Recommend May 2012 - (Page 10)

tour talk hotel desk Swim-out access suites at Sanctuary Cap Cana in the Dominican Republic. SALAMANDER G carla hunt hotels & resorts “Grand” is the key word when thinking of a hotel company such as Salamander Hotels & Resorts, under whose hospitality umbrella we ﬁnd the three Grand Golf Resorts of Florida, a trio of the Grand Resorts at Cap Cana, joined by the luxury Woodlands Inn outside Charleston in South Carolina, and the Salamander Resort & Spa, soon to debut in the middle of Virginia’s famed horse country. “Collection” is the word that company president Prem Devadas underlines to explain how his rather new company—founded in 2005 by Sheila Johnson, a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist—has quickly acquired a luxury brand status. “We have worked hard to be deﬁned by quality, not by size,” says Devadas. “However, there is marketing power in having a ‘collection,’ as in our three resorts focused on golf in Florida and our Dominican Republic resorts grouped around a great destination experience.” He further points out a quality collection creates quality synergy “when you have high-quality construction and design, same management to maintain consistently top service, and proximity of resorts so guests can experience all parts of the collection.” Devadas presents the synergies of his Grand Golf Resorts of Florida in an interesting way. The collection includes: the Innisbrook Resort with 600 guest suites and rooms, situated on 900 wooded acres of rolling hills in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area on the Gulf Coast; the AAA four-diamond Reunion Resort near Orlando, whose 330 accommodations include the 82-suite Reunion Grande; and the Hammock Beach Resort, featuring a 12-story tower of oceanview luxury suites and a 20-room lodge, sited along 2.4 miles of Atlantic beach on the Palm Coast. Combined, this trio of resorts offers 162 holes of golf designed by Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson and Larry Packard—all of which are part of a Legends of Golf Trail, which links 200 miles between the resorts and across the Sunshine State. According to Devadas, “It was geography that drove us to put together and partner with these three resorts—each predicated on golf— which we upgraded and added grand features such as spas, lots of restaurant choices, and lots of water play for all members of the family. Now we can market the Gulf, the Atlantic and the interior of Florida, with each resort within 90 minutes of one another.” Jump to the Dominican Republic to ﬁnd that the Grand Resorts at Cap Cana, an exclusive 30,000-acre retreat embracing white beaches, soaring cliffs and pristine forest, is basically a new destination—15 min- utes from Punta Cana airport. Presently, there are two luxury resorts up and running. The oceanfront Sanctuary Cap Cana features 176 luxurious suites and villas with ocean views and swim-out access, as well as a lavish spa. Nearby and opened last year is Fishing Lodge Cap Cana, located within a masterfully designed village, surrounding the Caribbean’s largest inland marina. Guests are accommodated in 298 Mediterranean-style villas with designer furnishings, many with private inﬁnity pools and swim-out access. Coming soon is the 113-room Ocean Club, and all Grand Resorts guests enjoy privileges at the Jack Nicklaus-designed, top-ranked Punta Espada Golf Club. Back in the U.S., there’s the Woodlands Inn, a short drive from historic Charleston. Occupying a restored 1906 classic revival mansion, the Inn is one of only six properties in North America to hold the Forbes ﬁve-star and AAA ﬁve-diamond rating for both its accommodations and restaurant, The Dining Room. Guest amenities include 18 guestrooms and suites, a country guest cottage, a day spa, croquet lawn, and redclay tennis courts. Activities include ﬂy ﬁshing, hunting & clay shooting, horseback outings, and golf privileges on nearby courses. And the next addition to the Salamander hotel family will be the Salamander Resort & Spa. Opening late-spring 2013, the resort will feature 168 luxurious rooms and suites, a 23,000-sq.-ft. spa, a full-service equestrian center, a dedicated cooking studio and wine bar serving up vintages cultivated in the surrounding wine country of Virginia. Devadas reports that hotel guests will be able to walk right out the hotel’s front door and into the historic and charming town of Middleburg. Perhaps they’ll encounter Salamander Hotels & Resorts handson CEO Sheila Johnson on the street—she lives here. Sample packages include the Classic Golf at Innisbrook Resort from $249 pp dbl; 2-night minimum, including deluxe accommodations, one round of golf per night of stay, $10 retail credit at pro shops, advance starting time, unlimited use of practice facilities and ﬁtness center. At the Sanctuary Cap Cana, it’s the Luxury as You Like It, from $199 pp dbl, that includes luxury accommodations, welcome drink, complimentary Internet access, nightly turndown service, evening entertainment, and Cap Cana transport. ■ contact information Salamander Hotels & Resorts: salamanderhospitality.com recommend.com 10 may 2012 http://www.salamanderhospitality.com http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend May 2012

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Hotel Desk: Salamander Hotels & Resorts
Tour Talk: Worldwide Traveler
Viking Longships Invade European Waters
In Chile: Going to Extremes
India Travel Planner 2012
Devon & Cornwall: England's Peerless Destinations
Israel & Jordan: The Wellspring of Spirituality
Top Golf Resorts: North America
Top Golf Resorts: Caribbean & Bermuda
Top Golf Resorts: Mexico

Recommend May 2012