‘Four Seasons Effect’ sparks luxury growth talk in Naples

The “Four Seasons Effect” — a term coined by Gulfshore Business and The Naples Press Senior Editor Tim Aten — reflects expectations that luxury living and high-end concepts will further proliferate in Naples with the opening of the Naples Beach Club, A Four Seasons Resort. 

That idea was the focus of Tim Talks, the first event of its kind hosted by The Naples Press. Aten led a panel discussion Jan. 13 at The Gallery at Ultimate Garages in Naples, where five local experts spoke to an audience of about 50 people about how luxury development is poised to accelerate with the resort’s debut. 

Joining Aten on the panel were Dr. Jim Buonavolonta, a Naples cardiologist and developer of Ultimate Garages; Vivian Grimes, owner of Henri Noël Jewelers; Claudine Leger-Wetzel, vice president of sales and marketing for Stock Development; and Phil McCabe, a longtime Naples hotelier. 

All five panelists agreed the Four Seasons Resort — a $360 million project with 216 rooms — will act as a catalyst for additional luxury concepts to enter the Naples market. 

Buonavolonta said luxury has long been intertwined with Naples. He launched Ultimate Garages in 2019 after realizing his Ferrari was vulnerable to storm surge ahead of an approaching hurricane. 

“Hurricane Wilma was on the way, and they were talking 15 feet of surge,” he recalled. “The surge would have come up to the middle of the Ferrari.” 

Grimes said her own business will benefit directly from the Four Seasons, noting that beachgoers will pass a boutique selling Henri Noël jewelry on their way to the sand. She also described how perceptions of Naples have changed in recent years. 

“I get on a Zoom call now, and they say, ‘You’re in Naples? I can’t wait to go,’” Grimes said. 

She added that the Four Seasons will continue elevating how Naples is viewed nationally and internationally. 

Leger-Wetzel said hurricanes have accelerated redevelopment, replacing aging structures with more resilient, higher-end properties. 

“Finally, the sunlight is coming back,” she said. “Before, we were selling $3 million homes. Now, we’re seeing $9 million homes. We’re selling $14 million homes. Florida is very friendly to luxury buyers. We are, officially, in that luxury lane.” 

McCabe summed up the panel’s sentiment succinctly. 

“The Four Seasons is going to turbo charge this town,” he said.