Sheila C. Johnson?s hotel company, Salamander Hotels & Resorts, finalizes new schedule for eagerly anticipated, luxurious 168-room Washington, D.C.-area resort
Announcement takes place at ceremonial ribbon cutting for new multi-million dollar water treatment facilities built by Salamander for the Town of Middleburg, a significant milestone in the resort?s construction.
Salamander Resort & Spa, the much-anticipated luxury resort being built in the storied village of Middleburg, VA, will open in August 2013.
Set on 340 acres amid Virginia?s famed horse country and lush vineyards, yet only a 30-minute drive from Washington, D.C.?s Dulles International Airport and an hour from the nation?s capital, the 168-room resort is already 65 percent complete. With a stated goal of achieving the Forbes Five Star and AAA Five Diamond ratings, Salamander Resort & Spa is the only luxury resort in the United States scheduled to open in 2013.
?I am delighted to finalize this opening timeline,? said Resort Owner Sheila C. Johnson, who is also CEO and founder of Salamander Hotels & Resorts, the hotel company overseeing the design, development and management of the resort. ?This property has been my passion ever since I set foot on it nearly a decade ago. It is unmatched in ease of access and equestrian heritage, and it promises to be the finest new destination to open on the East Coast in many years.?
Johnson announced the schedule alongside Middleburg Mayor Betsy Allen Davis as they formally dedicated the town?s new water and wastewater treatment plants. Using state-of-the-art technology and costing $11 million, the facilities were built by Salamander and recently began serving the town?s residents and businesses.
?Today?s ceremony is a significant milestone in the resort?s development, and represents Salamander?s dedication to serving the community as well as its future guests.? said Mayor Davis. ?As a town, we look forward to welcoming visitors from all over the world to our beautiful area.?
Designed to blend into its natural environment and replicate the architectural traditions of Virginia?s countryside, Salamander Resort & Spa features luxurious rooms and suites inspired by renowned designer Thomas Pheasant, a 23,000-square-foot lavish spa and unique ?treehouse? treatment rooms, a full-service equestrian center with a 22-stall stable and practice ring, Virginia Piedmont-inspired dining overseen by James Beard-nominated Chef Todd Gray, a dedicated cooking studio, wine bar and culinary garden. The resort is positioned at the center of Virginia?s emerging wine country ? with over 20 wineries located within a 30-minute drive.
The resort features 12,000 square feet of conference and event facilities, including a 5,000-square-foot grand ballroom and a restored 100-year-old Stallion Barn. Already registered for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, the Salamander Resort & Spa sales team is now accepting group bookings.
Johnson founded Salamander Hotels & Resorts in 2005, and brought on respected hospitality executive Prem Devadas as the company?s president. She also has ownership in three professional sports teams: the NBA?s Washington Wizards, the WNBA?s Washington Mystics and the NHL?s Washington Capitals. She is also well known as the co-founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET). At the end of 2011, Salamander launched two new collections in Florida and the Dominican Republic. The portfolio now features:
Grand Golf Resorts of Florida, which includes three of the Sunshine State?s grandest golf resorts: Innisbrook Resort in Tampa Bay, Reunion Resort in Orlando, and Hammock Beach Resort in Palm Coast.
Grand Resorts at Cap Cana in the Dominican Republic, which includes the oceanfront Sanctuary Cap Cana, the marina-inspired Fishing Lodge Cap Cana, and the future Ocean Club Cap Cana.
The Forbes Five Star- and AAA Five Diamond-rated Woodlands Inn near Charleston, SC.
Rates during peak season at Salamander Resort & Spa range from $425 to $575 per night for a deluxe 540-square-foot guest room, depending on views and unique features such as working fireplaces. Suite pricing ranges from $775 to $3,500 per night. Special group rates and packages for individual travelers are also available. For more information about the resort, visit www.salamanderresort.com, e-mail [email protected] or call 866-938-7370. For group sales, call 1-540-687-3710.