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DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--KSL Capital Partners, LLC (“KSL”) announced today that it has acquired The Belfry, a renowned hotel and golf resort in Wishaw, Sutton Coldfield, North Warwickshire, England.

Conveniently located near England’s two largest cities, London and Birmingham, by both car and train, The Belfry features seven food and beverage outlets, a 25,000-square-foot fitness center, a spa and 20,000 square feet of meeting space. Spread across 550 acres, the 324 room property is the world’s only four time host of The Ryder Cup, having held the tournament in 1985, 1989, 1993 and 2002, on its world famous golf course, The Brabazon. The Belfry is also home to the PGA National Golf Academy and, in addition to The Brabazon, features two additional golf courses – PGA National, England’s only PGA branded golf course, and The Derby.

KSL plans a comprehensive renovation of the hotel, including the public areas, guest rooms, dining outlets and meeting spaces to enhance the overall guest experience. Given the unique and expansive nature of the resort campus with multiple guest room buildings, conference locations and food and beverage outlets, The Belfry will remain fully open during the renovation.

The resort will be managed by a subsidiary of the De Vere Group, which through its brands De Vere Hotels, Venues and VILLAGE, owns and operates 62 refreshingly different locations with a modern British flavor throughout the United Kingdom. The De Vere Group previously owned and managed the resort prior to its sale in 2005 to the seller, an affiliate of The Quinn Group.

“The Belfry has a proud heritage and is widely known as the ‘spiritual home of The Ryder Cup,’ and we are honored to be the next stewards of this great property,” said Richard Weissmann, one of KSL’s partners. “Given KSL’s experience owning and operating large scale golf and spa resorts across the United States, The Belfry is the perfect opportunity for our first resort investment in Europe. We believe De Vere’s familiarity with today’s European travelers combined with our planned renovations will provide guests of The Belfry a new level of luxury, service and amenities.”

About The Belfry‍

Located in Wishaw, Sutton Coldfield, in West Midlands, England, The Belfry is blessed with a rich and fascinating past, dating back to its origins as a House of Note in Edward the Confessor's medieval time. In more recent years, The Belfry has become renowned all over the world as a golfing Mecca, allowing players to walk in the footsteps of their Ryder Cup legends.

Set on over 550 acres, it is the perfect retreat for business, golf and so much more, combining modern day luxuries and facilities with all of the heritage and charm associated with its iconic ivy-clad façade.

To learn more about The Belfry, please visit www.thebelfry.co.uk.

About KSL Capital Partners‍

KSL is a private equity firm specializing in travel and leisure enterprises in five primary sectors: hospitality, recreation, clubs, real estate and travel services. KSL has offices in Denver, Colorado and New York. KSL’s current portfolio includes some of the premier properties in travel and leisure, including The Grove Park Inn, The Homestead, Montelucia Resort & Spa, Barton Creek Resort & Spa, Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa, The Royal Palm, La Costa Resort and Spa, and ClubCorp, one of the world’s largest owners of private golf and business clubs. KSL also owns other premier recreation businesses, including Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows, two of the leading ski resorts in North America; Western Athletic Clubs, the owner and operator of luxury fitness clubs on the West Coast of the United States; and Orion Expedition Cruises, a luxury expedition cruise operator based in Sydney, Australia.

For more information on KSL, please visit www.kslcapital.com.

About The De Vere Group‍

De Vere Group is one of the United Kingdom’s largest independent leisure and hospitality businesses consisting of 62 properties across two principal hotel brands, De Vere Hotels and De Vere Village Urban Resorts, and the United Kingdom’s largest residential conference and training company, De Vere Venues. De Vere serves more than 7,000 guestrooms, 460,000 square feet of meeting space, 16 golf courses, 47 fitness centers and 25 spas. De Vere Hotels consists of 11 resorts across the United Kingdom, including Cameron House, on the shores of Loch Lomond, The Grand in Brighton, Oulton Hall, Leeds and Mottram Hall near Manchester, England. De Vere Village Urban Resorts combine the best of modern hotels with cutting edge food and beverage all combined with a full service fitness center that offer fully equipped gyms, fitness classes, pools and spas that are available to both members and hotel guests.

