Hotel Effie Sandestin Debuts as the Newest Autograph Collection Hotel in Florida

Hotel Effie, the 250-room boutique hotel located at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, announced today that it has become a part of Marriott Bonvoy’s Autograph Collection. As a newly minted member of the Autograph Collection, Hotel Effie enters the brand’s unique portfolio of diverse and dynamic properties, with more than 295 hotels globally. Carefully selected for hotels’ thoughtful vision and passion, each Autograph Collection property creates a singular and special guest experience through its inherent craft and distinct perspectives on design and hospitality.

“We are thrilled to be a part of Marriott Bonvoy’s distinguished Autograph Collection,” said Sara Becnel, president at Sandestin Investments LLC. “By tapping into the millions of Marriott Bonvoy loyalty members while allowing Hotel Effie to continue to immerse travelers in its unique brand story, we believe that the Autograph Collection affiliation will position the hotel perfectly for future success.”

Located within the 50-year-old Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, Hotel Effie is part of a family legacy. Named after owner Tom Becnel’s grandmother, Hotel Effie exemplifies all the charm and personality of its namesake as the ultimate hostess. Hotel Effie welcomes guests as part of the family, serving her homemade chocolate cookies, iced tea and her signature biscuits within the hotel’s food and beverage outlets. Known as the ultimate Southern hostess, Hotel Effie offers refined Southern taste, feminine charm, savvy social grace and authenticity.

The 250 guest rooms are styled with a vision to create a relaxing space for guests to lay their heads and feel right at home. Boasting a coastal color palette to create a soothing oasis, thoughtful details like multiple vanities with natural light and electric mirrors, oversized rooms for extra space and comfort, hydration stations located on each floor with water carafes in every room and bulk amenities by LATHER, for a greener approach, the rooms are sure to delight. Some rooms and suites offer spacious balconies and views of the Choctawhatchee Bay, whereas others offer gorgeous resort views, one just as beautiful as the other.

Hotel Effie’s signature restaurant, Ovide, embraces the local food and cherished flavors of the Gulf Coast and presents them with a sophisticated and refreshing style. Ovide has its own identity and atmosphere yet feels at home within the ground floor’s open format. Helmed by Executive Chef Juan Bochenski, Ovide serves a diverse menu that highlights the fresh, forward flavors and local seafood of the Gulf Coast.

Hotel Effie’s signature rooftop is home to Ara Rooftop Pool & Lounge, which has a full menu of poolside bites, wine, craft cocktails and bottle service served daily. The rooftop pool has a stylish vibe and amazing views of the resort, Choctawhatchee Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. As Northwest Florida’s only hotel rooftop pool, Ara’s open-air event environment is ideal for relaxing poolside vibes, providing chill music by day and up-tempo beats by night. Interactive game space allows for competitive fun and creates a vibrancy for the overall experience. Highlights include luxury cabanas and chaise loungers on the pool perimeter.

The hotel’s wellness center, Spa Lilliana, welcomes guests with a tranquil pampering experience featuring ten spacious and well-appointed treatment rooms. Guests start their journey when the elevator doors open to reveal floor-to-ceiling, mother-of-pearl walls bathed in warm candlelight. Innovative facial treatments from Paris-based Biologique Recherche are offered, in addition to an array of organic treatments by OSEA. More recently, Spa Lilliana introduced new exclusive treatments featuring award-winning products such as the transformative LYMA Laser, luxurious Miriam Quevedo hair and scalp care and the multifaceted Hydrafacial MD.

Guests at Hotel Effie have access to the full complement of Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort amenities including more than seven miles of pristine beaches and bayfront, four championship golf courses, 12 world-class HydroGrid clay and three hard tennis courts, six pickleball courts, a 226-slip marina and an additional 65,000 square feet of meeting space. Additionally, the Village of Baytowne Wharf, a charming pedestrian village with events, shopping, dining and nightlife, is located within walking distance of Hotel Effie.

Rates at Hotel Effie Sandestin, Autograph Collection start from $299. For more information, please visit www.hoteleffie.com.

About Autograph Collection® Hotels

Autograph Collection Hotels advocates for the original, championing the individuality of each of its over 295 independent hotels located in the most desirable destinations across 50 countries and territories. Each hotel is a product of passion, inspired by a clear vision, soul, and story that makes it individual and special: Exactly Like Nothing Else. Hand-selected for their inherent craft and distinct perspectives on design and hospitality, Autograph Collection properties offer rich immersive moments that leave a lasting imprint. For more information, please visit www.autographhotels.com, and explore on social via Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to be inspired by immersive moments that are #ExactlyLikeNothingElse. Autograph Collection is proud to participate in Marriott Bonvoy®, the global travel program from Marriott International. The program offers members an extraordinary portfolio of global brands, exclusive experiences on Marriott Bonvoy Moments and unparalleled benefits including free nights and Elite status recognition. To enroll for free or for more information about the program, visit marriottbonvoy.com.

About Highgate

Highgate is a leading real estate investment and hospitality management company widely recognized as an innovator in the industry. Highgate is the dominant player in major U.S. gateway cities, including New York, Boston, Miami, San Francisco and Honolulu, with a growing footprint in Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America. The hospitality forward company provides expert guidance through all stages of the property cycle, from planning and development through recapitalization or disposition. Highgate has a proven record of developing its diverse portfolio of bespoke lifestyle hotel brands, legacy brands, and independent hotels and resorts with contemporary programming and digital acumen. The company utilizes industry-leading revenue management tools that efficiently identify and predict evolving market dynamics to drive outperformance and maximize asset value. With an executive team consisting of some of the most experienced hotel management leaders, the company is a trusted partner for top ownership groups and major hotel brands. Highgate maintains corporate offices in New York, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, Seattle, Waikiki and London. For more information, visit highgate.com.

About Hotel Effie Sandestin

Hotel Effie, situated on Florida’s Emerald Coast, features 250 guest rooms and suites, four culinary concepts, including the hotel’s signature restaurant Ovide, offering a refined approach to coastal flavors and upscale design, the luxury Spa Lilliana, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and Ara Rooftop & Pool Lounge—the only hotel rooftop pool on Florida’s Emerald Coast. The hotel also features 20,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 13,000-square-foot ballroom. Guests have access to the full complement of Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort amenities, including more than seven miles of pristine beaches and bayfront, four championship golf courses, 12 world-class HydroGrid clay and three hard tennis courts, six pickleball courts, a 226-slip marina and an additional 65,000 square feet of meeting space. Included in each stay, enjoy bike and kayak rentals, beach parking, free tennis court time and discounted resort golf rates. Additionally, the Village of Baytowne Wharf, a charming pedestrian village with events, shopping, dining and nightlife, is located within walking distance of Hotel Effie. Visit hoteleffie.com to learn more, and follow the hotel on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.