News

DENVER – KSL Capital Partners, LLC (“KSL”) has completed the final closing of its latest travel and leisure focused private equity fund, KSL Capital Partners V, L.P. (“KSL V” or the “Fund”). Together with commitments from the General Partner, KSL V has capital commitments of $2.7 billion.  Surpassing the size of KSL’s prior private equity fund, KSL V is backed by a diverse group of existing and new investors including state pension funds, corporate pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, endowments, foundations, insurance companies and family offices.

“We are grateful to our Limited Partners for their continued support, and are eager to build on our prior success,” said Eric Resnick, CEO of KSL Capital Partners.  “We believe we are well-positioned to capitalize on the continued growth in travel and leisure and consumers’ increasing desire to invest in themselves through new experiences.”

Since the firm’s inception in 2005, KSL has raised approximately $12 billion in equity and debt commitments.  Investment committee participants include Coley Brenan, John Ege, Craig Henrich, Charlie Martin, Peter McDermott, Jared Melnik, Michael Mohapp, Martin Newburger, Eric Resnick, Dan Rohan, Kevin Rohnstock, Hal Shaw, Steven Siegel, Bryan Traficanti and Richard Weissmann.  Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP served as counsel to KSL and the Fund.

ABOUT KSL CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC‍

KSL is a private equity firm specializing in travel and leisure enterprises in five primary sectors: hospitality, recreation, clubs, real estate and travel services.  KSL has offices in Denver, Colorado; London, England; and Stamford, Connecticut.  For additional information, please see www.kslcapital.com.

ORLANDO, FLA. (April 2, 2019) – Orange Lake Resorts, home to the Holiday Inn Club Vacations® brand, is pleased to announce today that an affiliate of KSL Capital Partners, LLC, (KSL) has made a significant minority investment in the privately held company. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

“KSL has been a leading investor in the travel and leisure industry. We are excited about how this partnership will expand the horizons of our Company and the Holiday Inn Club Vacations brand,” said Tom Nelson, President and CEO of Orange Lake Resorts. “Our company has experienced tremendous growth, and we are making bold moves to position ourselves for the future, including the recently announced global exclusivity and 100-year extension to our strategic alliance with IHG®. Adding KSL, with their expertise in financial markets and travel and leisure, complements our growing capabilities and is another great step toward a bright future for our company and brand.”

Kemmons Wilson founded both Holiday Inn® hotels and then Orange Lake Resorts, establishing a hospitality legacy that has thrived for more than half a century. The Wilson family continues to own and operate Orange Lake Resorts privately. This is the first time the Wilson family has taken on an outside equity partner for the Company.

“For 37 years, the Wilson family has guided and shaped the growth of the Company. Our passion and desire to invest in this Brand and this great team has never been stronger, as evidenced by recent acquisitions in the Lake Tahoe area, New Orleans and the new corporate campus in Orlando. Partnering with a quality firm such as KSL will enable us to grow farther and grow faster,” commented Orange Lake Resorts Chairman Spence Wilson, Sr. “KSL’s history of investing in, as well as positioning and growing travel-based businesses are unmatched and we are excited to see what we can accomplish together.”

“Orange Lake Resorts is one of the top vacation ownership companies in the U.S. and fits perfectly into our investment portfolio,” said Jared Melnik, Principal at KSL. “Our
team has more than two centuries of combined investment and management experience in the travel industry. There is great potential in Holiday Inn Club Vacations today, and we see even more success in the future.”

In the last decade, Orange Lake Resorts has expanded from four to 28 resort properties, while growing its number of owners and Club members from 120,000 to 350,000.

Greenberg Traurig LLP acted as legal counsel to Orange Lake Resorts, while J.P. Morgan Securities LLC acted as financial advisor and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP acted as legal counsel to KSL.

About Orange Lake Resorts‍

Orange Lake Resorts encompasses 28 resorts and 7,600 villas in the U.S., with more than 350,000 timeshare owners and 5,000+ employees.

Orange Lake Resorts, a leader within the vacation ownership industry with more than three decades of proven success, operates Holiday Inn Club®. The Holiday Inn Club Vacations® brand was created in 2008 through a strategic alliance with IHG® (InterContinental Hotels Group), one of the world’s leading hotel companies. The flagship Holiday Inn Club Vacations property in Orlando, Fla., located next to the Walt Disney World® Resort, was established in 1982 by Holiday Inn® founder Kemmons Wilson. For more information on Holiday Inn Club Vacations or to book reservations, visit holidayinnclubvacations.com. Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/hiclubvacations or Twitter at twitter.com/hiclubvacations.

