After some delay due to the coronavirus pandemic, Hotel Effie Sandestin opened this February in Miramar Beach, Florida, with a fresh, feminine look. Along with shopping, golf and a marina, Hotel Effie provides decadent meals from James Beard Award-winning chef Hugh Acheson. Here, Sara Becnel, vice president of development for Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort and general manager of Hotel Effie, gives us the inside scoop.
WHO IS EFFIE, AND WHAT IS HER LEGACY?
Named after my great-grandmother Effie Burns, Hotel Effie exemplifies all the charm and personality of its namesake. Her legacy is about creating a welcoming environment and the authentic style of service that defines genuine southern hospitality.
Effie was the ultimate Southern hostess. She always had an open spot on her rocking chair and a warm meal for anybody who came to visit. We have her portrait in the hotel lobby along with two rocking chairs, so you can sit and take your picture with Effie herself.
WHAT IS A “HOTEL FOR WOMEN?”
Women are the predominant travel planners in the household, so we wanted to create a hotel and a space that would drive them to not only come the first time but also rebook. The flexible spaces within the guest rooms have design features that were strategically placed with a woman in mind. For example, there is an accent light in the shower and a toe bar on the bottom, which is for women to place their foot on while shaving their legs. The bathroom has an enlarged countertop with an illuminated mirror for ease of makeup application.
For those seeking natural light when applying makeup, there’s also a mirror at the desk near the window — a second vanity space, complete with plugs for styling tools. Each room comes with a steamer and strategically-placed electrical outlets to ensure curling irons and blow dryers have their own space in the bathroom. The rooms are conducive to multiple people putting on makeup or styling their hair at the same time — great for girls trips or bridal parties. Couples will enjoy not having to fight over the bathroom space!
In terms of decor, there’s movement throughout the space with feminine touches.
WHAT IS THE DECOR INSPIRATION FOR HOTEL EFFIE?
We worked with Cooper Carry, one of the top hospitality architecture firms out of Atlanta, Georgia, and they did a great job. Our goal was to make Effie feel like it fit into the aesthetic of the complex where it’s located and still be new and fresh. We wanted it to have a little bit of a southern nod, which is where the exterior brick comes in. There are beautiful wood beams and hurricane shutters, which give it a Southern, coastal flair on the exterior elevations. As far as the interior design, we worked with Design Continuum out of Atlanta, and they really helped me bring my vision to life.
We took inspiration from the local area, wanting the hotel to feel like it was coastal — but not overtly so. We wanted to tie in elements of nature and our unique quartz beaches, so you will find hints of quartz throughout the property. Taking inspiration from the textures and shapes, there are nods to the flowing water, sand and even the beautiful leaves around the resort.
When designing the property, the goal was to be trend-forward but not trendy — timeless and elegant yet approachable. We wanted people to be able to walk through the property in their swimsuits and flip-flops and not feel uncomfortable, while we also wanted those who walk through the hotel in a ball gown to feel like they can make an entrance down the grand staircase. We gave it a residential feel, so when you sit in our lobby or enjoy the presidential suite, you feel more like you are at someone’s home than a hotel.
WHICH NOTABLE ARTWORKS MIGHT GUESTS SEE?
A curated art collection graces spaces throughout the hotel, including works by Deb Paradise and local artist Brendan Parker, whose studio is at the resort. This gallery of work commissioned for Hotel Effie brings a feel of modern luxury and coastal inspiration that complement the charm and tradition that embodies the hotel.
A notable feature is the floral ceiling at Ovide, which is well-loved. We wanted to create Instagram-able moments throughout the hotel, and the art definitely provides a backdrop to do that.
WHAT CAN GUESTS EXPECT FROM THE DINING EXPERIENCE AT HOTEL EFFIE?
Ovide, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Ovide embraces the fresh, forward flavors and local seafood of the Gulf Coast. Hugh Acheson is a James Beard Award-winner and he is curating all of the dining options in the hotel, including the three meal restaurant Ovide, The Lobby Bar and Ara Rooftop Pool and Lounge. His skill set and specialties are endless. While he’s known as a Southern chef, he has experience with high-end French and Italian restaurants. So he really can do it all.
Ovide has an identity and atmosphere yet feels at home within the ground floor’s open format. Here, darker wood tones and deeper colors are offset by the unexpected ceiling murals with flourishes of gold, coral and verdant greens. At the bar, there is a nod to traditional elements: the extensive millwork, antiqued mirror and brass accents. The black and tan upholstery with brass details and beautifully-finished wood seating are luxuriously comfortable. You’ll enjoy many family dinners around our table.
Menu highlights include a 63C farm egg served on a bed of crispy rice, collard stem kimchi, peas, spring onion and oyster mushrooms and a smoked mackerel toast with super 100 tomatoes, dill, pickled shallot and bay leaves. Entrees include the pan-roasted red snapper with a thai chili emulsion, pigeon peace, rice and charred escarole and strike chicken. Additionally, the grilled prime USDA beef filet is served with whipped potato, shiitake mushroom jus and maitre d’hotel butter. A meal at Ovide wouldn’t be complete without Effie’s biscuits, which are a nod to the hotel’s namesake.
Ovide is also known for its robust cocktail program by mixologist Kellie Thorn. Thorn has received considerable critical recognition for craft cocktails and specialty libations. Thorne joined forces with star chef Hugh Acheson to create the full cocktail program at Ovide, Ara and The Lobby Bar.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE LOCAL EXPERIENCES NEARBY?
The hotel is on 2,400 beautiful acres. It’s also its own little self-inclusive world, so you can make your experience however you desire. You can seek luxury and pampering at Hotel Effie and Spa Lilliana, and you can also explore and have a super active weekend at the resort. There are seven miles of pristine beaches and bay front, four championship golf courses, 15 world-class tennis courts, a 123-slip marina and the Village at Baytowne Wharf, which offers great dining and entertainment. The beautiful thing is that really any kind of traveler that comes here is going to be able to have whatever experience they want to have.
WHAT SETS HOTEL EFFIE APART FROM OTHER LUXURY HOTELS?
Hotel Effie is the only hotel with a rooftop pool and lounge anywhere in the area. Within walking distance is the Village at Baytowne Wharf, which offers fantastic dining and entertainment for multigenerational travelers. Since we are located within the Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort, there’s an array of offerings that guests can take advantage of — nature trails, water sports and the area’s beautiful beaches.
An element of luxury on property is Spa Lilliana. Guests start their journey in a beautiful calming rotunda that’s surrounded by mother-of-pearl and candles before checking in at the spa’s retail shop. There’s a salon that offers up-dos, bridal hair makeup and manicures/pedicures. The spa has 10 treatment rooms, offering a great menu of relaxing treatments, featuring Osea skin and body care.
The hotel really could stand in any city almost anywhere in the country and look like it fits there, and it’s not necessarily super specific for this area. But it fits in this area wonderfully, and I think that once people get to really understand the design of the hotel, they’ll know why we did the little things that we did and how that relates back to this area.
