The Suite Spot travels to Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida, to go to the historic Mission Resort + Membership as the following cease within the Highway Journey sequence. This property is famend for its prestigious golf programs, pure setting, and wealthy Florida historical past relationship again to the early 1900s.
Tune in to listen to from Normal Supervisor Cindy Staley and Director of Agronomy Danny Parks as these two be a part of the Suite Spot.
Ryan Embree:Welcome to Suite Spot, the place hoteliers examine in, and we take a look at what’s trending in lodge advertising and marketing. I’m your host, Ryan Embree. Good day everybody. Welcome to a different episode of The Suite Spot. That is your host, Ryan Embree. For those who’re watching us on YouTube, you may inform we’re not in our Suite Spot podcast studio, however as an alternative, proper in our yard on the Mission Resort + Membership. It’s such a privilege to be right here. I simply acquired off a tour. It was improbable. We’re gonna speak all about it at present. And now we’re joined right here by Cindy Staley, Normal Supervisor of the Mission Resort + Membership. Cindy, thanks a lot for becoming a member of me on the Suite Spot.
Cindy Staley:Nicely, thanks for being right here. We recognize you popping out to the resort.
Ryan Embree:It’s an unimaginable property you’ve right here. Earlier than we speak slightly bit extra about it, get in depth about its facilities, the visitor expertise right here, speak to us slightly bit about your hospitality journey and the way you ended up right here on the Mission Resort + Membership.
Cindy Staley:How far again would you like me to go? Simply kidding. I really all the time needed to be within the hospitality trade, even in, consider it or not, highschool. I needed to be a chef. Went to school for it. Actually simply noticed what the lodge enviornment and resort enviornment might deliver to me. You’re by no means bored. Yeah. There’s all the time one thing new or one thing completely different to do. So I labored my means up. I’ve been within the central Florida space since 2005 working extra within the Orlando market. This chance got here up roughly three years in the past. And that’s when the prior proprietor bought or bought the property and bought it to MMI Hospitality Group. With that, I used to be employed earlier than they got here to the lodge, they usually really took it over in December of 2022. So we’ve been by means of this transition of the prior proprietor to the brand new proprietor, each households and have been by means of the transition of what MMI has completed within the final two and a half, nearly three years.
Ryan Embree:It’s unimaginable, and we’re gonna speak about that at present. However getting again to that time, a historic property like this with such a wealthy historical past, that’s not one thing that simply can hand over to one thing. It requires plenty of care, and I believe that’s an actual testomony to MMI hospitality that they’re entrusted on this, this actually, you realize, jewel that has been round for, for thus lengthy. It’s actually, actually cool to see. Speak to us slightly bit about, we, we heard concerning the golf facet. Clearly that in itself is, makes it a vacation spot, however you realize, as normal supervisor, you’re clearly managing over the company that you just host right here. Speak to us slightly bit concerning the property, the visitor expertise, and a few of the unimaginable facilities outdoors of golf.
Cindy Staley:Completely. MMI had had owned it for I believe, 60 plus years, the King and Prince Resort, which is on St. Simon’s Island in, in Georgia. In order that they’re good at managing historic properties. Mission Resort, it has been right here since 1964 when the prior proprietor bought it. They usually actually recreated the property from the golf course that was inbuilt 1917, which is El Campeon. After which all through the years, created the resort constructing by constructing, creating 176 guestrooms. We even have suites and villas included in that. They constructed three eating places superb status eating places from La Hacienda, the Breakfast Restaurant, La Margarita is our lunch and dinner restaurant. After which the Golf Clubhouse, which is simply going by means of a reputation change known as the Grove Home. And it was formally Knickers Golf Clubhouse.
Ryan Embree:And speak to us slightly bit about, as a result of I believed it was fascinating how that title change. You contain the members right here at Mission Resort. Speak to us slightly bit about that course of.
Cindy Staley:Nicely, we really feel that membership involvement is essential. And we really got here up with various names after which put it out to the members to vote on the title modified. And the Grove Home is what they chose because it, which actually represents the realm with the citrus groves within the surrounding communities.
Ryan Embree:It’s so cool as a result of I believe, you realize, I hear plenty of tales from this space and members speaking about, you realize, bringing their youngsters, possibly even grandchildren. And to be part of that chapter that you’ve got now to say, possibly I used to be an element, a small a part of voting for this and seeing that title change is admittedly, actually cool. Outdoors of the meals and beverage experiences, there’s been another renovations to the property, together with the spa. Let’s speak about that.
