Benchmark Hospitality International Welcomes The Villas of Grand Cypress Resort, Orlando, To Its Portfolio

The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, November 5, 2009 … Benchmark Hospitality International has announced the addition of The Villas of Grand Cypress Resort, Orlando, Florida, to its portfolio of distinctive resorts, conference centers and hotels. The announcement was made jointly by Greg Champion, chief operating officer of Benchmark Hospitality, and Michael Iwuc, senior vice president of Grand Cypress Florida, LP.

“We are delighted to welcome The Villas of Grand Cypress to the Benchmark Hospitality family,” said Mr. Champion.  “This widely-acclaimed resort is renowned for its exceptional accommodations, recreational amenities and service, and is a welcome addition to Benchmark’s growing portfolio of award-winning golf resorts.”

Mike Iwuc, senior vice president of Grand Cypress Florida, LP, expressed equal delight with the transition. “Grand Cypress has built an excellent reputation for providing world-class service, accommodations and golf to our guests,” said Iwuc.  "With their expertise in the meetings, travel, and golf industries, Benchmark Hospitality International complements all of our successes and is the perfect choice to take The Villas of Grand Cypress to the next level.” 

The Villas of Grand Cypress is a Four-Diamond property located in the Lake Buena Vista area of Orlando, adjacent to Walt Disney World and just minutes from Universal Studios and Sea World.  A member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, a global brand with 185 of the finest independently owned luxury hotels and resorts, the property is part of a 1,500-acre resort complex that includes The Villas of Grand Cypress, which features 146 elegantly-appointed accommodations comprised of Club Suites and one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom villas with full kitchens, living rooms and dining rooms.  The resort also offers guests a variety of dining alternatives.

The award-winning Executive Meeting Center at The Villas of Grand Cypress provides 7,200 square feet of distinctive conference and event function space, as well as meeting support services.  This space increases to 10,400 square feet in season, which includes an elegant air-conditioned pavilion.  

Widely-acclaimed as offering one of the nation’s most inspired golf experiences, the resort’s Grand Cypress Golf Club features 45 holes of Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf with varying degrees of play difficulty.  The 27-hole North, South and East Course is designed to challenge the most skilled golfer and provides three unique golf experiences on master-designed nine-hole courses.

The Grand Cypress Golf Club’s New Course provides another dimension of play at the resort with steeper and more challenging bunkers and slopes. Set in the midst of an open meadow, the New Course is Jack Nicklaus' homage to the famed Old Course at St. Andrews in Scotland. The links masterpiece was designed with double greens, stone bridges and walls, gorse mounds, burns, and pot bunkers as deep as 12 feet, all reminiscent of the Scottish original. 

The resort’s Grand Cypress Academy of Golf is rated one of the "Top 25 Golf Schools in America” by GOLF Magazine.  Additionally, The Grand Cypress Racquet Club features 12 Har-Tru and Deco Turf II courts for both casual and championship play.  

About The Villas of Grand Cypress
The Villas of Grand Cypress is owned by Grand Cypress Florida, LP.  The property is part of the 1,500-acre Grand Cypress Resort complex that also includes the Grand Cypress Golf Club and the Grand Cypress Academy of Golf, all operated by Benchmark Hospitality International.  For additional information, visit www.grandcypress.com.  

The Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress and Grand Cypress Racquet Club, operated independently by Hyatt Hotels Corporation, are also located at the Grand Cypress Resort complex. 

About Benchmark Hospitality International 
Benchmark Hospitality International is a leader in the management and marketing of resorts, conference centers, hotels, and Personal Luxury Hotels™.  The privately held company, launched in 1980, is a founding member of the International Association of Conference Centers.  Benchmark Hospitality is a worldwide organization operating properties in major metropolitan and resort destinations.  Benchmark's international headquarters is located in The Woodlands, Texas, near Houston, with regional offices in New Jersey and Connecticut.  International offices are located in Tokyo, Japan, and Santiago, Chile. For the location of Benchmark’s properties and additional information, visit www.benchmarkhospitality.com.