The Latest in Luxury Resort & Real Estate News

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Schmidt-Curley Design Opens 4 New China Golf Courses

(HAINAN ISLAND, CHINA) -- The golf course design team Schmidt-Curley announced four more of its courses have opened at Mission Hills Hainan, a new master-planned golf resort-style community in China.

The Stone Quarry, Shadow Dunes, Double Pin and Stepping Stone courses now bring the resort's grand total to 10. With long-time partner Mission Hills, Schmidt-Curley has transformed Hainan Island's ancient volcanic terrain into a golf destination featuring playing experiences of unmatched variety.

"At Mission Hills Hainan, golfers can select from a global menu of golf design genres," says Brian Curley. "Each layout has a distinct personality -- levels of difficulty, bunker styles, green sizes and undulations, landscaping, par and yardage were intentionally varied to distinguish the resort from competitors and celebrate its status as an international golf destination."

A tribute to the genius of Pete Dye -- mentor to the Schmidt-Curley team -- Stone Quarry showcases the iconic hallmarks of his designs: railroad tie sleepers, abrupt mounds, long waste bunkers, devilish greens and railroad car bridges. These elements are made even more dramatic by a routing that snakes through volcanic quarries supported by steep rock walls and timbers. Remnants of coal cars, railroad tracks and abandoned mining equipment complete the setting. Dotted with 215 bunkers, the course demands shot making over brute strength -- a welcome alternative to today's typical emphasis on length to protect par.

Bringing sand to the city, Shadow Dunes incorporates the towering dunes and native vegetation found along the vast, unspoiled beaches of Hainan Island. It features sweeping contours that will send balls running and some of the largest (averaging 11,500 square feet) and wildest greens at the resort. Pinpoint accuracy with the short game is a must, as the course is designed to avoid being overpowered by bombers. Intimate green-to-tee connections make it eminently walkable.

Double Pins' arboretum-like surrounds of colorful trees and flowers ideally complement the blue skies and clean air of Hainan. Meanwhile, Stepping Stone's dramatic islands of turf framed by lava rock and rugged, sandy expanses are similar to those found on the Blackstone Course. Only open to walkers, the layout seamlessly blends with the landscape of black rock and thick vegetation. Although short, it is no pushover and a great place to polish your short game.

"I am very optimistic Mission Hills Hainan will help show Asian golfers and developers it is more about offering a great experience -- that may or may not involve length -- and less about presenting a standard scorecard," says Curley. "Some of the courses, like Blackstone and Lava Fields, will play long and test the best players. However, we also designed courses that are still challenging and thought-provoking but tailored to be more forgiving to mid- and high-handicappers."

Only 15 minutes from Haikou Meilan International Airport, Mission Hills Hainan's other amenities include a 518-room, five-star hotel; spa oasis; Hainan's largest mineral springs; 12 world-class restaurants; fully-equipped sports and recreation center; state-of-the-art meeting facilities; opulent villas; resort-themed residential towers and more.

Founded by partners Lee Schmidt and Brian Curley with offices in Scottsdale, Ariz., Haikou, Hainan Island, China and Kunming, China, Schmidt-Curley is a full-service, international golf course architecture and master-planning firm with more than 100 layouts in 24 countries. The tandem is responsible for crafting 10 of the 12 courses at storied Mission Hills Shenzhen -- and designed and built all 10 golf courses at Mission Hills' new Hainan Island resort. Schmidt-Curley's recently unveiled 54-hole Stone Forest International C.C. near Kunming is also garnering global acclaim.

 Other high profile, award-winning projects from Schmidt-Curley include Bali Hai and Siena Golf Clubs (Las Vegas), Amata Spring Golf Club (Chonburi, Thailand, four-time host of the PGA European Tour's Royal Trophy), Terra Lago Golf Club (Indio, California, site of the Skins Game from 1999 - 2002), Twin Creeks Golf Club (Cedar Park, Texas) and Crosby National Golf Club (Rancho Santa Fe, California).
 

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Starwood Hotels Opens 1st All-Inclusive Costa Rican Resort

(PLAYA CONCHAL, COSTA RICA) -- Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announced May 11 the opening of its first all-inclusive resort - The Westin Resort & Spa, Playa Conchal in Costa Rica. The property formerly known as the Paradisus Playa Conchal Resort will begin renovation on the hotel's 406 spacious suites and all public areas, which will be conducted in phases through December 2011. The Westin Resort & Spa, Playa Conchal marks the return of Starwood Hotels to Costa Rica after 20 years, and is the newest member of the Westin brand's resorts portfolio, which offers 40 resorts in the world's most sought-after vacation destinations.

"The opening of The Westin Resort & Spa Playa Conchal accelerates the brand's expansion in Latin America where Westin will open three more properties by the end of 2011 and double its portfolio by 2014," said Brian Povinelli, global brand leader for Westin Hotels & Resorts. "The Westin brand's emphasis on wellness plays well in diverse international markets and has fueled our phenomenal global growth. More than 90 percent of Westin hotels currently in development will open outside the United States."

Centered around an expansive, lagoon-style pool, The Westin Resort & Spa, Playa Conchal is adjacent to the championship Robert Trent Jones II golf facility and is easily accessible from the international airport in Liberia, Guanacaste. Inspiring wellness with its signature Westin The Spa, the resort features beautiful gardens, luxurious suites, thatch-roofed bungalows, as well as breathtaking vistas. Guests will enjoy a variety of outdoor recreation and nightly entertainment and several restaurants serving both local and international cuisine.

"Costa Rica is an increasingly popular destination for tourists and leisure travelers and a terrific location for our first all-inclusive Westin Resort," said Osvaldo Librizzi, President of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Latin America. "Recent growth in the all-inclusive luxury resort market in Mexico and Central America, coupled with increasing demand from our SPG members for vacation packages have created fertile conditions for our entry in the all-inclusive market."

Westin currently has six hotels in Mexico and one in Guatemala, and will be opening four more in Latin America during the next two years including The Westin Lima Hotel & Convention Center, Peru; The Westin Guadalajara, Mexico; and two in Panama: The Westin Panama and The Westin Playa Bonita.

"We are especially proud to be associated with Starwood in the management of The Westin Resort & Spa, Playa Conchal," said Helmuth Sauter, Director of Reserva Conchal. "The conversion of this scenic and restful retreat allows us to maintain our commitment of bringing outstanding all-inclusive service to our guests, while introducing the Westin brand's signature services and amenities to one of Costa Rica's most desirable destinations."

 

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