This is the second of three planned renovation stages for Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa, with the full overhaul scheduled to conclude prior to spring break 2024.
Accommodation remodelling
Following the transformation of 305 of the hotel’s 590 spacious guest suites in the first phase, works are now moving onto elevating the remaining 285 rooms and adding four new lanai (veranda) rooms to its premium selection.
Building upon the resort’s tranquil aesthetic, the remodel enriches the brightness in each guestroom with a warmer set of blues and crisp white for contrast. The 590 total rooms and suites are being modified by floor and spaced out during the different renovation stages across each of the hotel’s two towers, Emerald and Spa, to avoid guest disruption.
Furthermore, the main lobby will be enhanced with new furniture, accent lighting, and coastally-inspired paint and fabrics to create an inviting atmosphere for checking in.
Dining revamp
All six on-site dining outlets will be rejuvenated, with updates to The Sandbar, Barefoot’s Beachside Bar & Grill and Picnix Poolside Market including a fresh coat of paint and modernised fixtures and furniture.
At The Coffee Shop, the counter space will soon feature white quartz countertops and a wood grain finish on the front of the counters and cabinets. Hilton will install new shelving and artwork throughout the room and tile the back wall for a fresh, modern atmosphere.
The objective at Seagar’s Prime Steaks & Seafood is to maintain its charm and ambiance by enhancing this area with new wood flooring and lounge furniture that captures the four-diamond experience it is known for.
Renovating Sandcastles
The onsite Sandcastles Lounge is preparing to receive new furniture, carpeting, and a large-screen TV, while the renovations at Sandcastles Restaurant will introduce an entirely new, elevated dining experience. With the addition of an exposed pizza oven, guests can watch Sandcastle’s chef prepare baked pizzas behind the bar.
In addition, a partition will divide the breakfast buffet line and the main dining area, allowing visitors to enjoy two atmospheres in the same space. Finally, heated plate risers will be added to the breakfast buffet line, joining the food-warming electromagnetic induction technology the resort introduced in 2022.
Elevating events
Across the 40,000 sq ft of indoor meeting space the property’s transformation will continue with the theatre, ballroom foyers, and smaller breakout rooms, including Heron and Pelican, receiving new colour schemes and updated wallpaper and light fixtures. Carpet updates in the foyer began last year and will continue throughout this year, along with the addition of coastal-inspired woodgrain doors.
The ceilings will be raised in the Heron, Pelican, and Sandpiper Meeting rooms during the design updates. Sandpiper will receive the most significant lift, with the 16in of additional height outfitted by chandeliers. The lobby-level bathrooms will also include design elements to match the renovation.
More for meetings
A 20-person boardroom will also receive a refresh, complete with a new oversized meeting table, carpets, and furniture, all in a traditional boardroom style. In addition, Hilton Sandestin Beach will introduce two new rooms to its meeting space. Designed with input from the hotel’s weddings, catering, and events team, the spaces will offer a flexible environment that fosters creativity, enhanced by cutting-edge technology.
These rooms will accommodate up to 45 people and deviate from the traditional formal setting, featuring an interactive touchscreen TV, bar service areas, comfortable seating including loveseats and chaise lounges, a vanity, dual fridge, and minimalist furnishings.
Spa shaping
Following the fitness centre’s refresh, the works programme will focus on the Serenity by the Sea Spa, which will receive new paint, flooring, and furniture in both the men’s and women’s lounges and additions including new lounge features and a couples treatment room.
A glass wall will separate the lounge chairs from the women’s area in the Zero Gravity Lounge, providing more privacy for relaxation. The new couples’ treatment room will include a wet bar, an electric fireplace and zero-gravity lounge chairs.
Exterior elements
To complement the coastal design elements inside, the entire exterior of the hotel, including the spa, public spaces, and pools, will be freshened up with lighting, furniture and subtle architectural elements. New seating will be added near the outdoor pool, giving guests additional space to lounge out and enjoy the Gulf Coast views.
Angelina Covington, general manager of Hilton Sandestin Beach, said: “Our team recognises the importance of enhancing our property and onsite amenities to reflect current trends and guest expectations. Updating the look and feel of the resort while continuing to provide the same great services and accommodations we have gained the reputation of providing for almost 40 years, will further elevate the Hilton Sandestin Beach experience.”
