| SAVANNAH, Ga., Dec. 3, 1999 - For 266 years, people have viewed the
Savannah River as the northern border of the city. Today the city limits
will extend across the river with the grand opening of The Westin Savannah
Harbor Resort. The $98 million resort was developed by a partnership of
CSX Real Property, Inc. of Jacksonville, FL, Starwood Hotels Resorts Worldwide,
Inc. of White Plains, NY, Troon Golf of Scottsdale, AZ, and several local
Savannah investors. Westin Hotels Resorts will manage the property.
�We are proud to be an active participant in the vibrant tourism community
and we look forward to adding the quality and reputation of Westin to the
Historic District of Savannah,� said John Cottrill, the resort general
manager.
The Westin is the first complete component of Savannah Harbor, a resort
and residential development on Hutchinson Island, overlooking the Savannah
River and Savannah�s famed Historic District. Early next year, the development
will include the Savannah International Trade Convention Center, the Club
at Savannah Harbor and The Greenbrier® Spa. Eventually, the community
will also include a residential component along with marina and retail
facilities.
The 16-story, 403-room resort features
a full range of amenities, services, and activities including a full-service
Greenbrier® Spa, lighted Har-tru tennis courts, a Troon-managed championship
18-hole golf course designed by golf legends Robert Cupp and Sam Snead,
400-foot floating dock, exercise room and two heated outdoor pools.
The Westin Savannah Harbor Resort dominates the view from River Street
toward Hutchinson Island. The design recognizes the impact of the hotel
on downtown Savannah by adapting the language of Regency Style Savannah
landmarks such as the Telfair and Scarbrough Houses to its much grander
scale. The tower and two-story podium ensemble are divided into a well-defined
base, body,
and top using the restrained neoclassical detailing |
Westin Savannah Harbor Resort
On exclusive Hutchinson Island,
fronting
Savannah's historic district
|
introduced to Savannah by William Jay. Motifs such as the arched windows
of the ground level, the doric porte-cochere and the semi-circular lunette
windows reinterpret Jay�s work for this contemporary resort. The
tower is surmounted by two domed cupolas, which frame the bay-windowed
facade of the tower. The towers give Hutchinson Island a romantic skyline,
recalling the many towers and domes of old Savannah. At ground level, the
hotel�s pool and gardens blend seamlessly into a riverwalk, which echoes
that on the city side of the river. The hotel�s grand lobby and principal
public spaces take advantage of the dramatic downtown views, while the
interiors echo the historic panorama. Artwork was selected to showcase
artists raised or trained in Savannah at the Savannah College of Art and
Design.
The property�s proximity to the Savannah River is represented throughout
the building not only in AquaStar, the resort�s signature restaurant, but
also in the meeting and special event spaces with names like the Harbor
Ballroom, Moorings, the Boardroom and Riverscape, one of the private dining
rooms. Outdoors, spacious lawns, gardens and terraces take advantage of
the natural beauty of the waterfront location and views of the Historic
District skyline.
AquaStar will delight diners with the incredible natural light and
views of the Savannah River. While the views will entice patrons through
the doors, the culinary delights will bring guests back for more. Seafood
is the primary focus of AquaStar, and the variety of preparation is far
from ordinary. Diners will have the choice of lowcountry favorites or other
exotic flavors from the sea.
The bar, Midnight Sun, named after a song written by Savannah native
Johnny Mercer, features classic cocktails with unique local twists such
as the Mercertini, a version of the classic dry martini. The atmosphere
is pure Savannah, quaint and homey with dark wood accents and doors that
lead out to the terrace overlooking the river and pristine marsh.
Each guest room features all the standard upscale amenities and services
provided by Westin including our most recent innovation, the Heavenly Bed.
The Heavenly Bed was designed to be the best bed in the industry and consists
of a custom-designed Simmons Beautyrest pillowtop mattress set, cozy down
blanket, three crisp sheets ranging in thread count from 180-250, comforter,
duvet coverlet and five pillows. In Georgia, Westin operates
three additional properties including The Westin Peachtree Plaza in Atlanta,
The Westin Atlanta Airport and The Westin Atlanta North at Perimeter. |
