The InterContinental global hotel company has announced plans to open its latest InterContinental resort hotel as the centerpiece of the $200 million Wildflower Resort development project, spanning a 1,000-acre lakefront peninsula in Grand Prairie, Texas. The InterContinental Wildflower is the first domestic U.S. resort property to be added to the brandå‘s portfolio.

The InterContinental Wildflower, integral to the new $200 million Wildflower Resort, joins more than 20 other InterContinental resort properties around the world in destinations including; Cancun, Cozumel, Bali, Bora Bora, Victoria Falls, Los Cabos and Moorea. It will be owned by Wildflower Resort Company and managed by InterContinental Hotels Corporation.

Construction is scheduled to begin in late 2003 and the hotel is expected to open in 2005. The five-story main building of the hotel, with numerous ancillary buildings, will include 500 luxury guestrooms, 77 of which will be suites, together with a 25,000 sq-ft, world-class spa and fitness centre.

Designed as a group meeting and golf destination, the resort will also include a 75,000 sq-ft conference centre and a 36-hole golf complex with a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course and Sergio Garcia’s first golf course design.

“We are pleased to introduce the InterContinental Wildflower to the growing portfolio of InterContinental hotels in North America,” said Bob Massey, vice president of business development, InterContinental Hotels Group. “The hotel is strategically positioned to serve both business and leisure travellers and we are looking forward to delivering the world-renown InterContinental experience to all of our guests.”

“InterContinental is the ideal hotel for the Wildflower Resort because the brand is best positioned in the industry to exceed the expectations of our target market as an international group meeting and golf destination resort,” said Raymond J. Goad, President & CEO of Wildflower Resort Company.

Destined to become an architectural landmark, the InterContinental Wildflower Hotel recalls the Texas ranch configuration with a forecourt, main house and numerous ranch-style buildings. Hotel amenities will include:
A brand new 25,000 sq-ft health spa and fitness centre with state of the art exercise facilities, lounges, gardens, lap pool, treatment rooms and luxury day rooms

Access to the 75,000 sq-ft Grand Prairie Conference Centre

185-seat casual dining restaurant

80-seat specialty restaurant

Separate marble shower and garden tub in each guest bathroom

Access to the 36-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature/Sergio Garcia golf courses

Several outdoor pools and lounge areas

Lakefront beach area with naturally landscaped 300 ft. slide.

Isaac Manning and Daniel Burds of Trinity Works Capital of Fort Worth, Texas are acting as financial advisors for the Wildflower Resort Company. Wildflower Resort is being developed under a design build contract with Turner Construction as Project Manager and General Contractor, associated with Gensler architects. The development team includes Troon Golf, who will manage the Nicklaus and Garcia designed golf courses.
Other consultants include: Landscape Architect, MESA Design Group, Dallas; Structural Engineer, Thornton-Tomasetti Engineers, Dallas; MEP Engineer, James Johnston & Associates, Inc., Dallas; Civil Engineer, Schrickel, Rollins & Associates, Arlington, TX; Life Safety (Code), Rolf Jensen & Associates, Dallas; Lighting Design, Craig Roberts Associates, Dallas; Food Service Facilities, Cini-Little International, Inc., Ft. Lauderdale, FL; and, A/V Acoustics, Pelton Marsh Kinsella, Dallas.

InterContinental Hotels Group is a leading global hotel group whose brands include; InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express and Staybridge Suites. It owns, operates or franchises more than 3,300 hotels and over 515,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries and territories around the world.

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