For more information on the De Vere Group, please visit www.devere.co.uk.

Denver, Colo. (May 1, 2012) – KSL Capital Partners, LLC announced today that it has completed the previously announced acquisition of the historic Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa. One of the most iconic resorts in the United States, the 512-room Grove Park Inn sits between the majestic Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains in Asheville, North Carolina. Constructed in 1913, the resort features one of the country’s most widely acclaimed spas, eight dining outlets and seven retail outlets, an 18-hole Donald Ross-designed golf course, a 50,000-square-foot sports complex, and 55,000 square feet of meeting space with 42 meeting rooms.

As part of the resort’s Centennial celebration in 2013, KSL Capital Partners is planning to embark on an extensive $25 million renovation of the resort’s public areas, guest rooms, dining outlets, meeting spaces and spa that will honor the historic style of the resort while enhancing the guest experience.

The resort will be managed by KSL Resorts, a leading independent hotel management company.

About The Grove Park Inn‍

Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, just beyond the energy of downtown Asheville, North Carolina, The Grove Park Inn is sanctuary for the soul. Enchanting mountain vistas, lush green fairways, warm Southern charm, and passionate hospitality make The Grove Park Inn an oasis for family vacations and romantic getaways. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and one of Travel + Leisure’s Top Spa Resorts in the country, The Grove Park Inn is the place to relax, rejuvenate, explore, play, eat and celebrate. Located adjacent to the resort are 24 sophisticated residences of The Fitzgerald, a luxury condominium development. To learn more about The Grove Park Inn, please visit www.groveparkinn.com. To learn about the acclaimed Fitzgerald condominiums at The Grove Park Inn, please visit www.thefitzgerald.info.

About KSL Capital Partners‍

KSL is a private equity firm specializing in travel and leisure enterprises in five primary sectors: hospitality, recreation, clubs, real estate and travel services. KSL has offices in Denver, Colorado and New York.

KSL’s current portfolio includes some of the premier properties in travel and leisure, including The Homestead, Montelucia Resort & Spa, Barton Creek Resort & Spa, Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa, The Royal Palm, La Costa Resort and Spa, and ClubCorp, one of the world’s largest owners of private golf and business clubs. KSL also owns other premier recreation businesses, including Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows, two of the leading ski resorts in North America; Western Athletic Clubs, the owner and operator of luxury fitness clubs on the West Coast; and Orion Expedition Cruises, a luxury expedition cruise operator based in Sydney, Australia. For more information on KSL, please visit www.kslcapital.com.

About KSL Resorts‍

Founded in 1992, KSL Resorts manages nine time-honored resorts with outstanding recreational amenities including spa, golf, tennis and ski. Each is refined yet unpretentious, rich in legacy and genuine in service. The KSL Resorts portfolio of properties includes:

• Hotel del Coronado (San Diego, Calif.)
• Beach Village at The Del (San Diego, Calif.)
• La Costa Resort and Spa (Carlsbad, Calif.)
• Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa (Rancho Mirage, Calif.)
• Vail Mountain Lodge & Spa (Vail, Colo.)
• Barton Creek Resort & Spa (Austin, Texas)
• The Homestead (Hot Springs, Va.)
• Montelucia Resort & Spa (Scottsdale, Ariz.)
• The Grove Park Inn & Spa (Asheville, NC)
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For more information, visit www.kslresorts.com.

Denver, Colo. (April 10, 2012) – KSL Capital Partners, LLC announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire the historic Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa from an affiliate of Sammons Enterprises, Inc. One of the most iconic resorts in the United States, the 512-room Grove Park Inn sits between the majestic Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains in Asheville, North Carolina. The agreement is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the next 30 days.

