Impressive Innisbrook Renovation Plan Positions Property as Elite Resort

TAMPA BAY, Fla. - Owner Sheila C. Johnson and her hospitality company, Salamander Hospitality, purchased Innisbrook last July and immediately embarked on a sweeping $25 million renovation plan that literally leaves no venue at the resort untouched. With Johnson personally involved in most design choices, plans include the repositioning of the property to the top of Florida’s list of most prominent golf, spa and corporate destinations – perfectly suited for leisure travelers, as well as a variety of high profile events that Johnson and her management team plan to attract. 

Salamander Hospitality Vice President and Innisbrook Managing Director, Chuck Pomerantz, will oversee all of the resort’s renovations. Pomerantz commented, “We’ve already received a tremendous outpouring of encouraging comments from satisfied clients and resort guests who see the continual improvements and share our enthusiasm for just how extraordinary Innisbook will become.”    

Known for a commitment to excellence, Salamander Hospitality immediately renovated the resort’s dramatically striking Island Golf Course, which has hosted NCAA Golf Championships, Florida Opens, numerous USGA tournaments and the Golf Channel’s Amateur Tour National Finals.

Additional improvements to all of Innisbrook’s four courses are planned. Also completed is a stunning renovation of the Penthouse Suite which overlooks the finishing hole on the nationally ranked Copperhead Course, home to the PGA TOUR’s Transitions Championship. Of special interest to the meeting planner will be the soon-to-be-completed renewal of all 65,000 square feet of meeting space in the resort’s three conference center complexes, as well as the addition of two executive board rooms with seating up to 16 each.  

Next up: the renovation of all three golf clubhouses to include new restaurant and bar concepts and the creation of a centralized gathering village where registration, golf shops, and Johnson’s signature gourmet market, Market Salamander, are just steps apart.  

Additionally, plans to expand the market to also include a complete dining venue will create the first Market Salamander Grille. As part of this concept, The Highlands Clubhouse will feature a fabulous new outdoor bar with comfortable seating, fire pits and gathering areas that overlook the pristine golf courses and flawless landscape. The Copperhead Clubhouse is now home to the resort’s new, upscale “Chop House” named Packard’s, after the designer of Innisbrook’s four championship courses. With a new look and furnishings, Packard’s will be a guest favorite with an exciting new menu of Italian specialties to complement its outstanding Steak House fare.

Most anticipated of all is the new 4,000 square foot state-of-the-art fitness facility with pilates and aerobics studios and fabulous views of Copperhead, as well as the resort’s first full-service, 12,000 square foot luxury spa with twelve treatment rooms and a complete range of the most sought after spa services as well as a hair and nail salon and retail center. The spa will also include an outdoor relaxation area with whirlpool, comfortable cabana areas and fabulous views for outdoor spa services for individuals or couples. 

Innisbrook’s Tennis Center has also received a brand new look as well as each of the resort’s six swimming pools, and a new playground area for kids is underway. Adding to the new ambience is also several beautification and landscape projects, further turning Innisbrook’s expansive, wooded landscape into a relaxing and beautiful self-contained oasis. Come January, 2009 the resort will have completed this amazing transformation, and just in time for Tampa Bay to host the 2009 Super Bowl.  

The Pamela Temples Design Group, based in St. Petersburg, Florida, has been hired to design for these projects, and Architecture Incorporated will be the architectural firm, with offices based in Ft. Meyers, Florida and Reston, Virginia.

In addition to a whole new look, Salamander Hospitality is doing on a service level what they do best and that’s a promise of outstanding service through all areas of the resort, from your initial contact to the end of your stay.

President of Salamander Hospitality, Prem Devadas, commented, “Having outstanding facilities is obviously an important element in establishing a top destination, however the service culture you create is what truly brings guests back again and again. Just as we did at our Woodland’s Resort & Inn property in SC (winner of Travel + Leisure’s 2008 World’s Best Service Award, #1 in the U.S. and Canada, #3 worldwide) we are creating a truly unique and personalized service culture at Innisbrook with a staff that truly enjoys serving beyond expectations."  

Situated on 900 wooded acres of rolling hills and 70 acres of lakes on Florida’s Gulf Coast near Tampa, Florida, Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club is located just 30 minutes from Tampa International Airport. Innisbrook features 72 holes of championship golf, 620 spacious guest suites and rooms, four restaurants and three bars, the Innisbrook Golf Institute, 11 tennis courts, fitness and racquetball center, six heated swimming pool complexes, a nature preserve, and three conference halls with 65,000 square feet of meeting space. Innisbrook is owned and managed by Salamander Hospitality, a privately owned and operated company based in Middleburg, VA, just outside Washington, DC and  built upon a uniquely entrepreneurial approach to the hospitality business. For additional information call (727) 942-2000 or visit www.innisbrookgolfresort.com.  

Salamander Hospitality, founded by entrepreneur Sheila C. Johnson in 2005, owns, manages and develops hotels, resorts and inns that reflect the authenticity and character of their surrounding environment to become community landmarks.  Based in Middleburg, Virginia, just outside of Washington, DC, this privately owned and operated company is built upon a uniquely personalized approach to the hospitality business. Salamander Management Services, the newest division of hospitality, oversees the development and management of independently owned luxury properties. The company has also launched a division of gourmet prepared food markets called Market Salamander with locations in Middleburg, Virginia and Palm Beach, Florida. For additional information call (540) 687-3710 or visit the Web site at www.salamanderhospitality.com.