$100M Resort Planned for Cliffs Above Sea of Galilee

TIBERIUS, ISRAEL-Israel Golf Resorts LLC is moving forward with plans for a $100-million resort near here that overlooks the famous Sea of Galilee, better known to locals as Lake Kinneret. The Florida-based company says its Israeli affiliates have signed an agreement with Atlanta-based West Places Hotel Group for pre-development consulting and long-term management of the resort, to be named Arbel by the Sea Resort & Golf Club for its location atop Mount Arbel.Scheduled to open by 2008, the 500-acre project will adjoin the Mount Arbel Nature Reserve and include 150 bungalows and resort suites, a 50,000-sf clubhouse with a 15,000-sf spa and 36 holes of championship golf designed by renowned golf architect Robert Trent Jones II.West Places was founded by former Ritz Carlton president and vice chairman Horst Schulze as an “ultra luxury” hotel development and management services group. Schulze says the Galilee area has “gorgeous” year-round weather, unspoiled nature and tremendous historical and religious significance. Co-developer Albert DeVaul, who developed the first Four Seasons Resort in Kona, HI and Hyatt Grand Champions in Palm Springs, CA, says that in addition to serving international vacationers, the resort will offer “an exclusive, private club atmosphere as a close weekend and holiday retreat for residents of Tel-Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa, much like the Hamptons serve Manhattan or Palm Springs serves L.A.”In addition to selecting West Places, Israel Golf Resorts has selected Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo and Hirsch Bedner Associates as designers for the resort facilities and interiors, respectively. WATG has designed The Venetian in Las Vegas, Atlantis at Paradise Island, Bahamas, and The Palace of The Lost City in South Africa. The 91-square-mile Sea of Galilee is one of the most well-known bodies of water in the world. It was on the shores of this fresh-water lake that Jesus is said to have delivered sermons and performed miracles.