The Renaissance World Golf Village Resort in St. Augustine, Florida Adds Two to Sales Team

Paul Dake & Jacqueline Bassett

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. December 04, 2014

December 4, 2014 - The Renaissance World Golf Village Resort and Convention Center in Jacksonville/St. Augustine, Florida has expanded its sales team with the addition to two highly respected hospitality industry sales professionals. Paul Dake has joined the resort as National Sales Manager, responsible for assisting meeting professionals, association executives, business executives, and incentive specialists with the coordination of meetings and programs at the resort. Among Dake's focuses are associations and corporations in Georgia, as well as sports groups. Jacqueline Bassett has joined the Northeast Florida resort as National Sales Manager, where she works with planners across all market segments and territories coordinating meetings and programs at the resort, with a focus on religious organizations, North and South Carolina associations and corporations, and golf groups. The announcement was made jointly by the resort's General Manager Jeffrey Oliasami and Director of Sales & Marketing William McBroom.

Together with the adjacent World Golf Hall of Fame, The Renaissance World Golf Village Resort and Convention Center is the largest combination hotel and convention center between Atlanta and Orlando, with 101,000 square feet of meeting and event space.

Dake came to The Renaissance World Golf Village Resort with extensive hospitality convention sales experience. This includes serving as Director of Sales for three years at the 600-room Amelia Island Plantation, where he oversaw a team of 9 sales managers and a total staff of 15. He also served as: Director of Sales at Hawk's Cay Resort in the Florida Keys for seven years; as Director of Sales for South Seas Resorts' nine waterfront properties for four years; and as Director of Mid-Atlantic Sales at Saddlebrook Resort in Tampa. His broad experience also includes creating and owning a site-selection company that assisted corporate clients in placing meetings and incentive programs.

Bassett joined the resort from the historic, Four-Diamond The Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville, North Carolina, where she was National Sales Manager, with a focus on serving the association market. Prior to that she was National Association Sales Manager for Interstate Hotels & Resorts, where she represented the Twin City Quarter Complex in downtown Winston-Salem, North Carolina, which included two full-service hotels. Her experience also includes five years as Group Sales Manager at the Four-Diamond Grandover Resort in Greensboro, North Carolina. She is a member of Meeting Professionals International (MPI), and the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI). She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business from Ware College in London, England.

“We are so proud to have Paul and Jacqueline on our sales team,” said McBroom. “They both bring significant experience and skills, a positive and helpful 'can do' spirit, and are valuable assets to meeting professionals and incentive specialists interested in conducting meetings or programs at our outstanding resort.”

Located within the lush 6,300-acre World Golf Village, The Renaissance World Golf Village Resort is the recipient of the “2013 Certificate of Excellence” from TripAdvisor. Not resting on its many laurels, the resort completed many enhancements in 2011. This included the opening of the Villagio Italian Grille; the opening of The Resort Shop, which serves a full menu of Starbuck's coffees, pastries, breakfast fare, sandwiches, soups, salads, wraps, and desserts, as well as an array of local gifts and souvenirs; and the expansion of its outdoor event and recreational space La Terrazza. The enhancements also included the additions of: a high-tech Masters Board Room; a beautiful fountain called La Piazza; and a picturesque gazebo. The resort also opened a UPS Store and Business Center on-site, for professional printing, binding, packing, shipping, and computer rental; and added a destination services and event planning department.

Guest rooms and suites at the resort feature 37” flat-panel screen LCD HDTV televisions, and the Marriott JackPack, which provides complete connectivity to the guests for laptops, MP3 players, digital cameras, and video game players. The rooms and suites feature a contemporary design with an Asian feel, which includes rich red bed coverings, crisp white linens, along with a color scheme of warm neutral gold. Rooms also feature high-speed Internet access, two telephones with data ports, a wet bar and refrigerator, an in-room safe, and in-room coffee.

The resort also boasts a dramatic nine-story atrium lobby, which features a Colonial/ Asian theme with lush foliage and a colorful 7-story modern hanging sculpture that is reminiscent of open Florida skies.

Recreational options at the resort include two championship golf courses: Slammer & Squire (just steps from The Renaissance Resort) and King & Bear (the only course in the world co-designed by Arnold “The King” Palmer and Jack “The Bear” Nicklaus). Guests also have access to four additional golf courses within 15 minutes of the resort, for a total of 108 holes of golf. Additionally, the resort features a pool, hot tub, and full-service concierge.

Meeting offerings at the resort include the 26,450-square-foot St. Augustine Ballroom, which can accommodate 2,700 for receptions or 1,500 for banquets, as well the 6,845-square-foot Legends Ballroom and an array of additional meeting rooms. The resort features comprehensive high-speed Internet, teleconferencing, lighting and audiovisual services, a permanent registration desk, and full catering services.

Guests and groups also are an easy walk to the one-and-only World Golf Hall of Fame, which is the ultimate destination for the celebration of golf's greatest players, with fun interactive exhibits, and historic golf artifacts. Groups have the option to book events in this unique and inspiring venue, which can accommodate up to 500 for receptions and 250 for banquets.

The World Golf Hall of Fame's 300-seat IMAX® 3D Theater, and a variety of picturesque outdoor venues, are available as well. These include the World Golf Hall of Fame Courtyard, a stage and lawn area, an 18-hole real grass putting course, a 132-yard Island Challenge Golf Hole, and the half-mile Walk of Champions that surrounds a scenic lake.

When visiting the resort, groups have the opportunity to take golf lessons at the renowned PGA TOUR Golf Academy, take fun eco-tours and chartered fishing trips, visit nearby pristine Atlantic beaches, enjoy exceptional shopping at two large outlet malls, and explore historic St. Augustine.

The resort also provides a complimentary shuttle for individual guests (based on availability) to and from historic downtown St. Augustine. The service enables guests to easily visit such sites in St. Augustine, which was founded in 1565 and is the nation's oldest city, as the historic Castillo de San Marcos fort, The Fountain of Youth, and shopping on the charming, brick-paved St. George Street. Additional options in downtown St. Augustine include the Old Town Trolley Tour, The Old Jail, and a variety of water activities.

For information on the resort, call 888-740-7020 or 904-940-8000, or visit www.renwgv.com .