Mixed-use Wyndham development
Developer Barrasford and Bird Worldwide has selected Wyndham Worldwide as its franchise partner for its first mixed-use development in Europe.
Offering a combination of hotel accommodations, as well as luxury leisure residences, the Wyndham Halcyon Retreat Golf and Spa Resort in Limousin, central France, is the first of its kind in the region to leverage the joint power of the hotel and vacation exchange business at Wyndham Worldwide.
The new agreement includes the construction of the 225-room resort hotel to be franchised through the hotel group, and the ability for purchasers of luxury residences to travel to destinations around the world through the Registry Collection, a luxury holiday program from RCI.
Due to open as a Wyndham in early 2017, the Wyndham Halcyon Retreat Golf and Spa Resort is set in 220 acres of stunning landscape within the historic Château de la Cazine in the Limousin region of France, located less than an hour’s drive from Limoges international airport.
Two 16th century turreted chateaux form the striking centrepiece of the resort, housing a luxury hotel and world-class spa centre. In addition, the resort boasts extensive leisure facilities, including a children’s adventure zone, equestrian centre, two fishing lakes and an 18-hole golf course. Guests can choose from a wide range of fine dining options, including a Michelin-starred restaurant and a sommelier’s wine and cocktail bar. The resort’s ‘Le Village’ area has a boulangerie, delicatessen, boutiques and more, putting an authentic French community at the heart of the guest experience.
“Only Wyndham could provide us with this perfect alliance of both hotel and leisure residence exchange through its Wyndham Hotel Group and The Registry Collection businesses,” said Robin Barrasford, managing director, Barrasford and Bird. “This deal gives our residential leisure properties a truly unique advantage while delivering exceptional experiences and value to our hotel guests. As property developers, we also benefit greatly from the international reach in terms of distribution and marketing that working with this global hospitality leader gives us.”
“The signing of Wyndham Halcyon Retreat Golf and Spa Resort is a significant milestone in our development; partnering with our fellow Wyndham business unit, RCI, for the first time within the region is a testament to the flexibility only we can offer developers,” commented Dan Ruff, Wyndham Hotel Group’s president and managing director, Europe, Middle East, Eurasia and Africa. “This magnificent resort provides a blueprint for investors and property owners who are looking to develop mixed-use resorts and benefit from the unique breadth and scale of our diverse hospitality business.”
Through the franchise, the resort will offer diverse holiday options to meet a variety of traveller expectations, from exceptional nightly stays to full vacation ownership.
Dimitris Manikis, vice president, RCI Europe, Middle East and Africa, said: “Together with Wyndham Hotel Group, we can offer a seamless mixed-use business model that is unique in the lifestyle options it provides buyers of a resort’s residential leisure properties. This model presents a stronger offering to buyers, giving them far more value from their purchase than they would get from a stand-alone second home purchase.”
Through RCI, owners who purchase a high-end residence at the Wyndham Halcyon Retreat will be provided a membership into The Registry Collection, the world’s largest luxury network of its kind, which will allow them to swap time at their individual property for a chance to travel to hundreds of other high-end resorts within the network.
The Wyndham resort adds to Wyndham Hotel Group’s existing portfolio of properties in France across Chantilly, Frégate and Paris under the Dolce and TRYP by Wyndham brands.
