Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/533451
H O T E L H A P P E N I N G S B M & T ••• March/April 2015 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 10 Dunavant Enterprises, Inc., Chairman William B. Dunavant Jr., and its President and CEO William B. Dunavant III, recently revealed the plan and timeline for the new multi-phase Henderson Beach Resort in Destin, Florida. The Resort will be anchored by a spectacular 171-room hotel named "The Henderson, a Salamander Beach & Spa Resort." The Dunavants told assembled members of the media, business leaders and dignitaries that their team has engaged Sheila C. Johnson's Salamander Hotels & Resorts, one of the country's top luxury hotel companies, to assist with the develop- ment of and manage The Henderson, which is already under construction and will open in spring 2016. As the grand anchor hotel, The Henderson will fea- ture sweeping views of the Gulf of Mexico and pristine dunes, as well as a thoughtful, residential design. It is located on one of America's top beach- es and also adjacent to the 208-acre, envi- ronmentally protect- ed Henderson Beach nature preserve, which will offer a sense of privacy and a plethora of activities. Guests will enjoy nearly two miles of beach renowned for its white powdery sand and emer- ald-green water. "The World's Luckiest Fishing Village landed its biggest tourism catch today," said Dunavant Jr. "Our vision is to deliver a beachfront level of luxu- ry previously unavailable between New Orleans and Sarasota, and Salamander's team of professionals is the perfect fit to help us create, man- age and operate this destination resort of which the entire region can be proud." Dunavant Enterprises, Inc., is the Memphis-based company that owns the Resort. It features three operating divisions: a Global 3PL providing logistics and supply chain management around the world, a real estate and development group, and a capital management company. "Our planning and development team, Devcon Services Group and JGM Development, have been hard at work for 10 years under the leader- ship and direction of William Hagerman, our Senior Vice President of Development and Acquisitions," said Dunavant III. "Hagerman's vision for this beautiful property was integral in evolving it into the world-class desti- nation resort we are launching today." Future phases of the Henderson Beach Resort project may also add a 95-room beachfront hotel and nearly 200 luxury condominiums. The esti- DUNAVANT ENTERPRISES, INC., UNVEILS VISION AND TIMELINE FOR HENDERSON BEACH RESORT The Henderson will be the finest beachfront resort hotel built along Florida's Panhandle this decade and is being managed by Sheila C. Johnson's Salamander Hotels & Resorts. Pictured here from left: Mel Ponder, Mayor of Destin; Bill Hagerman, Senior VP of Development & Acquisitions for Dunavant Enterprises, Inc.; William B. Dunavant Jr., Chairman of Dunavant Enterprises, Inc.; Sheila C. Johnson, Founder & CEO of Salamander Hotels & Resorts; and Bill Dunavant III, President and CEO of Dunavant Enterprises, Inc.