About KSL Capital Partners‍

KSL Capital Partners, LLC is a private equity firm specializing in travel and leisure enterprises in five primary sectors: hospitality, recreation, clubs, real estate and travel services. KSL has offices in Denver, Colorado; Stamford, Connecticut; and London. Since 2005, KSL has raised approximately $11 billion of capital across both debt and equity funds. KSL's current portfolio includes some of the premier properties in travel and leisure. For more information, please visit www.kslcapital.com.

DENVER, Colo. – Dec. 21, 2018 —Under Canvas®, the industry leader and rapidly growing adventure-hospitality company, today announced that an affiliate of KSL Capital Partners, LLC (KSL) has made a substantial investment in the company. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Under Canvas is the leading owner and operator of luxurious camping or “glamping” accommodations near America’s most popular national parks. The company was founded by Sarah and Jacob Dusek in 2009 with the opening of a location in West Yellowstone, Montana, and has grown to include eight luxury glamping resorts. Under Canvas locations feature safari-inspired tents with amenities such as daily housekeeping and fresh towels, plush king-size beds, luxurious linens, en suite bathrooms and even a wood-burning stove for chilly nights. Kids and adults alike delight over evening s’mores around the communal campfire as they share their stories of their day’s adventure.  Guests wake to sounds of nature, perfectly positioned to explore America’s most iconic national parks and monuments.

“We are very pleased to be partnering with KSL for our next phase of growth, and excited about the additional experiences and adventures that we will be able to bring our guests” said Sarah Dusek, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Under Canvas. “They share our passion for the outdoors, commitment to environmental stewardship and focus on continuing to grow Under Canvas as a world-class brand. Together we will take Under Canvas to the next level with additional iconic locations and incredible adventures.”

“Under Canvas has done an amazing job of creating truly memorable experiences - connecting guests with nature while they enjoy high quality, exceptional accommodations in beautiful locations,” said John Ege, a Partner at KSL. “We look forward to working with Sarah and Jacob Dusek and the rest of the Under Canvas team and support their vision to define a new category of hospitality.”

Outside Together‍

Glamping is a term used to define the experience of ‘glamorous camping.’ To Under Canvas, glamping means camping in style, or luxury camping, without any of the hassle or hard work of the conventional kind. A combination of the luxuries of home with the beauty and extraordinary elements of nature to extend guests a once-in-a-lifetime experience, Outside Together. Under Canvas creates a bridge to the outdoors for people who, quite frankly, may not want to rough it. Glamping the Under Canvas way means a consistently incredible outdoor, overnight experience that is impactful, comfortable and incredibly memorable.

Leaders in Environmental Stewardship‍

Under Canvas is committed to the acceleration of the advent of sustainable travel and to holding the hospitality industry to a higher standard. By staying at Under Canvas, guests join a community that is focused on preserving our incredible planet for enjoyment by future generations.

The company boasts a minimal disturbance approach to development, believes that nature is the best architect and strives to leave the land as untouched as possible. A minimal footprint is what Under Canvas is all about.

Under Canvas camps use approximately 87 percent less water than a similar-sized hotel thanks to low-flow toilets, faucets that automatically shut off, and showers that activate only when guests pull a chain. Guests also help by hanging up towels to use again instead of having them replaced daily.

The limited amount of energy used at Under Canvas camps is generated by alternative means wherever possible. The Moab and Zion camp locations can run 100 percent on solar power, and the Yellowstone and Glacier camps use solar to mitigate our electricity needs.

