St. Joe Club & Resorts Names New Management Team at The Pearl in Florida
SOUTH WALTON COUNTY, FL - August 22, 2014 - The Pearl, operated by St. Joe Club & Resorts, has announced the appointment of a new management team for the 55 room luxury hotel, located at 63 Main Street, Rosemary Beach, Florida - only yards from the sugar-white sands of the Emerald Coast.
Shortly after St. Joe Club & Resorts assumed management of the boutique hotel, Gabrielle Testa joined as hotel manager. She has extensive experience in the luxury lodging and hospitality sector, including management roles with WaterColor Inn & Resort, as well as 12 years' experience at the Ocean Reef Club, a private club located in Key Largo, Florida.
Testa will oversee day-to-day operations at The Pearl, which opened in August 2013 and is included in Southern Living's Hotel Collection. She will also focus on creating opportunities to further develop the hotel's culture of superior guest service.
"St. Joe has long had a deep connection with Northwest Florida, and the company's unrivalled presence along the Emerald Coast is a reflection of its commitment to the area it calls home," Testa said. "The Pearl is another gem in the St. Joe Club & Resorts' collection, and it is the perfect complement to the upscale community in which the hotel is located. I look forward to furthering the hotel's already stellar reputation as a premier luxury vacation destination."
Testa is a native of New York and attended Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida. "I am excited to be here and to manage such an outstanding property," she said. "The Pearl is distinctive in its high level of service and its amenities, and we know that this area thrives on uniqueness."
Serving as the hotel's lodging manager since December 2013, Elliot Ford will continue overseeing front desk operations, in addition to new responsibilities in managing housekeeping and beach services departments.
"Our guests are not just looking for a hotel - they want an upscale experience," said Ford, a graduate of Michigan State's School of Hospitality Management.
"Our rooms are beautifully proportioned, luxuriously fitted and include the latest technology to enhance the guest's experience," he said. Via the in-room iPad, guests are able to order room service, set a wake-up call time, and even request their car from valet when departing.
"We are thrilled to have such a talented management team leading the latest addition to the St. Joe Club & Resorts brand," said Patrick Murphy, senior vice president of operations for The St. Joe Company. "They are an invaluable asset and we are confident they will lead the team in providing a best-in-class hotel experience at The Pearl."
Nestled on the shores of Northwest Florida's Scenic Highway 30A's sugar-white sand beach, The Pearl includes a host of upscale appointments and services, including Havana Beach Bar & Grill, Havana Beach Rooftop Lounge and Spa Pearl. Hotel guests also receive access to a range of St. Joe Club & Resorts amenities, including Shark's Tooth Golf Club, Camp Creek Golf Club, The Beach Club at WaterSound and the BoatHouse, featuring water sports, at WaterColor.
About The Pearl
The Pearl, a 55 room luxury resort, is located in the idyllic beachside county of South Walton along Scenic 30A and opened in August 2013. Like its namesake, The Pearl is intimate in scale and classic in style, with a destination restaurant, Havana Beach Bar & Grill, serving Gulf Coast Americana cuisine for brunch and dinner, as well as a full-service spa, signature pool area with rooftop lounge, and plush meeting facilities, and is a 20-minute drive from the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport.
For more information, or to make a reservation at The Pearl, please visit www.thepearlrb.com or call 850.588.2881.
About St. Joe Club & Resorts
St. Joe Club & Resorts SM is an exclusive membership club that provides access to a diverse offering of benefits and privileges at St. Joe owned and operated amenities and facilities. Amenities include the Beach Club at WaterSound®; three 18-hole championship golf courses-Shark's Tooth, Camp Creek® and SouthWood; one six-hole executive golf course-OriginsSM; two tennis facilities; and a fitness center. Numerous privileges including dining, recreational activities and social events are also offered. More information can be found on its website at www.stjoeclub.com. St. Joe Club & Resorts is operated by Troon.
About The St. Joe Company
The St. Joe Company is a Florida-based real estate developer and manager. The Company owns land concentrated primarily in Northwest Florida and has significant residential and commercial land-use entitlements in hand or in process. The Company also owns various commercial, resort and club properties. More information about the Company can be found on its website at www.joe.com.
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is a global leading lodging company based in Bethesda,Maryland, USA, with more than 4,200 properties in 80 countries and territories. Marriott International reported revenues of nearly $14 billion in fiscal year 2014. The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 19 brands, including: The Ritz-Carlton®, BVlgari®, EDITION®, JW Marriott®, Autograph Collection® Hotels, Renaissance® Hotels, Marriott Hotels®, Delta Hotels and Resorts®, Marriott Executive Apartments®, Marriott Vacation Club®, Gaylord Hotels®, AC Hotels by Marriott®, Courtyard®, Residence Inn®, SpringHill Suites®, Fairfield Inn & Suites®, TownePlace Suites®, Protea Hotels® and MoxyHotels®. Marriott has been consistently recognized as a top employer and for its superior business ethics. The company also manages the award-winning guest loyalty program, Marriott Rewards® and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® program, which together surpass 50 million members. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at 