As part of the resort’s Centennial celebration in 2013, KSL Capital Partners is planning an extensive $25 million renovation of the resort’s public areas, guest rooms, dining outlets, meeting spaces and spa that will honor the historic style of the resort while enhancing the guest experience.

Sammons has owned and operated the resort for nearly 60 years. Following the acquisition, The Grove Park Inn will continue to operate as an independent luxury resort and will be managed by KSL Resorts, a leading independent hotel management company. KSL Capital Partners and KSL Resorts have extensive experience in owning and operating historic properties such as The Grove Park Inn.

“The Grove Park Inn has a deep and storied past and we understand the importance of honoring the history of the property while providing the next level of service and amenities that today’s guests demand,” said Marty Newburger, a principal of KSL Capital Partners. “We believe the experience KSL Resorts has in managing properties like The Grove Park Inn partnered with our planned capital improvement program will bring a further level of luxury, service and amenities for our guests and the community to enjoy.”

About The Grove Park Inn‍

Constructed in 1913, the resort features 512 rooms, one of the country’s most widely acclaimed spas, eight dining outlets and seven retail outlets, an 18-hole Donald Ross-designed golf course, a 50,000 square foot sports complex, and 55,000 square feet of meeting space with 42 meeting rooms. Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, just beyond the energy of downtown Asheville, North Carolina, The Grove Park Inn is sanctuary for the soul. Enchanting mountain vistas, lush green fairways, warm Southern charm, and passionate hospitality make The Grove Park Inn an oasis for family vacations and romantic getaways. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and one of Travel + Leisure’s Top Spa Resorts in the country, The Grove Park Inn is the place to relax, rejuvenate, explore, play, eat and celebrate. To learn more about the Grove Park Inn, please visit www.groveparkinn.com.

About KSL Capital Partners‍

KSL is a private equity firm specializing in travel and leisure enterprises in five primary sectors: hospitality, recreation, clubs, real estate and travel services. KSL has offices in Denver, Colorado and New York.

KSL’s current portfolio includes some of the premier properties in travel and leisure, including The Homestead, Montelucia Resort & Spa, Barton Creek Resort & Spa, Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa, The Royal Palm, La Costa Resort and Spa, and ClubCorp, one of the world’s largest owners of private golf and business clubs. KSL also owns other premier recreation businesses, including Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows, two of the leading ski resorts in North America; Western Athletic Clubs, the owner and operator of luxury fitness clubs on the West Coast; and Orion Expedition Cruises, a luxury expedition cruise operator based in Sydney, Australia. For more information on KSL, please visit www.kslcapital.com.

About KSL Resorts‍

Founded in 1992, KSL Resorts manages nine time-honored resorts with outstanding recreational amenities including spa, golf, tennis and ski. Each is refined yet unpretentious, rich in legacy and genuine in service. The KSL Resorts portfolio of properties includes:

• Hotel del Coronado (San Diego, Calif.)
• Beach Village at The Del (San Diego, Calif.)
• La Costa Resort and Spa (Carlsbad, Calif.)
• Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa (Rancho Mirage, Calif.)
• Vail Mountain Lodge & Spa (Vail, Colo.)
• Barton Creek Resort & Spa (Austin, Texas)
• The Homestead (Hot Springs, Va.)
• Montelucia Resort & Spa (Scottsdale, Ariz.)

For more information, call (866) KSL-7727 or visit www.kslresorts.com.

About Sammons Enterprises, Inc.‍

Founded in 1938, Sammons Enterprises, Inc. is a diverse holding corporation that owns and operates companies in three core business sectors – financial services, equipment distribution and hospitality and real estate. Sammons is dedicated to building the world’s premier ESOP-owned company through a commitment to high ethical standards, industry-leading businesses, solid financial performance and a true values-based culture, where every person makes a difference.

Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, with assets of almost $50 billion, Sammons Enterprises consistently ranks in the top 150 on Forbes’ “America’s Largest Private Companies” list. For more information, visit www.sammonsenterprises.com.

DENVER (June 1, 2011) – KSL Capital Partners, LLC (KSL), a private equity firm, today announced that it has completed the final closing of KSL Capital Partners III, L.P. (the Fund), which will specialize in investments in travel and leisure businesses. With in excess of $2 billion in commitments, the final closing significantly exceeded the original target amount of $1.5 billion. Investors in the Fund include public and private pensions, foundations, endowments, institutions and high net worth individuals and families.

KSL was founded by Michael Shannon and Eric Resnick in 2005. KSL currently has in excess of $3.5 billion in equity commitments under management.

“This new Fund will utilize the same investment principles we have used in our prior investment vehicles,” said Michael Shannon, managing director. As a sector fund specializing only in travel and leisure businesses, we take a very hands-on approach to our investments. We believe that this is a unique time in the market to be able to deploy the investment strategy that we have successfully used for more than 20 years.”

“The Fund is the third investment vehicle we have raised since 2005. We greatly appreciate the interest shown in the Fund by both our existing and new investors. We are excited to continue to pursue attractive investments in the areas of hospitality, recreation, clubs, resort real estate and travel service businesses,” added Managing Director Eric Resnick.

KSL’s team of dedicated investment professionals is based in Denver and New York. In addition to founding partners Eric Resnick and Michael Shannon, other principals in the firm include Craig Henrich, Peter McDermott, Marty Newburger, Bernie Siegel, Steven Siegel and Richard Weissmann.

About KSL Capital Partners‍

KSL Capital Partners is a private equity firm specializing in travel and leisure businesses. KSL Capital Partners has offices in Denver, Colorado and New York.

KSL’s current and prior investments include some of the premier properties in travel and leisure, including:

• Montelucia Resort & Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona
• The Royal Palm in Miami Beach, Florida
• Squaw Valley USA near Lake Tahoe, California
• Western Athletic Clubs, headquartered in San Francisco, California
• Orion Expedition Cruises, headquartered in Sydney, Australia
• ClubCorp, Inc., headquartered in Dallas, Texas
• Barton Creek Resort & Spa in Austin, Texas
• The Homestead in Hot Springs, Virginia
• Rancho Las Palmas in Rancho Mirage, California
• Hotel del Coronado in San Diego, California
• La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, California
• Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Arizona
• Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa in Maui, Hawaii
• Claremont Resort & Spa in Berkley, California
• Emerald Point Resort at Lake Lanier Islands, Georgia
• Doral Golf Resort & Spa in Miami, Florida
• La Quinta Resort & Club in La Quinta, California
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For more information, please see www.kslcapital.com.

DENVER, Colo. (May 23, 2011) - KSL Capital Partners, LLC (KSL) announced today that it has acquired InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona. Opened in 2008, the resort boasts 293 rooms and suites, five pools, six dining options, the 31,000 square foot Joya Spa with 19 treatment rooms, and more than 90,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space. Nestled at the base of Camelback Mountain, the resort’s convenient central location offers easy access to the area’s best golf, recreation, nightlife and entertainment. Montelucia has been extraordinarily well received by its guests having been ranked #13 on Travel + Leisure’s list of the “Top 50 Resorts in the U.S. and Canada.”

Following the acquisition, the resort will operate as an independent luxury resort, Montelucia Resort & Spa, and will remain affiliated with InterContinental Hotels & Resorts as an InterContinental Alliance Resort. The resort will be managed by KSL Resorts, a leading independent hotel management company. KSL Resorts has a rich history in the market, having managed the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa from 2000 to 2006.

As an InterContinental Alliance Resort, the resort will have access to IHG’s global reservations system and marketing channels. Guests at the resort will be able to continue to benefit from the InterContinental Hotels “in the know” experience as well as IHG’s Priority Club® Rewards, the world's largest hotel loyalty program with 58 million members.

