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By
PGA.com news services
10.11.2006
08:30 pm (ET)
AVENTURA, Fla. -- The Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort & Club is embarking on a $100 million-plus, total makeover of the property to create one of the most elite hotels in the world, resort officials have announced. The project is expected to be finished by mid-December. Turnberry Isle offers a Mediterranean resort with 407 rooms and suites located midway between Miami and Fort Lauderdale International airports. The resort is renowned for its award-winning golf facilities, Willow Stream spa, tennis, ocean beach club and fine dining. "We are rebuilding the rooms from the studs out," said Mark Isabelle, principal of Shakman Hospitality, which will handle the renovation. "The finishes in the rooms will be world-class, from Italian marble in the bathrooms to Venetian plaster walls and faux art painting. We have assembled some of the best craftsmen and artisans in the world to complete this project on a fast-track basis, in less than five months." Rooms will be totally gutted and rebuilt. Guest entryways will be solid bamboo and maple hardwoods with floor coverings of custom-designed carpeting. Walls will be either crafted with trowelled-on Venetian plaster or striae faux finish. Guest bathrooms will be completed in calcuttaoro-accented with crystal white mosaic trim, with polished chrome plumbing fixtures by Waterworks. New designer lighting fixtures will accent the Mediterranean ambiance of the resort. "This is a massive project that requires meticulous attention to detail under a very rigorous schedule," said Philip Goldfarb, president and chief operating officer of Turnberry Associates, which owns the resort. "We chose Shakman because of the skillful work they did on two other world-class resorts in South Florida, the Cheeca Lodge & Spa and the Brazilian Court Hotel, as well as other luxury properties nationwide. Their range of expertise from handling the basics such as electrical and HVAC issues to creating unique finishes, also played an important role in the decision." Copyright 2006 PGA.com. All rights reserved.
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