By 2020, Under Canvas aims to join other leaders in the journey to be a zero waste company. This effort includes eliminating plastics, converting plates and flatware to compostable options (REPURPOSE), and extensive recycling

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About Under Canvas‍

Under Canvas, the fast growing adventure-hospitality and event company, offers luxurious glamping accommodations just minutes from America’s most popular national parks. Inspired by the African safari experience, the founders set out to create an immersive outdoor escape that serves as a unique bridge between travel and nature while offering all the comforts of a hotel. Recognized as the “perfect glamping experience” by Vogue, Under Canvas operates locations in Yellowstone and Glacier in Montana; Moab and Zion in Utah; Mount Rushmore in South Dakota; Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee and Grand Canyon and Tucson, Arizona. For more information, visit www.undercanvas.com

About KSL Capital Partners‍

KSL Capital Partners, LLC is a private equity firm specializing in travel and leisure enterprises in five primary sectors: hospitality, recreation, clubs, real estate and travel services. KSL has offices in Denver, Colorado; Stamford, Connecticut; and London. Since 2005, KSL has raised approximately $11 billion of capital across both debt and equity funds. KSL's current portfolio includes some of the premier properties in travel and leisure. For more information, please visit www.kslcapital.com.

Media Inquiries:

Under Canvas: May Lilley
VP Marketing
may.lilley@undercanvas.com

KSL Capital Partners: Julie Messing-Paea
Julie.messing@mac.com
+1 310 691 9979

December 19, 2018 - Baillie Lodges, the leading luxury lodge owner and operator in Australia, announced today that an affiliate of KSL Capital Partners, LLC (KSL) has made a substantial investment in the company, heralding a promising new chapter in Baillie Lodges’ quest to deliver Australia’s finest collection of luxury lodges.

Founders James and Hayley Baillie will lead the new venture and continue to guide the Baillie Lodges’ vision and commitment to delivering wild, experiential luxury.

Building on the sustained success of the Baillie Lodges brand, operations expertise and distribution network, the company is pursuing acquisitions of select luxury lodges to join the Baillie Lodges stable. In addition, the Baillies will continue the development of Remarkable Lodge in Tasmania.  

Any additions to the portfolio will be carefully selected to ensure they meet Baillie Lodges well-established hallmarks of irreplaceable natural locations with access to signature Australian experiences, contemporary Australian architecture and design, relaxed ‘barefoot’ luxury and generous all-inclusive tariffs.

Marking the 15th anniversary of Baillie Lodges, this investment provides myriad new opportunities for Baillie Lodges’ dedicated team, loyal guests and valued trade partners.

Baillie Lodges was founded in 2003 by James and Hayley Baillie, who together bring a wealth of high-end tourism experience to the company.  Built on the foundations of continual reinvestment in their lodges, an unparalleled level of attention to detail, a commitment to sustainability and a proudly Australian ethos, the Baillies have built a family business that is now recognised as one of the best in its field.  

Capella Lodge on World Heritage-listed Lord Howe Island was the company’s first property, followed by multi award-winning Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island, which opened in 2008. Longitude 131° overlooking dual World Heritage-listed Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park joined the portfolio in 2013.

“We recognize the significant long-term potential of the Australian luxury travel industry and are excited to work with James and Hayley to expand to new iconic locations.  The Baillie Lodges team has set a high bar for Australian luxury travel with truly exceptional properties and five-star management expertise,” said John Ege, a Partner at KSL.

“KSL demonstrates a unique passion for travel and leisure.  The investment in Baillie Lodges will allow us to bring our version of wild, experiential luxury to more of Australia’s most remarkable destinations,” said James Baillie, Founder and CEO Baillie Lodges.

Baillie Lodges was advised by JLL and Withers Australia.  KSL was advised by Ashurst Australia.

About Baillie Lodges‍

Baillie Lodges is an intimate portfolio of luxury lodges setting new benchmarks for premium experiential travel in Australian style. Set in exclusive locations of unique natural or cultural significance, the boutique properties appeal to the discerning global traveller seeking a remarkable experience. Baillie Lodges was founded in 2003 by life and business partners James and Hayley Baillie, who together bring a wealth of high-end tourism experience to this dynamic venture.  For more information, please visit www.baillielodges.com.au

About KSL Capital Partners

KSL Capital Partners, LLC is a private equity firm specialising in travel and leisure enterprises in five primary sectors: hospitality, recreation, clubs, real estate and travel services. KSL has offices in Denver, Colorado; Stamford, Connecticut; and London. Since 2005, KSL has raised approximately $11 billion of capital across both debt and equity funds. KSL's current portfolio includes some of the premier properties in travel and leisure. For more information, please visit www.kslcapital.com.

