FL Travel Guide
Tags: Miami Hotel Mambo / Loews Hotels / Hotel Renovations / Jonathan Tisch / → All Tags
The Loews Miami Beach Gets a Facelift To Keep Up With Hot New Neighbors
Image is everything in South Beach. And keeping up with the hot new things requires maintenance. So, with all those swank new hotels opening up further up the beach—the W South Beach, Gansevoort South, et. al.—one of Miami Beach’s stalwart oceanfront hotels, the Loews Miami Beach, is getting a facelift. A $50 million facelift at that.
The Loews has been a Miami Beach landmark for 10 years now, so it’s probably time for a bit of a spruce up. As one of the chain’s most visible properties, the hotel’s renovations were a priority for Loews Chairman and CEO, Jonathan Tisch. It was Tisch who asked for a more dramatic, open, and inviting lobby—so the overhaul includes the removal of a spiral staircase and the addition of a cascading water wall and a 20-foot long aquarium housing 57 fish. (The Gansevoort South’s lobby aquarium is 50 foot.)
The lobby will also gain an ice-cream shop and a boutique where guests can pick up items from Trina Turk and Lacoste.
Tags: Room Rate Gimmicks / Miami Hotels / New Year's Hotels / Florida Hotels / Art Hotels / → All Tags
New Year, New Hotel Gimmick: $20.10 Rate at Miami's Hotel Urbano
Miami's soon-to-be-opened Hotel Urbano is pushing a Grand Opening gimmick that ranks low in creativity but high on the savings-o-meter.
Originally slated to open in October, as we reported, its unveiling will now take place in late December, just in time to receive an onslaught of travelers in the new year.
The themed deal offers guests who book two or more nights in January 2010 a rate of $20.10 for their first night. That's good enough for those who want to kick off 2010 in a snow-free climate, but just remember--the hotel is located in Brickell which is downtown Miami as opposed to Miami Beach and its party scene. But with regular room rates ranging from $115-230 per night, you're pocketing a lot of cash and should have plenty of cab fare to get back-and-forth with no problem.
Tags: Hot Hotelier News / Celebrity Scoop / Barry Sternlicht / Molly Sims / Stephen Hanson / BR Guest Restaurants / Hotel Openings / → All Tags
Barry Sternlicht Surfaces With Molly Sims On His Arm at The Postcard Inn
Barry Sternlicht, chairman and CEO of Starwood Capital Group, celebrates the opening of Postcard Inn on The Beach in St. Pete Beach, FL with model/actress Molly Sims.
We're not sure what's happening with 1 Hotels but it looks like Barry Sternlicht has set his sights on more low-key projects.
Last weekend, he showed up for the opening of the Postcard Inn on The Beach which is a joint venture between him and Stephen Hanson, the founder of BR Guest Restaurants. Looking good BS! It doesn't look like the recession has aged you one bit.
As you can see, Molly Sims was there to celebrate the opening but she was also celebrate her new HSN jewelry line, Grace. While she dined at Wildwood BBQ & Burger with her family, new boyfriend Aaron Eckhart was not there.
The Postcard Inn on the Beach opened last month and its surf culture-inspired rooms start at $99 a night.
Photo: Peter Richardson/Red Eye Photo
Tags: Art Basel Hotels / Miami Hotel Mambo / Hotel Hell / → All Tags
Why One Guest Won't Be Staying at The Delano For Art Basel
But it looks so pretty!
The Delano is on the list for Art Basel's preferred hotels and if you're interested in staying there during the art fair it will cost you $825 a night, before tax.
But given what happened there last year during Art Basel, one guest is not returning. A tipster wrote into us with her account of The Delano during Art Basel:
My stay at the Delano in '08 was anything but posh. Two mornings in a row I woke up to no hot water, to make matter worse I was at Art Basel for work.
The hotel said a pipe burst and after I complained they took 50% off one night. They assured me it would be fixed, but the next morning still no hot water. What did they give me that day, free breakfast, but no adjustment to the bill.
