There’s one word which comes to mind when first entering the newly-rebranded and remodeled Pensacola Beach Resort — fresh.

From the airy feel of the lobby, to the new furniture, fixtures and artwork, to the seemingly endless spectacular views of the Gulf of Mexico, the hotel consistently makes you want to just close your eyes, take a deep breath and absorb it all.

Which was exactly what the ownership and management group had in mind when they made the decision to rebrand from Margaritaville Pensacola Beach to Pensacola Beach Resort, which opened to the public under the new name June 1.

“Anytime your franchise agreement is coming up, you have a decision to make about the next chapter for your property,” said co-owner Leigh Taylor.

“We’re very proud of our history with Margaritaville. We were the first hotel in that brand and we have had a great relationship with them.”

In an interview with AL.com, Taylor said ownership and management decided they wanted the resort to be more ingrained with the surrounding community.

“Looking toward the next chapter, we have a young team which is very committed and we wanted to lean in to Pensacola Beach,” Taylor said.

“When you have a market like Pensacola where there’s great demand and kind of a lack of supply, it’s a great opportunity to create an independent brand that can lean on local experience in the community and you have the freedom and independence to do that.

“We felt like that was an adventure we were ready to embark on as a team.”

Taylor noted the resort originally opened under the Margaritaville brand in June 2010 and thus was “due for an update.” The renovations will continue over a two-year period, she said, but already the new furniture and artwork and other aesthetics of the property have been made new again.

But the key aesthetic remains unchanged.

“We don’t try to compete with the view,” Taylor said. “When you’re here at the hotel, you’re on the Gulf of Mexico. We have almost 1,000 feet of sand in front of us.”

The southern side of the main floor of the resort is nearly all glass, providing spectacular views of the Gulf, with seating inside the lobby area or out on the expansive deck overlooking the beach. Those same views are available to those dining in the Windrose restaurant or having a cocktail at the lobby bar.

And that same open, airy aesthetic is carried into the 162 guest rooms, each of which has a balcony overlooking either the Gulf or Sabine Bay (the 24 suites have wrap-around balconies which offer views of both.)

The rooms offer a minimum of 450 square feet of space — the largest guest rooms in the area. The bathrooms alone, which each feature a glassed-in shower and separate full bathtub, are larger than some economy apartments.

Although a public facility, Pensacola Beach Resort offers a level of privacy not found in many resorts. The restaurant, bar, pool deck — which overlooks both the Gulf and Sabine Bay — and Tiki bar are all open to hotel guests only.

Even the beach, while public, has a feel of a private beach, due to the limited amount of public parking in the surrounding the resort.

Formerly the LandShark Landing Beach Bar, the Salty Rose is open to guests and the public alike. It has it’s own parking, operating from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day. A limited menu includes salads, locally-sourced fish sandwiches and loaded nachos.

Windrose restaurant leans on hotel favorites with Southern faire. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the menu features items from avocado toast to fish tacos to local seafood and steaks. Chief Operating Officer Kristin Iverson says Windrose’s Grouper and Mahi Mahi dishes are local favorites.

Taylor noted they wanted to remain true to “hotel classics” and local cuisine as they “freshened up” the resort.

“We’re excited for new guests to come and find a hotel that’s very connected to Pensacola and enjoy the updated product,” she said. “But we’re very focused that our longstanding customers still have a feeling of familiarity. Consistency is important to us.”

Room rates start at $299 per night and the resort offers free cancellation up to three days prior to arrival. Visit the Pensacola Beach Resort website for availability and rates.