A New Condo Lifestyle Is Born

If you frequent the beach scenes on the East or West coasts, you might be familiar with condo-hotels, but for many Missourians, the term is a new one. Visit the Lake of the Ozarks this summer, however, and chances are you'll hear a buzz about this real estate offering. The offering might be a new one for potential Lake condominium buyers, but the ideas behind it come down to old-fashioned hospitality and a package deal: ownership, lifestyle and rental management.

“A condo-hotel combines condominium ownership with the amenities and services of a hotel and an optional rental management program,” says Peter Brown, president of Four Seasons Homes and vice president of the Four Seasons Group. “You find key differences between a traditional condominium and a condominium hotel in the list of services that are offered.”

Avila at the Lodge, being built by Four Seasons Homes and part of the Four Seasons Group, and the Resort at Toad Cove are two new condo-hotels under development at the Lake. The Resort at Toad Cove welcomed its first owners and guests over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, and Avila expects to open this month.

According to Peter, who has served on panels at two different national condominium hotel symposiums, condominium hotels are growing in popularity because they provide second-home ownership benefits without maintenance hassles, and the optional rental program can offset some ownership costs.

“Condo-hotels are a much more efficient way to own real estate at the Lake of the Ozarks,” he says. “With a condo-hotel, you own your second home in a great location with all the amenities you could want but minimize your investment through the rental program.”    

For many condo-hotel buyers, the idea of walking in and walking out without having to clean or fix anything is a major draw. “People don't want to mess with the headaches of owning a traditional  condo,” Peter says. “With a condo-hotel, they get more amenities, more service and pampering — they get to enjoy every minute of their stay at the Lake.”

“You don't just stay for the room,” comments Mike Barnett, general manager at the Resort at Toad Cove, on the condo-hotel appeal. “You stay for the experience.”

Luxury Lifestyle for the Family: Avila at the Lodge

Avila at the Lodge presents the ultimate lifestyle for the Lake-goer who wants to enjoy a family atmosphere, plus some of the area's top recreational options: golf, spa and marina. Featuring 1,250-square-foot, two-bedroom condominiums located on the Lodge of Four Seasons property on Horseshoe Bend, Avila is the first of a multiphase Four Seasons development project.

In addition to an onsite welcome center and swimming pool, residents and guests have access to Lodge of Four Seasons facilities. On-property transportation delivers guests to Witch's Cove and Seasons Ridge golf courses; Spa Shiki, one of the Midwest's largest resort spas; the Lodge marina; the Lodge's designer boutique, Resort Designs; Mist Lounge; and HK's and Breezes restaurants and more. The property is affiliated with RCI, the largest timeshare vacation exchange network in the world, giving owners the option to exchange lodging with 4,000 properties.

“Avila offers the most inclusive list of amenities and services of any condo in the area, one of the Lake's best addresses, and it is part of Four Seasons, one of the Lake's founding families,” says Tom Cross, Avila representative.

The Lodge of Four Seasons rental company will work hand-in-hand with the Lodge of Four Seasons' reservations and group sales staff to fill Avila condos when not in use by owners, bringing in year-round rental revenue to help offset ownership costs. Avila's unique “lockout” style provides two rooms to rent — one king-size suite and one guest room with two queen beds. The rental company also features a two-year “Lease-Back” program (available for a limited time) that provides owners with a fixed, monthly rental payment.

For more information, visit www.avilacondos.com

Upscale Living, Grown-Up Recreation: The Resort at Toad Cove

The Horny Toad Entertainment Complex has built a reputation as one of the Lake's top party places, providing great food and live music right on the water. The Resort at Toad Cove will be an extension of that environment, a luxury, waterfront boutique resort that caters to an adult crowd. “The level of service offered will be unequaled,” Mike says. The property's concierge will take care of tee times, dinner reservations and more, and owners and guests will enjoy such perks as turndown service and valet parking.

Featuring six floors with lake views on either side of the building, the Resort at Toad Cove provides convenient access to the Horny Toad through an enclosed hallway. Mike says every element within the resort is top-of-the-line, with “the kind of accoutrements you would find in a resort area like Scottsdale, very high-end, very luxurious.”

With flat-screen televisions, surround sound, king-size beds and leather sofas, the 116 studios and suites of the condo-hotel will be complemented by amenities like 10,000 square feet of meeting space, a multimedia room, banquet room, spa, lobby bar, boutique shops, sand volleyball and more. Capitalizing on its location directly on the lakeshore, the partially enclosed heated pool will   feature a swim-up bar, waterfall and two whirlpools, plus a thermal heated floor. Owners have the option of renting a boat slip at the marina.

Mike believes you get what you pay for. He says the Resort at Toad Cove will set new territory in regard to price points for rooms, and the Lake of the Ozarks market is ready to pay the price for the luxury experience that the condo-hotel will offer.

For more information, visit www.toadcove.com.