Needless to say, I will not stay there this year which brings me to my second tip for HotelChatter. There is a campsite available for use in Miami during Art Basel, does this mean the show has finally jumped the shark?
Tags: Digital Nomad Hotels / Hotel WiFi / Hotel Lobbies / Fort Lauderdale Hotel Reviews / W Hotels / → All Tags
Digital Nomad Lobbies: WiFi By The Beach At W FLL
There has been a lot of talk recently about the lifestyle of digital nomads -- folks who work from wherever they might roam. HotelChatter has been covering hotel wifi since the beginning, but as we cited in our 2009 annual hotel wifi report times they are a changin'.
Hotel: W Fort Lauderdale
Location Layout: There are three main lobby, or living room levels and the pool/patio area. The property is vast, which is great for a digital nomad because you can tuck yourself away and bother no one.
Outlets: Peppered around the lobby. Get this, at Steak 954, the onsite restaurant they actually offered to move me with a seat near an outlet.
Furniture: Couches, chairs, stools, you name it you can find it.
Digital Nomad Tolerance: High. You can move from floor one to floor two, even outdoors to the patio where you will find plenty of shade that allows you to read your screen with ease.
Phone Calls: Not a problem, pick a quiet spot and go for it.
Overall Mood: Business at the beach.
Digital Nomad Grade: A
Tons of furniture choices, the inside outside option, enough outlets, other business meetings going on, and, they offer free wireless internet in the lobby if you don't have a broadband card.
Tags: AAA Hotels / Hotel Awards / Fort Lauderdale Hotels / Hotel News / Five Diamond Hotels / → All Tags
The Only Luxury Hotel in Fort Lauderdale That Lives Up to the Hype
If you haven't heard already, the new AAA Five Diamond list is out and while the usual suspects are on the list, there is one notable addition for 2010—The Ritz-Carlton Fort Lauderdale.
While Florida is well-represented by a number of Ritz-Carltons, this is quite the milestone for Fort Lauderdale, which is still trying to do-away with its Spring Break reputation. It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who’s been to Fort Lauderdale recently, however. Have you seen the size of those yachts tied up on the Intracoastal?
Even more interesting is that this honor comes just over a year after the property joined the Ritz-Carlton family. Prior to August 2008, it was a St. Regis—and even then only for a year. So maybe Ritz-Carlton should carefully consider their restructuring strategy.
Tags: In-Room Coffee Makers / Viceroy Hotels / Hotel Amenities / Holiday Hotels / → All Tags
The Viceroy Miami's Illy Espresso Machine Will Make You Happy Morning and Night
We are continuing to geek out over in-room coffee makers. Yesterday, we showed you how the folks Down Under do it and today we're including an in-room coffee maker that we forgot to include in our original round-up--The Illy Espresso machine at Viceroy Miami.
The Francis Francis X8 espresso machines from Illy are found in all rooms at the hotel and there is no grinding of beans or scooping of ground espresso to deal with here. Just plop in a pod into "Frank" (we can call it that, right?) and steaming hot espresso is yours in a matter of seconds. There is milk and as you can see, oranges to accompany your drink as well.
We actually used Frank in the evening when we arrived at the hotel to give us a quick jolt so that we could stay awake to do some work. And when we awoke in the morning, Frank was ready and waiting to serve us again.
Tags: Art Basel Hotels / Hotel Bars / Hotel Art / Miami Hotel Mambo / Ritz-Carlton Hotels / → All Tags
The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne Serves Art With a Side of Rum
Art galleries and wine go together like rum and cigars. But in Key Biscayne, they like to shake things up. So when the folks at The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne decided to do something special for Art Basel, they decided to pair it with their Old Havana-style den, RUMBAR. That’s where the hotel is hosting a private pre-Art Basel cocktail soiree for artist Carlos Estevez on December 1st. It’s invitation only but if you happen to be a guest at the hotel we bet you can sweet-talk your way in.
