By Ken Jackson
Sports Writer

Great weather, great golf and great resort amenities  – isn’t it great when a total package comes together?

Conde Nast Traveler recently said the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate has them all.

In the travel publication’s 15th annual Readers Choice Awards, the resort southwest of Kissimmee that opened in 2004, was recently ranked among the top 125 golf resorts in the world, and earned a top-20 ranking on the uber-competitive Florida Golf Resorts list.

The Omni earned its ranking points based on eight criteria: golf course design; access and excellence; golf staff and services; room quality; lodging, food and dining; location; overall resort design and facilities and activities.

“The Conde Nast Traveler ranking illustrates our dedication to maintaining an exceptional guest experience,” Julie Zachar, Omni Orlando’s director of sales and marketing, said. “We are honored by this recognition, and we will continue to offer unparalleled service and luxury for our guests.”

The Osceola County location was the only one of the nearly 50 Omni properties worldwide to appear on the Conde Nast Traveler list.

ChampionsGate features two Greg Norman-designed golf courses, the National and the International, which opened to instant acclaim 11 years ago. For those who just want to get in a quick nine holes, and/or not do it under the hot sun, the resort also has a nine-hole par-3 course offering Callaway rental clubs and is lighted for night play.

ChampionsGate also is home to the David Leadbetter Golf Academy, whose namesake is the swing guru to the stars of the game like Nick Faldo, Greg Norman, Ernie Els and Michelle Wie.

Resort accommodations include 720 rooms, suites and two and three-bedroom villas, and a full-service European-style spa, two heated outdoor pools, an 850-foot lazy river help contribute to the resort receiving AAA’s Four Diamond Award annually since 2005.

Package that together and there’s something for everyone, Director of Leisure Sales Kelly Burnett said.

“We’ve become known for our pools, and amenities, and we have a great location,” she said. “When you’re coming in from Tampa and points south, we’re the first Orlando-area resort on I-4.”

It’s that drive-in market, along with other domestic visitors, the Omni markets toward, and while Burnett said the resort is concerned about rising gas prices, there’s no element of worry.

“People will be making those tough choices, but what we’re finding is that they are still choosing to travel with us,” she said.

Although the resort is in Osceola County, including Orlando in its name helps  get enough of a piece of the market that includes all the hotel rooms at the Walt Disney World and Universal Studios resorts.

“Not everyone is looking for 100 percent of that experience, but we are close enough to give them that,” Burnett said. “We’re five minutes from Disney and 15 to 20 from Universal. Some guests think they’ll be spending more time off our property, but we see in the itinerary changes that we’ve become a real destination.”

Some of that may have to do with the extensive fine-dining options, from the Asian and sushi fare of Zen, to the Italian flat breads of Trevi’s to the steaks and sports vibe of David’s Club.

The resort, in a world of changing technology, also has a place in social media, Burnett said.

“Facebook users can visit the Omni Orlando’s page, and book an entire stay using our booking tool, and never have to leave the site,” she said.