Background

Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa (Savannah, GA)

Wells Hill was engaged by CSX Corporation to capitalize the development of a major public/private meeting and resort complex on its substantial land holdings on Hutchinson Island, located in the Savannah River across from Savannah’s downtown Historic District. At a time when capital was extremely scarce for to-be-built resort hotel properties, Wells Hill, as part of the project team, raised $98 million from a consortium of institutional and individual investors, in conjunction with approximately $100 million of public funds. By working closely with established lending relationships, the firm was able to create a future-delivery securitized debt product that would appeal to the debt resale markets. This innovative product motivated a foreign securities firm to fund the CSX project on favorable terms. This now successful resort consists of a 403-room, 4-star Westin Hotel, the Heavenly Spa, an 18-hole championship golf course and a marina. Aside from offering a full complement of traditional resort amenities, the facility is attached to the publicly-funded Savannah International Trade & Convention Center.