Cindy Staley:Yeah. We’ve got a 6,200 sq. foot spa. We really had an area design agency are available in and assist us with the design and recreation of the spa. The businesses known as Humble Abode, after which the principal designer is Tiffany Whitley. She got here in and actually captured the pure environment, the Florida pure look, incorporating plenty of serene decor and which actually enhances our companies and coverings that we have now on our menu.
Ryan Embree:Yeah, I believe it matches, you realize, the setting that, that you’ve got right here, which is, once more, it’s a, it’s a secluded retreat. I’m positive you’re getting plenty of curiosity from, from locals. Clearly occasions you’ve right here, internet hosting weddings, that spa golf mixture actually nice for I’m positive plenty of newlyweds or folks collaborating in these sorts of occasions. Let’s speak concerning the, we’ve talked about outdoors of the room, however clearly some, some renovations have occurred inside and, and a brand new re-imagination of these rooms. Let’s speak about that.
Cindy Staley:We simply accomplished our visitor room renovation, within the first quarter, renovating or re-imagining 176 visitor rooms. Wth that we had three design and architectural corporations that had been concerned, with the design and actually, once more, included the texture of the realm. Additionally they used some black and white historic photographs that they launched and actually put into the venture within the visitor rooms and the corridors. So it’s form of distinctive strolling by means of and also you’re seeing a few of once more, the historical past within the photographs.
Ryan Embree:It’s so cool as a result of you realize, once more, we speak about on-line status on a regular basis, or a digital advertising and marketing podcast that’s at coronary heart. However a spot like this, you may simply really feel its status. It form of precedes itself. As I discussed earlier than, you might need generations which have visited this place, folks getting married right here, folks, sharing experiences right here for the primary time. Speak to us slightly bit concerning the status of the Mission Resort and Membership and the way, you realize, your staff actually speaks to that, that historical past, but additionally is reinventing itself proper now.
Cindy Staley:Completely. Being right here for 60 years, you do have plenty of that repeat folks that get pleasure from coming right here. Whether or not it’s in our grand brunches, which we host each main vacation, you all the time hear the native folks which have been right here and coming right here for 20 years, 10 years. They only make a, you realize, their, their yearly occasion with these celebrations to the golf buddy teams that repeat. We’ve got various teams that began small and have gotten bigger, however they repeat yr after yr or each different yr, to weddings as you talked about. Final week we had a bride and groom that had been married right here 5 years in the past. They arrive right here yearly to rejoice their anniversary. And their reminiscences are simply actually necessary to them, they usually all the time wanna go to that spot that they had been married at or that was necessary to them.
Ryan Embree:And that’s the kind in hospitality. You’ve been there, you realize, opinions a 5 star assessment right here on TripAdvisor, Expedia. Like, that’s the kind of status that’s so strong, transformational, you realize, that they’ll, that they’ll always remember. And as a very key piece to their story and journey. It’s so cool to listen to that and be at a property with such wealthy historical past. Let’s speak about form of the way forward for, of this property and, and what you see as normal supervisor.
Cindy Staley:Certain. Going again slightly bit to the social media, it’s so necessary due to the great thing about the resort. We showcase plenty of the visuals with the reels and the photographs as a result of whenever you see it, it simply is a lovely, stunning expertise, stunning resort within the space. In order that’s actually necessary to us. We’ve got plenty of future plans developing. We’re within the planning means of doing a little extra renovations or gentle touches in particular areas. So hopefully we have now a pair coming to the top of this yr and into subsequent yr, simply once more, to proceed the historical past and the great thing about the realm, what occurred in 1917 with the primary golf course to what it’s at present.
Ryan Embree:And Cindy, let’s speak about additionally the, you’ve fairly a little bit of convention area right here as nicely. You host various company occasions. It appears to be like like o over right here to my proper. We simply had one the opposite day. Clearly, mom’s Day was proper round on the nook, most likely a type of household traditions you had been chatting with. However speak to us slightly bit about company occasions and the method, how your staff is concerned and the way it form of makes it a seamless course of right here. Certain.
Cindy Staley:We’ve got over 30,000 sq. ft of indoor and out of doors occasion area. We are able to home something from company retreats, conferences, weddings, actually any special day. So we’re very and it’s unfold out. So for instance, when you, we have now three wedding ceremony venues. We are able to host three weddings on property in any given day. And the brides by no means actually run into one another ’trigger they’re very separate. And once more, all three are stunning areas from a golf view to a resort view to little Lake Harris over the lake view. So, some nice area. So far as company conferences go, we have now two good ballrooms to host occasions with breakout area. And our group and catering conference service staff does such a pleasant job in promoting the for the assembly after which really simply working by means of and producing every little thing all through the assembly. And our staff members right here actually know the service facet from when you’re checking in to, when you’re the chef of the occasion, There’s a lot versatility to the area. I.
