BRADENTON, FLA. (Oct. 2, 2017) — Woodbine Development Corporation (Woodbine) and IMG Academy (IMG) broke ground on a 150-room upscale boutique hotel on the northern edge of IMG’s 500-plus-acre campus in Bradenton. The five-story hotel—which will be known as The Legacy Hotel at IMG Academy—will serve guests and clients of the world-class training facility, including visiting teams, coaches, student-athletes, staff and parents. Additionally, it will provide a go-to destination for visitors to the surrounding community. The hotel is anticipated to open in the fall of 2018.
Dallas-based Woodbine is developing the property for IMG.
“Woodbine loves hotels, but we also have a passion for sports that inspires the team approach our company takes to every project we do. All of that makes this particular partnership and hotel especially exciting for us,” said King Scovell, chief development officer and managing partner of Woodbine, which was introduced to the project by Pat Cowell, a longtime associate and friend of both Woodbine and IMG. “Once this hotel opens, IMG Academy will finally have world-class accommodations that align with its world-class facility—a big win for the sports campus and for Bradenton.”
Renowned for its unparalleled training facilities and premier performance resources for students and athletes, IMG hosts clients and guests from around the world for boarding school, youth and adult camps, college and professional athlete training, team training and events. The Legacy Hotel at IMG Academy will bring comfortable upscale accommodations adjacent to campus—also offering a luxury getaway with prime access to Gulf Coast beaches, shopping and local attractions.
“The Legacy Hotel at IMG Academy will support the continued growth on our campus and demand for first-class accommodations,” said IMG Academy Co-Managing Director Chip McCarthy. “It will significantly help further develop the long-term vision of our campus plan and give us a tremendous opportunity to better service our guests. We also look forward to bringing additional upscale lodging to our community.”
The Legacy Hotel at IMG Academy’s architecture is complementary to the existing modern structures on campus, while exhibiting an individualized theme that draws inspiration from movement. It will showcase a mix of patterns, hues, varied reflectivity and geometrical elements that create a sense of motion. The hotel will give a nod to the dynamic and specific nature of athletic movement through the placement, orientation, specifications and shading of the building’s extensive glazing. The overall design will serve to optimize energy efficiency by maximizing interior lighting while minimizing direct solar heat.
The interiors of the hotel will exhibit a sophisticated style that feels fresh and inviting for guests from around the world. Spaces will showcase rich materials, patterns and textures, among them: tile, quartz and wood finishes with metallic accents and pops of color throughout; striking vinyl wallcoverings and varied flooring surfaces; leather, wood and upholstered furnishings; and ambience-enhancing, design-driven artwork and lighting. In combination, all elements will create a place where visitors can feel at home while also enjoying the carefree feeling inherent in a hotel stay.
The amenity lineup at The Legacy Hotel at IMG Academy will feature an elevated lobby lounge and bar, a three-meal restaurant, as well as a massage and fitness facility. The hotel will also offer 5,060 square feet of flexible meeting space for seminars, specialized training and other functions. Alfresco amenities include a resort-style swimming pool, outdoor event areas and breakout spaces—ultimately creating a secluded and relaxing oasis within footsteps of the hotel building and the rest of campus.
