli-skiing operation in the world. Intrawest is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia and is located on the World Wide Web at www.intrawest.com. Media Contact: Rosalie Huerta M. Silver Associates Inc. 305-533-1111 rosalie@msilver-pr.com Zandra Wolfgram Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort 850-267-8261 z.wolfgram@sandestin.com |
| Produced by Judi Janofsky, Rich Steck and the Golf Press Association |