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KemperSports to Operate Vidanta Golf in Three Locations

October 29, 2015

Grupo Vidanta Golf Clubhouse in the Residence Tower, Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico
Grupo Vidanta Golf Clubhouse in the Residence Tower, Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico


Grupo Vidanta operates golf courses in five locations:
  • Acapulco - 18 hole, par 72, 6,156-yards
  • Nuevo Vallarta
    • Jack Nicklaus Course - 18 holes, par 70, nearly 7,000 yards.
    • Greg Norman Design - Scheduled to open November 15, 2015.
  • Puerto Penasco - 18 holes, par 72, 7,210 yard sand dune course with 9 ocean side holes.
  • San Jose del Cabo - 9 holes, par 35, 3,153 yards.
  • Riviera Maya - 18 holes, par 54, 2,923 yards.
In 2008, Grupo Vidanta aspired to become the largest operator of golf courses in Mexico. Since then, the Jack Nicklaus course in Nuevo Vallarta has been improved and expanded and a new Greg Norman design course is scheduled to open November 15, 2015. It is not clear at this time how many holes on each course will be available for play in the coming season due to possible construction activity, since Vidanta has not yet issued a public announcement.

On September 22, 2015, Grupo Vidanta and KemperSports issued a joint announcement that Grupo Vidanta has appointed KemperSports to operate golf courses in three of its five locations: Nuevo Vallarta, Puerto Penasco and Riviera Maya.

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Mexico's Largest Golf Course Operator - Vidanta - Selects KemperSports to Manage Destination Courses in Mexico

Posted on Wednesday Sep 23, 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mexico’s Largest Golf Course Operator – Vidanta – Selects KemperSports to Manage Destination Courses in Mexico Premier Vidanta courses from Greg Norman and Nicklaus Design join KemperSports’ stable of top-ranked golf properties
NUEVO VALLARTA, MEXICO (September 22, 2015) – Grupo Vidanta, a leading developer of tourism infrastructure and resorts in Mexico and Latin America, announced today that the company’s golf division selected KemperSports to provide management of Vidanta Golf properties in Nuevo Vallarta, Puerto Peñasco and Riviera Maya. The portfolio of golf courses, which include a Greg Norman Signature design and three Nicklaus Design courses, are KemperSports’ first properties in Mexico. Vidanta Golf, which is currently Mexico’s largest golf course operator, appointed KemperSports for their superior track record managing top destination courses in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

“We feel KemperSports is the best partner to fulfill our goals of achieving the highest standards of quality and exceptional service at our golf properties throughout Mexico,” said Michel Beuffe, CEO of Grupo Vidanta.

KemperSports’ portfolio of world renowned, top-ranked destination golf courses includes Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, Streamsong Resort, The Prairie Club, The Glen Club and Chambers Bay – host of the 2015 U.S. Open.

The Five-Diamond Vidanta Resort in Nuevo Vallarta will soon house Vidanta Golf’s premier property, a Greg Norman Signature design golf course, slated to open in December 2015. Visitors to Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta can also enjoy an 18-hole Nicklaus Design course that winds through the lush jungle landscape, or take in world-class instruction at The Jack Nicklaus Academy of Golf. Tom Stickney, a Golf Digest Top 100 Instructor, leads the state-of-the-art training and practice facility. Future plans at Nuevo Vallarta call for a lighted par-3 course to open in late 2016.

The Vidanta Puerto Peñasco property to be managed by KemperSports is set against a breathtaking backdrop of the Sea of Cortez, located an hour and a half south of the U.S. border. The highly touted, 18-hole Nicklaus Design delivers panoramic ocean views on 12 holes and incorporates the natural desert and sand dunescapes into the playing area.

The KemperSports portfolio in Mexico is rounded out by the Nicklaus Design par-3 course at Vidanta Riviera Maya, located a few miles south of Cancun. The course winds through the Mayan jungle, enjoys year-round playable temperatures and delivers shot values you would expect on the finest 18-hole courses – making it a top destination choice for novice and avid golfers.

“The Vidanta golf properties are part of some of the finest resorts in Mexico,” said KemperSports CEO Steve Skinner. “We look forward to working closely with the marketing and ownership groups to enhance all areas of the operation and provide the Vidanta guests with an unparalleled golf experience through great customer service commensurate with the guest experience at the five-star Vidanta Resorts.”