The party marks the unveiling of the largest work Cuban artist Estevez has ever created—an 8-foot circular painting on canvas—so you should be able to find your way to the festivities without too much trouble. (You could also follow the sounds of RUMBAR’s resident Latin band Grupo Nostalgia, who will be jamming at the event.)
Tags: Art Basel Hotels / Miami Hotel Mambo / South Beach Hotel Group / → All Tags
Get Insider Art Basel Advice at the Riviera South Beach
Heading to Art Basel in Miami? Think about all those parties you’ll want to hit up (or crash). Then think about the mornings after when you have to drag yourself out of bed, pull together an art-world-approved outfit, and be able to mingle and say insightful things about all that art. You know what will make it easier? Staying as close as possible to the Miami Beach Convention Center, where most of the Art Basel exhibitions take place. This will minimize your morning angst— but if you want even more help figuring out how to navigate art browsing and shopping, the Riviera South Beach can do that too.
One of the hip South Beach Group properties, the Riviera is owned by local art collectors Alan and Diane Lieberman and was designed with art in mind. “I pulled inspiration from legendary designer Dorothy Draper and my personal love of art and design,” says Alan Lieberman. “I wanted to create a posh, hip hotel that’s affordable in the most happening neighborhood in South Beach.”
Tags: Art Basel Hotels / Miami Hotel Mambo / Art Hotels / → All Tags
Where To Stay for Art Basel Miami Beach
Thanksgiving may be just around the corner, but so is one of the most pivotal dates on the Miami social calendar: Art Basel. So if you’re an art geek or just like crashing artist parties, it’s time to start thinking about where you’ll stay in Miami for this year’s show, which takes place December 3–6.
With artworks by over 2,000 artists on display, Art Basel events will be held all over town, from South Beach to the Design District, where many of the artist studios are located. But the center of all the public exhibitions and events is the Miami Beach Convention Center, towards the north of South Beach’s Art Deco district.
All this means there are plenty of hip hotels within walking distance, from the Sanctuary, the Catalina and the Riviera, to the Raleigh, Setai, and W South Beach. Also nearby is a new outdoor venue for this year, at Collins Park, between 21st and 22nd Streets. Known as the Oceanfront, it will be the site of a café, beach concerts, and the Art Basel Conversations series.
Tags: Snapshot / Halloween Hotels / Hotel Staffers / Hawaii Hotels / → All Tags
'Tinkerbell' Tends the Garden at the Kona Kai Resort
Before we left on Friday to celebrate the Halloween weekend we Tweeted for hotel staffers working in Halloween costumes over the weekend to send us some pics. And we have to say, Tinkerbell at the Kona Kai Resort, a B&B in Key Largo, Florida is the best. Not only does she look cute, but she's actually still able to water the garden. Where form meet functionality.
Rates here start at $244 a night but they do not take online reservations. Go here for booking information. Thanks for sending this in, Tinks!
We're still accepting hotel Halloween costumes if you want to send 'em along. And don't forget to follow HotelChatter on Twitter!
Tags: POTUS Hotels / Barack Obama / Miami Hotel Mambo / Fontainebleau Hotels / → All Tags
POTUS Hotel Hopping Hits the Fontainebleau in Miami
Miami’s Fontainebleau Resort is no stranger to celebs, from Frank Sinatra to Dennis Rodman. But last night the revamped resort got a return visit from the most famous person on the planet: POTUS.
President Obama has been on a bit of a hotel tour lately, doing his Democratic Party fund-raising at a series of fancy dinners across the country. Last night, his arrival at one of these events was marked with protests as about 200 people carrying placards lined Collins Avenue across from the Fontainebleau.
Inside, around 450 people paid between $500 and $15,000 a head to hear POTUS talk, raising an estimated $1.5 million all up. (We’re guessing that’s just a little over what LIV or Hakkasan rakes in on an average Monday night.)
Hotels In: Africa | Asia | Australia | Caribbean | Europe | North America | South America
Our Publications:
Jaunted | HotelChatter | VegasChatter
