Aug. 29–ST. PETERSBURG — SCG Hospitality, whose principal is Tampa Bay Buccaneers' owner Bryan Glazer, has bought the venerable Vinoy Renaissance Resort and Golf Club in downtown St. Petersburg.
The deed had not been recorded as of today and the price has not been revealed. The sale includes a marina and golf club as well as the 362-room hotel.
"The Vinoy is a crown jewel for the City of St. Petersburg and the entire Tampa Bay area," Glazer said in a release. "I look forward to the Vinoy being just as iconic on its upcoming 100th anniversary as the day it opened in 1925."
The seller is RLJ Lodging Trust, which acquired the Vinoy last August as part of its $1 billion takeover of a Maryland company. It had announced that the venerable hotel was for sale, saying it wanted to get out of the resort business and concentrate on single-building, moderately price hotels like Embassy Suites.
SCH Hospitality hired The Plasencia Group, a Tampa-based hospitality investment advisory firm, to provide owner representation and development management.
"We are genuinely excited to work alongside Bryan on the Vinoy," Lou Plasencia, the firm's CEO, said in the same release. "St. Petersburg is an alluring lodging investment market and The Vinoy's ideal downtown waterfront location near so many walkable amenities makes it one of the most recognizable resorts in all of Florida."
The Vinoy will continue to be managed by Marriott under a long-term agreement. In a recent letter to members, RLJ said that the pavilion in the Tea Garden would be removed and that phase three of redevelopment plans — a fitness center and spa — would stay on hold.
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Contact Susan Taylor Martin at [email protected] or (727) 893-8642. Follow @susanskate
