Home: The Vinoy Renaissance Resort Revival
Majestically poised along Tampa Bay, the iconic Vinoy Renaissance Resort & Golf Club has earned a reputation as the “grand dame” of St.Petersburg’s hotels. For more than 90 years, the historic luxury resort has welcomed notable families, Hollywood stars, presidents and dignitaries from around the globe. When the hotel opened on New Year’s Eve 1925, the guests marveled at the intrinsically carved stone columns, an enormous lobby with hand-painted tile accents, and massive chandeliers suspended from a 25-foot ceiling. Today, guests can still find mementos of those legendary days, such as worn tiles near the check-in desk where storied luminaries once stood. Now the landmark hotel is ushering in a multi-phased renovation project that will infuse a new design renaissance revival into the crown jewel, preserving and celebrating the rich history with some modern enhancements. The transformation aims to cater to today’s sophisticated and affluent travelers who seek a rich, luxurious setting at a resort with a host of modern amenities that enhances their stay. The new design theme, conceptualized by Miriam Torres, is an artistic blend of different palettes of color, mixed with architectural elements inspired by ethnic impressions. While color is visually appealing, texture and lighting also play a key role, explains Torres, principal designer with Parker-Torres Design Inc. of Sudbury, Massachusetts. The Vinoy’s owners awarded the project to Torres, who has been redesigning historic and luxury properties around the globe for 32 years, after seeing her work at the Fairmont Copley hotel in downtown Boston. “We wanted to give a nod to the sophisticated interior and classic view with concepts influenced by Arabic and Moroccan influences. Our inspiration for many of the themes came from the hotel’s opening night in 1925, a fantasy-like setting with massive chandeliers hanging from the vaulted ceilings and bricks at the entranceway,” she says. After spending months researching, reading books about the Vinoy’s history and the family, and spending hours walking around and sitting in the lobby, Torres conceptualized a new interior theme that was fresh and timeless while giving a nod to the sophistication of the 1920’s. “My designs are not what I want; it’s what the property requires to transform and bring back. I go there and become part of it [the hotel] and it helps me visualize the changes,” adds Torres. “It is very unique.” “The new interior design positions the Vinoy as both historic and hip as well as elevates the comfort and sophistication of the resort that our members have come to expect,” says Barbara Readey, General Manager. The first phase of the project, which began in May, focuses on the amenities at Snell Isle. Enhancements include a redesigned pool with cabanas, fire pits, and outdoor amenities drenched in glamorous white, hunter green and black with a separate kids’ splash pad. The redesigned and expanded clubhouse restaurant will reveal notable touches like columns wrapped in red leather with cross stitching, personal liquor lockers at the back of the room, and light fixtures that resemble golf balls. There will be high-top tables with connectivity outlets for those who need to stay plugged in. The resort’s 18-hole, par 71 golf course and practice facility will also get an update, undergoing drainage and other improvements. Perhaps the most striking design will take place in the men and women’s locker rooms. The men’s side, dressed in slick black and gray with brass accents, will have pocket tables and a long bar. The plush leather chairs are designed to feel luxurious and encourage conversation and mingling. For women, Torres chose a theme of white marble with light shades of aqua, with bridge tables with bamboo influence in the chairs. Like every artist who leaves a lingering impression in their work, Torres leaves an indeclinable footprint in her interior designs. Custom designed luxurious carpet, often awash in a myriad of colors, is her signature look. “I love creating custom carpets because I like to paint and it’s one of the few things I can do that’s like painting. It has been my biggest trademark in all my projects. They are wool, handmade and wall-to-wall carpets, especially for grand rooms. I love doing that – it’s my passion!” says Torres. This phase of the renovation project will continue through early 2017. Further classic elegant enhancements are on the drawing board to make changes to the parking area, fitness center, spa, tennis courts and replacing Alfrescos restaurant with a new dining concept. Like no other hotel of its kind that has cemented its place among historical hotels, the enhanced vibrancy of the Vinoy will continue to be a destination on its own and compliment the demands for the next generation of travelers. Like no other hotel of its kind that has cemented its place among historical hotels, the enhanced vibrancy of the Vinoy will continue to be a destination on its own and compliment the demands for the next generation of travelers.
