The Latest in Luxury Resort & Real Estate News

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Ocean's Edge in St. Kitts Announces New Third Phase of Product

(FRIGATE BAY, ST. KITTS & NEVIS) -- The autumn is officially here which means that the cold winter weather is just a couple of months away.  Does that get you dreaming of a vacation home on a tropical island paradise?  Well your dream can now become a reality and it doesn't need to break the bank.   At Ocean's Edge Resort in St. Kitts, you can buy a freehold vacation property overlooking the ocean from the mid-$300,000.

When many resort developments are being delayed or cancelled altogether due to global economic crisis, construction and sales at Ocean's Edge are progressing well, with homes already handed over to owners.   With the first two phases nearing completion, the development team is ready to commence the next phase.

Cable Bay Hotel Development Company (CBHDC) announced this week that Ocean's Edge Resort, the luxury vacation home development on the eastern Caribbean island of St. Kitts, is launching the sales of Phase 3A, with construction of this phase commencing in late fall 2009. This new phase features interesting revisions to the approved master-plan, including a large-scale pool area in the center of the resort and the addition of two- and three-bedroom Poolside Cottages and three-bedroom beachfront penthouses to the unit mix  

"We are very excited about the updated master-plan with the additional properties now available complemented by a landscaped water feature," says Damian Hamp-Adams, regional sales director at Ocean's Edge. "Initial feedback on the revised master-plan has been extremely positive and we are confident that these revisions and enhancements will add great weight to the success of the sales program."

Ocean's Edge, a resort development with plans for 190 condominiums and 32 villa lots, is just about sold out of its first two phases with the construction of these phases slated for completion by the end of October 2009.    Several of the completed homes are already being rented out as Ocean's Edge is offering an interim rental-management program which provides rental and property management services to owners whose properties are completed prior to the resort operator coming on board.  This program is fulfilling the growing demand on the island for rental accommodation.

Sales and interest at Ocean's Edge continue to increase, despite the challenges the global economy is facing, with close to 20 homes sold in 2009.  Prices start from $359,000 for a one-bedroom beachfront apartment allowing purchasers at Ocean's Edge eligibility to apply for citizenship under the well-respected St. Kitts' Citizenship by Investment Programme.    

"In addition to the North American and UK markets, we are seeing a tremendous interest in Ocean's Edge from other markets with buyers this year coming from Russia, Dubai, Morocco, Pakistan, Germany and Switzerland giving the project a truly international feel," said Pauline Bonanni, director at Savills Select Resorts, the international agency appointed to sell and market Ocean's Edge. "The economic citizenship program has been a key factor in driving interest in Ocean's Edge and we expect this to carry on through 2009 and 2010."

St. Kitts' Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas toured the development in early September with Parliamentary Representative and Minister of Public Works, Utilities, Transport and Posts, Dr. the Hon. Earl Asim Martin and Minister of State with responsibility for Tourism, Sen. the Hon. Richard Skerritt.  Following the tour, in a press release issued by the Office of the Prime Minister, Dr. Douglas was quoted as saying, "All this is happening at a time when there is a global economic down turn there must be something tremendous about this place that can influence an investor to put over a million US dollars into a villa of this kind."

The updated master-plan at Ocean's Edge sees the introduction of 48 two- and three-bedroom Poolside Cottages. In Phase 3A, the two-bedroom Poolside Cottages are available and these single-story, semi-detached homes include two-bedrooms, two bathrooms, private plunge pool and garden.  The three-bedroom Poolside Cottages in a two-story layout will be offered in Phase 3B.   Reservations are currently being accepted on the first 10 two-bedroom Poolside Cottages at a special introductory price of $499,000 - a savings of $26,000 from the regular price of $525,000.   

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Dana Garmany to Step Down as Troon Golf's Chief Executive Officer

(SCOTTSDALE, AZ) -- Troon Golf's Dana Garmany, a golf visionary responsible for helping develop and operate many of the top golf resort communities in the world, announced Monday he will retire from his role as the company's chief executive officer on December 31, 2009.

Garmany, chairman and founder of Scottsdale-based Troon Golf, will be replaced as CEO by Hud Hinton effective Jan. 1, 2010. Hinton has served as president and chief operating officer of Troon Golf since 1999. Garmany will continue in his position as chairman of the board and will remain active in strategic company decisions, but all day-to-day activities and decision making will be handled by Hinton.  