Ryan Embree:noticed a number of locations on property the place you might have it. After which all tied in with a few of these unimaginable facilities and a number of eating places, the right place. But additionally, what concerning the leisure traveler? What concerning the possibly native that has heard Mission Resort + Membership, however they haven’t visited but? What would you say to them?
Cindy Staley:Come out and see us. We’re an awesome place. Lots of people assume that we could also be non-public, however we’re open to the general public. All of our venues, our eating places are open to the general public. And once more, you may come right here and spend, three days per week and there’s a lot to do on property. After which once more, there’s a lot pure, his historic and nature issues to do within the space that it’s not the theme parks, but it surely’s the great thing about the lake. We’ve got plenty of springs round that folks get pleasure from going to we’re very near Mount Dora, so we simply actually are in an awesome location for that Florida pure expertise.
Ryan Embree:Yeah. Once more, although that is thought of the street journey sequence, it does really feel like I’m transported some place else. And as Floridians, we reside in Florida, we hear the touristy spots, we’ve acquired the seaside. However that is simply such a distinct ambiance. It’s such a novel ambiance. Actually invite, you realize, our Suite Spot listeners and viewers to test it out as a result of it, you realize, social media, such as you mentioned, Cindy, superb. And also you’ve acquired some nice spots for it. But it surely definitely doesn’t do it justice. Us being up there on the, on that ridge overseeing the whole thing of the lake, the resort acquired a lovely property right here.
Cindy Staley:Thanks. And we’re solely 35 minutes from Orlando, so you may even have one of the best of each worlds.
Ryan Embree:Completely. So we love to listen to. Nicely, thanks a lot, Cindy. You’ve been an absolute pleasure being on the, on the Suite Spot podcast.
Cindy Staley:Nicely thanks for having me.
Ryan Embree:I’m right here joined by Danny Parks. Danny, thanks a lot for being on the Suite Spot.
Danny Parks:Thanks for having me.
Ryan Embree:We simply acquired again from an unimaginable tour of this property. We’re gonna speak all about it at present, however earlier than we do this, give us slightly little bit of historical past on you, Danny, your expertise right here with the resort.
Danny Parks:Nicely, I’ve been right here for 11 years. Began out on the golf, began out because the golf course superintendent on the Los Colineas course again in 2016. Took over the complete property. That’s the resort, panorama. And each golf programs grew up on this space, graduated Leesburg Excessive, go Yellow Jackets, been right here since then.
Ryan Embree:And anyplace that you just’ve been 11 years, sometimes that might imply that you just’ve been right here for the, nearly the whole thing of its existence, however not with Mission Resort + Membership, proper? No, this has a wealthy, wealthy historical past. Speak to our viewers slightly bit about, possibly these aren’t acquainted, the historical past of this historic
Danny Parks:Spherical. Nicely, the El Campeon Golf course was initially inbuilt 1917. I don’t keep in mind these occasions. And that was a very long time in the past. So clearly during the last hundred, plus years, the golf course has reworked what it’s now. However the character of the course, the elevation adjustments from tee to inexperienced. 85 foot drops, 85 foot rises, you realize, that’s one thing you sometimes don’t see right here in Florida. And El Campeon is a particular course.
Ryan Embree:And the lodge itself, the resort itself was impressed by actually attention-grabbing story that you just shared with me. Share that with our viewers.
Danny Parks:So, the again in 1964, Nick Butcher bought the resort and the golf course. The resort on the time wasn’t what the resort is now. However previous to that, in his younger age, in1920s, he took a visit from Texas to Mexico Metropolis. And as he took that journey by means of Mexico, he would go to those cities and other people would write about ’em. They’d put these information newspaper articles about these two gringos going, going by means of Mexico all the way in which right down to Mexico Metropolis. And once they acquired to Mexico Metropolis, there was a parade for ’em. There was a celebration, you realize, they usually didn’t know something about it. Form of not like now with so social media the place each, each transfer is tracked. In order that was form of his inspiration for the Spanish artwork structure form of fell in love with it. It,
Ryan Embree:Yeah, it’s such a love story to that Mexican tradition. And it’s actually cool to see plenty of the eating places that you’ve got right here he golf course you realize, even a few of the convention rooms that you’re touring me at have that Spanish inspiration to them, which is admittedly cool. However the different facet of that is the pure Florida. You, you mentioned that is very pure, this place. We talked about a few of the wildlife that you just see right here. It looks like a retreat, a serene escape. It’s very exhausting to consider that the hustle and bustle Orlando, that possibly lots of people are recognized for it’s recognized for, is simply lower than an hour away. Speak to us slightly bit about form of that pure magnificence that you just had been speaking about.