“Montelucia Resort & Spa has quickly become the preeminent luxury resort in the Scottsdale area, offering the services and amenities that today’s travelers demand in an unparalleled setting,” said Bernard Siegel, principal at KSL Capital Partners. Moreover, Scottsdale is one of most desirable vacation spots in the United States. The combination of management by KSL Resorts and being an InterContinental Alliance Resort will bring a whole new level of luxury and service to the market.”

About Montelucia Resort & Spa‍

Inspired by the rich history, white-washed villages and sun-drenched hills of Spain’s Andalusia region, Montelucia Resort & Spa brings the essence of Europe to the heart of Scottsdale. With arching entryways, splashing fountains, floral walkways, and a collection of antiquities hidden throughout the property, Montelucia is an enchanting resort destination that boasts 293 luxuriously appointed guestrooms, the Moroccan-inspired Joya Spa, six tempting dining options including the critically-acclaimed Prado restaurant, a myriad of radiant pools and breathtaking views of Camelback Mountain. Montelucia Resort & Spa also includes the adjacent luxury Montelucia Villas single-family home community. These villas include expansive 4,200 square-foot residences that enjoy views of Camelback Mountain and have access to the services and amenities of the resort.

For more information, please visit www.montelucia.com.

About KSL Capital Partners‍

KSL Capital Partners is a private equity firm specializing in travel and leisure enterprises in five primary sectors: hospitality, recreation, clubs, real estate and travel services. KSL Capital Partners has offices in Denver, Colorado and New York. For more information, please visit www.kslcapital.com.

KSL s current and prior investments include some of the premier properties in travel and leisure, including Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa, The Royal Palm, La Costa Resort and Spa, Hotel del Coronado, the Claremont Hotel Club & Spa, the San Francisco Bay Club and its sister clubs, as well as ClubCorp, the world’s largest owner of private golf and business clubs. KSL also owns other premier recreation businesses, including Squaw Valley USA, one of the leading ski resorts in North America, Western Athletic Clubs, the owner and operator of luxury fitness clubs on the West Coast, and Orion Expedition Cruises, a luxury expedition cruise operator based in Sydney, Australia.

About KSL Resorts‍

Founded in 1992, KSL Resorts manages eight time-honored resorts with outstanding recreational amenities, including spa, golf, tennis and ski. Each is refined yet unpretentious, rich in legacy, and genuine in service. The KSL Resorts are:

• Montelucia Resort & Spa (Scottsdale)
• Hotel del Coronado (San Diego)
• Beach Village at The Del (San Diego)
• La Costa Resort and Spa (Carlsbad, Calif.)
• Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa (Rancho Mirage, Calif.)
• Vail Mountain Lodge & Spa (Vail, Colo.)
• Barton Creek Resort & Spa (Austin, Texas)
• The Homestead (Hot Springs, Va.)
  For more information, please visit kslresorts.com.

About IHG‍

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global company operating seven well-known hotel brands including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo®, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn® Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites® and Candlewood Suites® . IHG also manages Priority Club® Rewards, the world’s first and largest hotel loyalty program with 58 million members worldwide.

IHG is the world’s largest hotel group by number of rooms and IHG franchises, leases, manages or owns, through various subsidiaries, a portfolio of over 4,400 hotels and more than 652,000 guest rooms in 100 countries and territories around the world. IHG has more than 1,200 hotels in its development pipeline and expects to recruit around 160,000 people worldwide over the next few years. InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group’s holding company and is incorporated in Great Britain and registered in England and Wales. IHG offers information and online reservations for all its hotel brands at http://www.ihg.com and information for the Priority Club Rewards program at www.priorityclub.com. For our latest news visit www.ihg.com/media, Twitter www.twitter.com/ihgplc or YouTube http://www.youtube.com/ihgplc