Travel: The Ultimate Retreat at the Cloister Ocean Residences
The oceanfront Cloister Ocean Residences are located at Sea Island, a coastal Georgia resort island with five miles of private, pristine beach on the Atlantic Ocean. This private oceanfront community on a gated island offers residents a deeded quarter ownership and the pampered Sea Island lifestyle one week every month in their own luxuriously furnished one, two, or three bedroom residence. The 22 fully furnished and equipped residences range from 1,104 to 3,102 square feet. There are 88 total ownerships and many have been sold, leaving only a limited number that range in cost from $375,000 to $1.1 million. Each of the residences were refurbished this past Spring along with most of the public spaces. The new interiors are designed to lighten and brighten in a seaside motif while retaining the elegance of the signature Addison Mizner Mediterranean design seen throughout the island. In addition, a new oceanfront infinity-edge pool pavilion was unveiled this year. Randy Burgess, Project Director for The Cloister Ocean Residences, said current owners and potential buyers have been impressed with the enhancements. “Demand for The Cloister Ocean Residences has increased this year and we attribute much of that to the upgrades made at both The Cloister Ocean Residences and at The Cloister.” In response to strong demand, the hotel, located adjacent to the Residences on Sea Island, added 63 new rooms, a 5,000-square-foot ballroom and an additional pool. Owners are eligible to apply for full membership in the Sea Island Club and initial membership fees are waived for purchasers (currently valued at $100,000). Members enjoy privileged access and discounts on a host of services and activities. Deeded quarter-ownership, providing 13 weeks annual access one week each month, each year, with longer arranged stays possible, enabling owners to enjoy Sea Island throughout the year. Over a 4-year period, owners have the opportunity to use every week of the year. Ownerships can be sold, transferred or left as a legacy for generations to come. Owners not only enjoy frequent vacations to Sea Island, but also enjoy traveling to a variety of other worldwide destinations. Cloister Ocean Residences owners enjoy a Chairman’s Club membership in 3RD HOME, a reciprocal use travel club of luxury second home owners and resorts, with over 4,500 properties in 70+ countries. For more information, visit: www.3RDHOME.com. Sea Island is the only resort in the world to have been awarded four Forbes Five-Star designations for eight consecutive years. Sea Island’s Forbes Five-Star properties include The Cloister hotel; The Lodge; the Georgian Room restaurant in The Cloister and The Spa at Sea Island. Sea Island was also just awarded once again AAA’s Five Diamond award for The Cloister, The Georgian Room restaurant and The Lodge. This makes the Georgian Room the only Five Diamond restaurant in the state of Georgia. U.S. News & World Report named The Lodge as #1 among the Ten Best Hotels in the United States for 2016. The Cloister Ocean Residences is one of many real estate opportunities at Sea Island, where sales continue to be strong and increasing in recent years. So far in 2016, more than $90 million of sales have been made. For more information about The Cloister Ocean Residences, call 912-634-4351 or visit cloisteroceanresidences.com.
Quick Getaway: Tradewinds Resorts, Where a Visit Created Tradition
How nice to live in an area where we have a plethora of vacation options, and one that stands out as a true, local, favorite vacation spot is less than an hour for most Tampa Bay residents. There is no need to waste your time on a long flight or road trip, take the extra time and invest it in what counts, quality family time relaxing, exploring and experiencing the iconic TradeWinds Island Resorts. The resort is made up of two beach resorts located directly on the sun-drenched, white sand beaches bordering the Gulf of Mexico. The Guy Harvey Outpost and TradeWinds Beach Resort are spread over a 25-acre oasis that will be your home away from home, even if just for a while. From the moment you arrive, you will find a true sense of nostalgia in the air, and a staff that employs a consistent, tireless effort to ensure that your stay will be everything you imagined. When it comes to dining choices, you can enjoy a different venue each day and night. For beach and poolside dining, there is the Flying Bridge Beach Bar, you have a choice of inside or outside dining, and if you need to kick your feet up for awhile, there are a few tempting hammocks a few steps away. For a truly memorable dining experience, the RumFish Grill will have you in “awe” from the moment you walk inside. The 1300 gallon saltwater tank is filled with a massive collection of colorful reef fish and was built by Wayde King and Brett Raymer, stars of Animal Planet’s show, “Tanked.” When night falls and its time to wind down, there is no other place to be than the Guy Harvey Outpost as a family, surrounding a nice fire, and indulging in s’mores, the perfect ending to the perfect day. And tomorrow the adventure continues because fun is always a step away from anywhere you happen to be at TradeWinds Resort. So when you have an opportunity to experience the TradeWind Island Resort, your family’s memories will be an echo of summer fun and the desire to make it a family tradition that is carried on for years and maybe, just maybe, generations.