DENVER, April 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- KSL Capital Partners, LLC (KSL), a private equity firm specializing in travel and leisure investments, is pleased to announce that an affiliate of KSL has acquired the Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort, the oceanfront resort and entertainment destination located on the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk in Hollywood, Florida. The 349 guest room and suite flagship property for the Margaritaville brand offers an abundance of live entertainment in an oceanfront setting and features eight diverse restaurant and bar concepts, a full-service spa and three pools providing the ideal venue for guests to kick back and enjoy the unmistakable Jimmy Buffett state of mind that embodies Margaritaville.   Davidson Hotels & Resorts has worked side-by-side with KSL through the acquisition process and has been named manager of the resort.

"We have confidence that Davidson's team culture, brand knowledge and unmatched support services are the key ingredients to driving investment value and improving operational performance," said Bernard Siegel, a partner at KSL.  "Further, we are thrilled to be in business with Margaritaville, a true lifestyle hospitality brand, delivering an authentic and unique resort experience.

"The Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort is a tremendous opportunity to continue leveraging our expertise in brand building and resort operations," said Davidson's chief executive officer John Belden.  "This will be our 4th destination resort in Florida, joining the iconic Don CeSar and Beach House Suites by The Don CeSar in St. Pete Beach and the naturally luxurious Baker's Cay Resort in Key Largo, set to open later this year."

With its proximity to international airports and one of the largest cruise ports in the world, and located between Miamiand Fort Lauderdale, Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort perfectly captures the charm and quaintness of Hollywood Beach.  Influenced by the colors of the sea, sand and sky, all of the resort's guest rooms and suites blend coastal casual design and luxurious comfort and open to a private balcony overlooking waterfront views. Whether seeking relaxation by the pool, adventures in the ocean, exceptional dining or the perfect meeting or catered event, this paradise has something for everyone, with eight venues including Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville, LandShark Bar & Grill and the Five o' Clock Somewhere Bar & Grill, each providing guests with the "license to chill" unlike any other place in the world.

"We are excited to welcome both a best-in class sponsor like KSL and a proven operator like Davidson Hotels & Resorts to our flagship resort," said John Cohlan, chief executive officer of Margaritaville. "Together we look forward to continue to provide a unique vacation 'state of mind' experience for all our guests."

About Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort ‍

The AAA Four Diamond-rated Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort is a 17-story, 349-room destination resort and entertainment complex offering an authentic, "no worries" tropical vibe inspired by the lyrics and lifestyle of singer, songwriter and best-selling author Jimmy Buffett. Designed to offer an extensive array of amenities combined with a high degree of hospitality, service and attention to detail, this oceanfront resort is located just minutes from the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Port Everglades on the famed Broadwalk in Hollywood, Florida.  The perfect setting for guests to escape the everyday and just chill, the resort features multiple diverse restaurant concepts, a full-service spa with eleven treatment rooms, a state-of-the-art oceanfront fitness center, an array of shopping outlets, 30,000 square-feet of flexible function space, an extensive on-site water recreation area with multiple pools, FlowRider® Double and three live entertainment venues. Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort is a part of Margaritaville's growing collection of hotels and resorts. Today, the global lifestyle brand features 11 lodging locations across the Southeast United States and Caribbean with more than 30 additional locations in the pipeline.

About Davidson Hotels & Resorts ‍

Davidson Hotels & Resorts is an award-winning, full-service hotel management company providing management, development/renovation, acquisition, consulting and accounting expertise for the hospitality industry. Amassing one of the purest full-service hotel portfolios in the industry, Davidson, along with its lifestyle and luxury operating division, Pivot Hotels & Resorts, specializes in independent and branded assets in the upper-upscale to near-luxury segments including 45 hotels, over 13,000 rooms and over 1.5 million square feet of meeting space across the United States. A trusted partner and preferred operator of Marriott, Hilton and Hyatt, Davidson delivers hospitality and creates value for owners with every single hotel. More information can be found at www.davidsonhotels.com.  

About KSL Capital Partners ‍

KSL Capital Partners, LLC is a private equity firm specializing in travel and leisure enterprises in five primary sectors: hospitality, recreation, clubs, real estate and travel services. KSL has offices in Denver, Colorado; Stamford, Connecticut; and London. Since 2005, KSL has raised approximately $8.4 billion in equity capital commitments. KSL's current portfolio includes some of the premier properties in travel and leisure. For more information, please visit www.kslcapital.com.