NAPLES, Fla.—The Waldorf Astoria Naples has been transitioned to the independently branded Naples Grande Beach Resort & Naples Grande Golf Course. The hotel is currently underway on an $18 million dollar renovation and redesign of all 474 guestrooms and suites, three restaurants, beach area, and common spaces. The hotel will remain open and operational through the renovation, with the completion to be unveiled in January 2015.
Northwood Hospitality purchased the property in October 2013 and has worked with Hilton to continue to operate the hotel with the Waldorf Astoria brand. Northwood’s vision for the property will focus on enhancing the resort aspects while also positioning it to become a premier meetings hotel in the southeast United States.
“The decision to transition to an independent brand reinforces Northwood’s portfolio-wide strategic approach to owning and managing luxury properties in desirable markets and to better position our growing asset base,” says Jonathan Wang, managing director at Northwood Investors. “We have enjoyed working collaboratively with Hilton and look forward to future projects where the brand is a better fit. Northwood’s capital investment into the property is consistent with the company’s overall focus to provide distinguished and authentic hospitality experiences and luxury products in strong markets.”
“We see a tremendous opportunity within the unique characteristics and offerings of the resort,” says David McCaslin, president of Northwood Hospitality. “In addition to the complete new design look of the rooms, the property enhancements include furnishing each guestroom balcony to elevate the in-room experience, and customizing each of the three pools to bring a variety of aquatic offerings that exist alongside our secluded sunset beach, which is accessed through a scenic and protected mangrove sanctuary. We are excited at the opportunity to create a new independent luxury brand that will deliver the same level of luxury and innovation that has become accustomed to the Northwood portfolio.”
The resort has 474 guestrooms including 29 gulf view suites and 50 bungalow suites plus more than 83,000 square feet of meeting and event space. Every room features a private, angled balcony with direct views of the Gulf. Guests of the hotel have access to five on-site restaurants and bars, three heated outdoor pools with a 100-foot waterslide, a full-service luxury spa, 8,000-square-foot fitness center, business center, and a tennis facility with 15 courts. The property is surrounded by 200 acres of a protected mangrove estuary intertwined with a system of bridges and elevated walking paths that afford access to three miles of beachfront on the Gulf of Mexico. The property is also immediately proximate to the Waterside Shops.
The Naples Grande Golf Course is a Rees Jones-designed private course located minutes from the hotel. The 18-hole, par 72 course features 6,955 yards set among a landscape of native Florida pine hammocks, live oak, grand cypress trees, and water features.
