Earlier in November, Gurney’s Resorts announced it was acquiring Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort and Spa outside of Phoenix, AZ. The property would be the first outside of the East Coast (Gurney’s has two hotels in Montauk, NY and one in Newport, RI), as well as its first not located directly on the water.
Under the new ownership, the property will operate as Sanctuary Camelback Mountain, a Gurney's Resort & Spa; current general manager Michael Surguine, will continue in his role. That said, the hotel will undergo a property-wide renovation beginning in summer 2022 (although it will remain open during the update).
Luxury Travel Advisor caught up with Gurney’s Resorts owner George Filopoulos to see why now was the right time for the company’s westward expansion and what guests can expect from the new resort.
“Expansion has always been one of our top priorities,” Filopoulos tells us, adding that the company has been looking for its next property since acquiring Gurney's Star Island Resort & Marina in Montauk in 2018. The transaction for Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort and Spa, he adds, has been in the works for nearly two years. “We are thrilled to now get to share this milestone news for our brand and look forward to what’s to come.”
Regarding the move out West, Filopoulos says the decision “was very asset-specific.” He explains, “We ultimately decided on Sanctuary as the property encompassed many of the same attributes we’ve cultivated at our previous projects. Our brand has always been guided by the mission to provide world-class amenities in exclusive resort destinations and adding the Sanctuary into our portfolio felt like a natural extension of this.”
The rooms, pools and restaurants are all expected to receive updates as part of the rebranding. Filopoulos notes that Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort “is a terrific and beloved resort,” and Gurney’s is “committed to protecting and preserving its special magic” throughout the enhancement project. Design elements will pull from the resort’s natural surroundings.
As for the future of Gurney’s Resorts, you can definitely expect more properties on the horizon—but that doesn’t mean the company will expand for the sake of expansion. “As the Gurney’s brand has built a specific look, feel and identity, we will continue to be mindful when looking to add further properties,” Filopoulos tells us. “Our top consideration when exploring options in the future will continue to be identifying similar characteristics that have made our previous projects so successful.”
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