250 Room Sandestin Hotel Set to Open in 2020

Sandestin Investments, LLC (SDI) has received a development order from the Walton County Board of County Commissioners to proceed with the building of a new 250-room full-service hotel and conference center. The Sandestin Hotel and Conference Center will be located adjacent to the Baytowne Conference Center at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. This four-star hotel is the first new development within Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in over 4 years. Construction will commence in August 2018 with completion projected for April 2020.

"To remain competitive, locally, regionally and nationally, we identified the need to provide new product, new services and new amenities," stated Sara Becnel, Executive Director, Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. "We are excited to bring this full-service hotel and conference center to Sandestin's myriad of offerings."

The new full-service hotel will include a three-meal restaurant, a lobby bar, room service, a luxury spa, a fitness facility, a signature rooftop pool and bar allowing Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort to better meet the needs of our leisure traveler as well as expand our group business. "This hotel will bring a fresh new guest experience and offer something to the resort that is not currently available," added Becnel.      

Where hotels of this size would normally have 8,000 to 10,000 square feet of meeting space, Sandestin's new hotel will include 20,000+ square feet of meeting space and feature a 13,000-square foot ballroom. This meeting space, contiguous to the 30,000+ square feet of existing meeting space at Baytowne Conference Center, will allow Sandestin to book much larger groups, upwards of 800 participants or multiple group configurations simultaneously.

"Since the hotel has 250 keys, we anticipate group overflow in the adjacent condominiums on the Sandestin Rental Program," Becnel added.  "This increase will be beneficial as they will see more and consistent occupancy year-round." The Baytowne Conference Center will be fully renovated as part of the new hotel project with consistent finishes throughout.

Additionally, guests of the hotel will have access to the many amenities offered by Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort including more than seven miles of beaches and pristine bayfront, four championship golf courses, 15 world-class tennis courts, a 113-slip marina.  Due to its prime location near The Village of Baytowne Wharf, hotel guests will also have access to and enjoy this charming pedestrian village filled with events, shopping, dining and nightlife.