For more information on Vidanta Golf, visit www.vidanta.com.

About Grupo Vidanta
Grupo Vidanta is a full-service tourism developer in Mexico and Latin America with practices in architecture, product design, entertainment, construction and operations. The company specializes in the development and operation of luxury resort and hotel brands in Mexico and counts AAA Five Diamond Award-winning Grand Luxxe Nuevo Vallarta and five AAA Four Diamond Award-winning resorts – Grand Luxxe Riviera Maya, The Grand Bliss Nuevo Vallarta, The Grand Mayan Nuevo Vallarta, The Grand Mayan Riviera Maya and The Grand Mayan Acapulco – among its impressive portfolio of more than 25 resorts and hotels.

Grupo Vidanta’s visionary approach to the development of luxury beach destinations brings vacation dreams to life at Vidanta resorts and mega-resorts on the coastlines of Mexico’s most sought-after locations – Nuevo Vallarta, Riviera Maya, Los Cabos, Acapulco, Puerto Peñasco, Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlán – with brands including Grand Luxxe, The Grand Bliss, The Grand Mayan, The Bliss, Mayan Palace, Ocean Breeze and Sea Garden, and more in development.

The company employs more than 15,000 and is consistently recognized as one of the most revered employers in Latin America. Vidanta Golf is the largest operator of golf courses in Mexico, the real estate division has built and sold more than 2,000 vacation luxury homes, and the company is responsible for developing Mexico’s first privately built and owned airport, Mar de Cortés International Airport in Puerto Peñasco.

Grupo Vidanta was founded by Daniel Chávez Morán in 1974 and operates two foundations to enrich the lives of Latin Americans. For more information about Grupo Vidanta, visit Vidanta.com.

About KemperSports
Northbrook, Ill.-based KemperSports builds, owns and manages golf courses, resorts, athletic clubs and lodging venues across the U.S., Caribbean and Central America. The company’s award-winning portfolio includes nationally-ranked courses and tournament venues such as Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, named the No. 1 Golf Resort in North America by Golf Digest and GOLF magazine; The Glen Club; Desert Willow Golf Resort; Harbor Shores, site of the 2012 and 2014 Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid; and Chambers Bay, host of the 2010 U.S. Amateur and the 2015 U.S. Open. For more information about KemperSports, please visit http://www.kempersports.com.

Media contacts:

Greg Miller
Vidanta
214.891.7668
greg_miller at richards.com


This is a positive sign because operating golf courses is a full time, specialty activity that ranges from reservation management to providing outstanding golf services to players to course maintenance and management. These are skills that only come with experience. Based upon information on the KemperSports website, the company is experienced.

What does this mean for we members of the Grand Luxxe Residence Club? Well, for one thing, KemperSports does not operate courses for free. Therefore, green fees, club memberships, possible open access and other operating characteristics are likely to change.

What does this mean for members who purchased contracts before Grand Luxxe facilities were available (Pre-Construction Members)? They will be given options to consider when they next arrive. Follow this link for a summary of what we were told in July 2015 about what to expect: Options to Consider - Golf Benefits Update

There is no question that golf operations have become very complicated now that the Grand Luxxe Residence Club facilities are reaching a new level of capacity. In Nuevo Vallarta, Tower Five, which is currently under construction and scheduled to open in November 2016 consists of 180 one-bedroom units. They will be perfect for couples that want to use the facilities in Nuevo Vallarta for golf as well as the other amenities the property offers. These guests will be in addition to guests who may be staying in the other eight Grand Luxxe Residence Club towers. In Puerto Penasco, the new Grand Mayan resort has opened, which will increase demand for tee times at the beautiful seaside course there. In Riviera Maya, there are rumors and statements from Sales Representatives that there will be a new course built there too. As we all have experienced, operating just one golf course at a given location is complicated. Now, with two in one location and managing increased demand at three locations, experts are required.

For comparative purposes, we are fortunate enough to belong to a golf club in California. The active number of golfing members is maintained at 600. Our guest fees are $75 per person for 18 holes. The course is 7,200 yards and a par 72. The course is not very crowded at all. The Vidanta Golf program could very well be moving toward a "Club" membership model, which then becomes a responsibility rather than a benefit designed to increase the value of a contract.

All we can do is enjoy the improvements at each location. The properties are evolving from a typical timeshare facility to an integrated community.
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