L

ocal developer, 

Tom Becnel 

acquired 

Sandestin Golf and 

beach Resort in 2010 

and formed Sandestin 

Investments, LLC. 

Just a few days later, 

the Gulf Coast 

experienced the 

Deepwater Horizon 

Oil Spill.  Sandestin 

did what any family 

does in times of 

celebration and in 

opportunity. The 

resort pulled together, 

became stronger and more resilient than ever before.

According to Sara Becnel, Vice President of Development, 

“Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort isn’t just a resort, it’s a 

family! From staff, to Sandestin homeowners, to the guests 

who visit year after year, generation after generation.” She 

adds, “As a local family owned business, the sense of family 

infuses itself into every aspect of what we do here at the 

resort.”

 Offering the largest selection of vacation rentals inside 

the gates of Sandestin, the Becnel family is just as delighted, 

enthusiastic and dedicated to helping create lifelong 

memories for guests of the resort today as they were nearly 

nine years ago, when they acquired it. 

When asked about how the 

passion is kept alive, Tom Becnel, 

Owner -  Sandestin Investments, 

LLC. answered, “It’s because 

of our 600+ team members 

tending to our guests’ personal 

preferences who are shopping, 

dining, playing and staying in our 

distinct villas, townhomes and 

condominiums.” Tom continues, 

“Sandestin Golf and Beach 

Resort is the only vacation rental 

company inside the gates who can 

offer complimentary tram service, 

bicycle and kayak rentals, not to 

mention preferred parking and 

pricing at our various activities 

and amenities throughout the 

resort to our guests. “

The Becnel family is 

committed to innovation and 

evolving with the needs of their 

guests. After several 

years of Sandestin 

infrastructure updates 

and maintenance, 

the Becnel family has 

begun to put their 

efforts into aesthetics 

and substantial 

amenity updates and 

additions. Projects 

include the major 

renovation of Linkside 

Conference Center, 

the recent ground 

breaking for a new 

hotel and conference 

center on property, the 

up-and -coming renovation of Bayside Conference Center 

and construction of a 77-unit boutique condominium set to 

break ground later this year. 

Tom Becnel has been involved in real estate development 

for more than 40 years. When Sara Becnel was just 5 years 

old, her father gave her a little pink hardhat with her name 

on it to wear when she visited jobsites with him. Ever since 

then, Sara’s goal in life was to become a real estate developer 

with the opportunity to work alongside her father. Recently 

named Vice President of Development, Sara Becnel is living 

a 30-year dream come true. 

On September 14, 2018 Sandestin Investments LLC, with 

Tom and Sara Becnel side-by-side, broke ground on the 

Sandestin Hotel and Conference 

Center, set for completion April 

2020. The project will add an 

additional 20,000 sq. ft. meeting 

space to the existing 65,000 

sq. ft of indoor function space 

currently offered by the resort. 

Additionally, it will add 250 

hotel rooms to the nearly 1,300 

vacation rental properties in 

current inventory.

Team Sandestin is proud to 

embrace local ownership and 

leadership into this new chapter 

of innovation and making life-

long memories for guests of the 

resort. 

Visit Sandestin.com/progress-

development for the latest on 

Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort’s 

vision on development.

FAMILY PROFILE

October 2018   |   35

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