- April 25, 2024
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Salamander Hotels and Resorts, on Oct. 27, took over operations of the Reunion Wyndham Grand Resort, in Orlando, and the Hammock Beach Resort, in Palm Coast. The deal also includes an equity investment by Salamander.
Property owners and club members were introduced to the new manager/partner Thursday, during the day at Reunion and at an evening reception at Hammock Dunes. Salamander Owner Sheila Johnson and several key executives were on hand.
Salamander is relatively new to the hospitality business but boasts a stable of impressive properties:
• Grand Resorts at Cap Cana, a collection of three luxury properties in the Dominican Republic
• The Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five Diamond-rated Woodlands Inn near Charleston, S.C.
• The under-construction Salamander Resort & Spa in Middleburg, Va.
• The recently renovated Innisbrook Resort near Tampa
Salamander plans to combine Innisbrook, Reunion, and Hammock Beach in what it will market as the Legends of Golf Trail, which will include courses designed by Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, and Larry Packard.
The trio of facilities will be marketed as Grand Golf Resorts of Florida, combining 1,250 suite accommodations, 200,000 square feet of meeting and function space, 25 swimming pools, 17 tennis courts, 16 restaurants and three spas.
Salamander replaces the Nobel Investment Group and Front Door Communities at Hammock Beach and Reunion, although Front Door will remain involved in real estate sales and in planning future development. The two companies have operated under a management contract with owner Lubert-Adler.
The reaction of Hammock Beach residents and club members was mixed; some saying "I've heard this story before." But generally, they reacted positively to the event. One property owner compared the orchestrated Salamander announcement, with a large tent, drinks, and gourmet food to the low-key entry of Nobel and Front Door.
