Innisbrook, A Salamander Golf & Spa Resort

Innisbrook, a Salamander Golf & Spa Resort—part of the Grand Golf Resorts of Florida—sprawls over 900 wooded acres in Innisbrook, Florida, near the St. Petersburg–Clearwater area and just 30 minutes from Tampa International Airport. Long known for its outstanding golf experience, the natural beauty of its lakes and rolling hills frames 72 holes of championship play with moss-draped cypress trees, towering pines, colorful hibiscus, and Southern azaleas.

Sheila Johnson bought the icon in 2007 with the goal of establishing Innisbrook as the west coast of Florida’s premier resort. In 2009, Johnson’s Salamander Hotels & Resorts completed a dramatic transformation of the property. Along with a top-to-bottom renovation of the meeting spaces, the project added two new restaurants, a spa, and a fitness center. The $26 million project also upgraded the 550 spacious villa accommodations (with full kitchens); six swimming pool complexes; tennis center; and four golf courses, including Copperhead, host to an annual PGA Tour event, and the Island Course, site of the LPGA-sanctioned Legends Tour Open Championship.

Meeting planners hold events for larger groups in three conference halls—flexible ballrooms with built-in stages, projection booths, and the latest in fiber-optic technology. In addition, for breakouts and more intimate gatherings, the resort offers two new boardrooms for up to 20 delegates and landscaped patios for outdoor events. The resort’s flexible venue options and ability to help planners achieve their goals have lead to a host of industry awards, ranging from <i>Successful Meetings</i> magazine’s Pinnacle to <i>Meetings &amp; Conventions</i> magazine’s Hall of Fame Gold awards.