"While planning to be an active chairman, I look forward, with my current clean bill of health, to some new challenges and will enjoy some time with my wife and children as they have had a very tough go of it watching my battle with cancer over the last year," Garmany said. "It has been my distinct pleasure to lead Troon Golf for 20 years and I am confident our company will continue in its success long into the future."

Garmany founded Troon Golf in 1990 with Troon North Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz., as its flagship property. Under Garmany's leadership, Troon Golf has grown to become the leader in upscale golf course management, development and marketing, encompassing nearly 200 golf courses in 26 countries and 31 states.

Garmany's success with Troon Golf, along with 25 years of industry experience developing and operating golf facilities worldwide has garnered countless recognition from golf's most prestigious accolades, including being named by both Golf Inc. and Golf Digest as one of the most powerful and influential people in golf. Garmany's influence has undeniably played a major role in redefining and raising the operational standards for domestic and international high-end daily-fee, resort, and private golf courses.

 "On behalf of the entire board of directors, I am delighted to have Hud Hinton assume the CEO role in addition to his role as President," added Garmany. "Having worked with Hud for a number of years, I am certain he is the right person at the right time. I am confident of Troon's future under Hud's leadership."

Hinton is widely recognized as one of the hospitality industry's most experienced brand, franchise and third-party management experts. His experience in the hotel industry totals more than 25 years, and prior to joining Troon Golf in 1999, he was executive vice president, hotel operations, North America, for Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide. Previously, Hinton spent more than seven years as senior vice president, operations for Westin Hotels and Resorts. Earlier in his career, Hinton served as managing director of New York's Plaza Hotel and general manager of the Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix, Ariz.

"I couldn't be more honored or humbled by this opportunity," stated Hinton. "Dana and I have worked together closely for 10 years now and I have been fortunate to benefit from his guidance and leadership. Dana is certainly an icon in the industry and he will leave very big shoes to fill."

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PGA Village Named to Top 75 Best Golf Resorts in America

(PORT ST. LUCIE, FL) -- PGA Village, one of the largest golf resort communities in the country, announced it was recently ranked No. 51 among the "75 Best Golf Resorts in North America," according to the latest listing by a panel of more than 900 Golf Digest course raters. The ranking marks the second-consecutive time that the facility has made Golf Digest's list, one of the most-coveted honors in the industry, as hundreds of resorts across the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean are reviewed.

Golf Digest's listing once again places PGA Village -- which features 54 holes of championship golf by Tom Fazio and Pete Dye at PGA Golf Club; the 35-acre PGA Center for Golf Learning and Performance golf instruction, technology, fitness and practice campus; and the PGA Historical Center, home to the Ryder Cup Trophy and the four major Championship trophies of golf -- alongside some well-known and impressive company including: Pebble Beach Resort (No. 1); Kiawah Island Golf Resort (No. 7); Pinehurst Resort (No. 10); Sunriver Resort (No. 43); The Lodge at Torrey Pines (No. 44); and Turning Stone Resort & Casino (Tied-No. 63), to name a few.

The panel moved PGA Village up six spots from its 2007-08 ranking, and the current listing places the facility among the top-five for all Florida-based golf resorts: The Ritz Carlton Golf Resort Naples (No. 32); Breakers Palm Beach (No. 35); Sawgrass Marriott (No. 42); PGA Village (No. 51) and Grande Lakes Orlando (No. 54). Other ranked Florida resorts include: Sandestin Resort (No. 59); Boca Raton Resort and Club (Tied-No. 63); Grand Cypress Resort (No. 66); Bay Hill Club and Lodge (No. 69); and Walt Disney World Resort (No. 74).

"The '75 Best Golf Resorts' honor speaks to every person that makes PGA Village so special to play, stay, live and learn the game of golf," said Bob Baldassari, PGA general manager, for PGA Village. "The facility is truly unlike any other, combining world-class golf, cutting-edge PGA Professional instruction and research, and an opportunity to trace the nearly 100-year history of The PGA of America at a one-of-a-kind golf museum. PGA Village is quite appreciative and proud of receiving one of the golf industry's most prestigious awards."

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