Famous St. Pete resort completes redesigned event space

The Vinoy Resort and Golf Club, Autograph Collection, completed its 60,000 square feet of redesigned event space, including the Vinoy Grand Ballroom and Palm Court Ballroom, as part of the resort's comprehensive renovation, the resorts says in a Tuesday news release.

Designed by Rockwell Group, the Vinoy Grand Ballroom and Palm Court Ballroom have "refreshed aesthetics infused with old-Florida grandeur that nod to the resort's glamorous past," resort officials say.

The 6,120-square-foot Vinoy Grand Ballroom's upgrades include a restoration of the room's shimmering focal point, the blown glass chandelier, Luna, by Dale Chihuly. New carpeting, drapery and furnishings were added to create "an airy atmosphere," the resort says. The ballroom's arched windows now overlook a garden, to enhance a tropical feel, the resort says.

The ballroom, with a 1,000-person capacity, now has brand-new flooring, walls and recessed ceilings. The Vinoy's 22 meeting rooms are newly renamed after St. Petersburg area parks and contributors to the creation of the original Vinoy Park Hotel, the resort says.

"The Vinoy has been one of the most sought-after venues for hosting events and meetings in the Tampa Bay area for decades," says Vanessa Williams, general manager of the The Vinoy Resort and Golf Club, Autograph Collection in the statement. "These updates bring our ballrooms into the 21st century while keeping their legendary history intact, ensuring the resort will continue to be a top destination for events of every size for another 100 years."

The Vinoy Resort and Golf Club also made technological advancements to the spaces, enhancing broadband support and boosting Internet speed, according to resort officials.

The Vinoy Resort and Golf Club, Autograph Collection, is owned by Marriott. A longtime downtown St. Petersburg landmark, it was opened on New Year's Eve, 1925. The resort is known for its signature pink façade, "Mediterranean revival."

It contains 354 rooms; on-site dining experiences; an 18-hole championship golf course; a tennis complex; a new holistic spa and wellness center; a high-end boutique from Tampa Bay local Sunni Spencer; and more than 60,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space.

Resort officials say much history has occurred there, including movie filming; U.S. presidents, celebrities and athletes vacationing there; and even military housing offerings in the 1940s.