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South Upgrades + Openings (Jan. 2018)

Florida

Naples Grande Beach Resort reopened its doors Dec. 15 following a three-and-a-half-month closure due to Hurricane Irma. The independent luxury resort underwent a multimillion-dollar refresh that renovated its guest rooms, public spaces, pools and outdoor landscaping. Rather than working with outside contractors, staff volunteered to assist directly with the renovations, helping with painting, landscaping and cleaning throughout all 23 acres, according to the resort. The 474-room property, which offers over 83,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space, is set on 23 waterfront acres and adjoined by a 200-acre nature preserve and mangrove estuary.

Tavistock Develop Company unveiled plans for a performance-oriented resort and spa at its sprawling Lake Nona master-designed community in Orlando. Lake Nona Resort is scheduled to break ground this year and open in 2020. Plans call for 20,000 square feet of meeting space, including a ballroom that can accommodate large groups and other functions. Other highlights include 250 guest rooms and 80 condominium units; the world’s largest tennis campus, with 100 courts steps away from the new USTA National Campus; a 120,000-square-foot beach volleyball venue; and one of the largest manmade lagoons in the U.S. Besides traditional dining outlets, the resort will offer performance-based food and beverage options with menus designed by leading nutritionists.

Georgia

Barnsley Resort, set on a 3,000-acre expanse about 60 miles north of Atlanta in Adairsville, will debut the 55-room Inn at Barnsley Resort, as well as the Georgian Hall, in March. The Inn will allow all meeting attendees to convene within the same building as well as expand its meeting offerings to larger groups. The Georgian Hall will add more than 9,000 square feet of indoor space, bringing the resort’s total amount of meeting space to 16,000 square feet of indoor space. With the addition of the Inn, the resort will offer a total of 150 guest rooms. Highlights of the Inn at Barnsley Resort include a grand staircase and fireplace that will serve as focal points for guests. Barnsley Resort is set on an 1840s estate and features a Jim Fazio-designed golf course, a 26-station sporting clays course, bird hunting at SpringBank Plantation and horseback riding.

 

Texas

The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston is slated to open in early 2018. The 250-room, 38-story property will sit on 10 acres and offer a 35,000-square-foot conference facility, including the largest ballroom in the Uptown Houston area. The ultra-luxury hotel, owned and operated by Fertitta Entertainment, is located near The Galleria and River Oaks District and set amid a district brimming with mature oaks and water fountains. Highlights will include a two-story Rolls-Royce showroom and a Bentley and Bugatti Post Oak Motors dealership on-site, as well as Texas’ first Mastro’s Steakhouse and the new Willie G’s Seafood, a luxury spa, salon and designer retail and boutique office space.

Virginia

Virginia Crossings Hotel & Conference Center is the second property to join Hilton’s Tapestry collection of independent upscale hotels. The 183-room hotel located about 15 miles north of Richmond in Glen Allen, contains over 28,000 square feet of event space. The Southern-style estate includes a variety of gardens, courtyards and is next to the Crossings Golf Course, an 18-hole course designed by Joe Lee. Other recreation highlights include a 24-hour fitness center, a sand volleyball court, an outdoor swimming pool and activities such as basketball and horseshoes. The property also offers a ballroom that seats up to 400. On-site food and beverage options include The Glen Restaurant (seasonal buffet-style dining) and The Tavern, which features Southern-style food in a relaxed and casual environment alongside lighter menu items.