Danny Parks:Nicely, as quickly as you are available in by means of the entrance, the entrance gate, you may see it. , there’s, there’s your large extensive spreading moss draped oaks. Your reside oaks. , you’ve your stunning slash pines which might be 40, 50 ft within the air. Your panorama across the resort is all mature, so that you’re secluded. It’s very quiet. You don’t hear visitors, you don’t hear planes. , you may each from time to time hear somebody’s little single prop airplane, however very uncommon. Not often do you’ve, have that. It’s simply stunning. It’s quiet.
Ryan Embree:It’s nice. I imply, once more, within the hustle and bustle of Florida, you had been saying there’s a lot elevation change right here, and that is pure elevation change that you just had been sharing with me on the golf course. You’ll be able to see over the horizon, you may see the tree tops, once more, one thing that’s actually not anticipated in Florida to see, however there’s additionally some wildlife right here as nicely that you just’re sharing.
Danny Parks:We’ve got eagles. ee have had a bear, one bear, you realize he form of left actually quick. Gaotrs you realize, each pond in Florida’s acquired a gator. We’ve got bobcats, sandhill cranes, you realize, geese clearly proper behind us, you realize, a pond. And we have now geese there. Throughout the wintertime, we have now had a sighting of a panther. I haven’t seen it, however, there’s one image that we’ve seen. So the wildlife is superb right here, particularly at Solar sundown. And also you out right here driving round and also you see plenty of it.
Ryan Embree:Yeah. The pure magnificence right here, is unimaginable that I used to be in a position to form of see on that tour that you just shared with me. You host plenty of occasions right here, whether or not, you realize, we’re speaking about weddings, there’s some nice spots there, company enterprise that comes. Speak to us slightly bit about what an occasion may appear like right here on the Mission Resort + Membership.
Danny Parks:Nicely, I’ll deal with golf as a result of that’s, that’s form of the place I’m, I’m golf. Completely. So we’ve, we host many junior occasions many collegiate occasions. Only recently we hosted the division three, regional, so the Southeast Regional, the place there was over 100 gamers from completely different faculties within the south southeast making an attempt to qualify for the Nationwide Championship. That’s not unusual, you realize, a typical saying in, in our division, division just isn’t our first RO rodeo. Bcause we do host so many occasions and it’s a nice, an awesome spot for an occasion, a typical occasion, you realize, you begin on the market on the pad the place we get you arrange in a cart whether or not your occasion has complete sponsors or no matter. We get you out. There you go. Have your enjoyable, come again in, you get pleasure from a pleasant, a pleasant meal. After which go house.
Ryan Embree:Yeah. And for the golf fanatic, speak to us slightly bit concerning the distinction between the 2 programs.
Danny Parks:So El Campeon is is old-fashioned hyperlinks. So that you’ll have holes that run facet by facet. So that you hit a foul shot, there’s likelihood you might be in one other truthful fairway with a gap to the inexperienced that you just wish to go to. But it surely additionally has these el elevation adjustments the place when you’re going uphill, you might need to take a pair golf equipment as a result of it’s slightly bit lengthy, longer gap Los Colinas of the 18 greens, solely 12 of ’em are seen from the tee. Every part else is blocked out by a canine leg, or a tree. So when you’re not acquainted, the golf course can grow to be very exhausting.
Ryan Embree:Favourite gap?
Danny Parks:Quantity two, Los Colinas.
Ryan Embree:Oh yeah. Superior.
Ryan Embree:Danny, nicely thanks a lot for the tour. Thanks a lot for spending the time with us. And you realize, once more, encourage any golf fanatic to positively come go to you down right here and see a tour of this place. It’s actually outstanding.
Danny Parks:Thanks to your time
Ryan Embree:To hitch our loyalty program, you should definitely subscribe and provides us a 5 star score on iTunes. Suite Spot is produced by Journey Media Group. Our editor is Brandon Bell with Cowl Artwork by Bary Gordon. I’m your host Ryan Embree and we hope you loved your keep.
