Tag: Florida Hotels
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Asian Influence Lives on at Revamped Setai Miami Beach
Singapore-based GHM hotels oversees some pretty cool properties (the elephant-themed Chedi Club outside of Ubud, Bali is a particular favorite), and The Setai has long been considered the brand's flagship. It's a serene, Asian-inspired sanctuary amid the hub-bub of Miami's South Beach. (Side note: Did you know the word "Setai" is actually a made-up combo of the Balinese words for "south" and "beach", or SoBe? It's the Brangelina of hotel names...)
So as fans, it was with some trepidation we took the news that The Setai had left the GHM roster for the management of Dallas-based Trevi Luxury Hospitality Group. (Especially given the way it all went down.) With all the hotel buzz in Miami—including the arrival of instant-hotspot The James—was The Setai looking to pump up the volume? Were DJs going to appear in its mellow courtyard—or worse, would it make like its neighbors and start charging for beach chairs?
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Name This Caption! The Hunter of Marco Island, FL
It's Monday and just the right hour to take a minute and play Witty Wordsmith with us, whydontcha? That's right, it's time to Name.This.Caption!
We've all heard of those people. They get up at the break of dawn and go treasure hunting. Be we have never seriously seen anyone like this until we paid a visit to the Marriott Marco Island Resort Golf Club And Spa in Florida.
Our man was on a serious treasure hunt. He had all the accoutrements of someone who was an EXPERT at digging for diamonds, pearls, or whatever could be lurking underneath the golden sand of this south Florida haven. Now, he wasn't a nuisance, (we don't think) even with his handy dandy shovel, headphones and all kinds of tools. We were intrigued! And we were wondering if he'd be creating pot holes in the lawn sand with his intense investigation. But nope, he seems to be a regular and no one bothers him much.
And that seems to be the way of life on Marco Island in particular, which we kind of like and will talk about more soon.
We didn't interrupt him and ask him what kind of booty he's been lucky enough to behold (that was probably a mistake on our part), but that's because we were trying to respect his hustle. Also, we didn't want him to think we were going to muscle in on his turf!
So, what's the caption for this "Diggin' for Silver Dollars?" "They Call Me The Trezhure Huntah" "Beach Bounty Hunter"? Yeah, you can def do bettah.
Help us out! Have a humorous hunch about what's happening here? Let us know in comments below!
[Photo: Chanize Thorpe for Hotel Chatter]
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New B2 Miami Hotel On The Biscayne Bay Block
Seems like this is the week for Miami, as the southern city rolls out more hotel news. This time we’re told a new kid on the block wants to play with the big dogs. It’s called the b2 hotel, a new concept hotel from B Hotels & Resorts.
We have to remember not everyone wants to be beachside when visiting Miami, so this Downtown property, which opens in March, is of interest, especially to those who want to be in proximity to Biscayne Bay, the Port of Miami and the American Airlines Arena. Reservations opened yesterday for the 243-room hotel, which will court guests with its Blissful Bed (anyone ever slept on one of these?), free WiFi, and in-room Smart HD LED interactive televisions.
B2 will also feature a new restaurant from Jeffrey Chodorow of China Grill Management. Called Biscayne Tavern, the casual resto will have over 30 craft beers available that will go along with dishes like Oyster Po-Boys and short rib pot roast with truffle popovers. Special introductory offers will give up to 25% off on the best available rate for stays from March 1 through September 30, 2013.
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Check Out Miami's Brand New Flavors For The Year
There’s no doubt Miami continues to be one of the country's most hyped spot for hotel new builds. Just yesterday we talked about Ian Schrager’s upcoming (eventually) Marriott Edition, and we’ve gushed like Beliebers over the SLS hotel and all its splendor (and even gave it an award!).
Now we hear there’s more news on the South Beach front.
A company called Geolo Capital bought a Miami Beach apartment building for $100 million and plans to turn it into a yet unnamed 388-room hotel that will be operated by Commune Hotels & Resorts, a division created by Thompson and Joie de Vivre Hotels. Geolo also plans on spending $67 million to remodel The Crown Miami Beach and rename it the Roosevelt Miami Beach (after the LA Hollywood Roosevelt), with a projected 2014 opening.
This fall will bring the debut of the Vintro Hotel South Beach, a 54-room property located two blocks west of Collins Avenue and the beach. Given its name, naturally wine is a focus and the hotel will have a restaurant and bar that will present an interactive wine menu featuring wines from around the world offered by the glass or bottle, small plates, charcuterie, and global cheese flights. A rooftop lounge adds a chill Miami vibe at night, but during the day, guests can quit profiling and simply enjoy the freshwater pool or even get their shuffleboard on. Starting rates are said to be $169 a night.
[Photo: Vintro Hotel]
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It's An Additional Year's Wait For Miami's Edition
We should know better than to get emotional when we hear of hotel construction delays—but there’s something about this one that hits a bit hard. We’d hoped that Ian Schrager’s new project with Marriott, the Miami Beach Edition, would indeed open this spring has previously reported. But, in an interview with the Miami Herald, the hotelier said it wouldn’t open until 2014.
Gah.
Unlike any Marriott we’ve ever stayed at, this one promises to be pretty badass with a nightclub, bowling alley and an ice skating rink. This means we can throw a strike, do a triple toe-loop, and pop that all in one night! Is it no wonder we’re crying in our cornflakes? Let’s get this wrapped up, Mr. Schrager.
Read more for what's in store..
Fantasy Friday / Four Seasons Hotels / Palm Beach Hotels / Florida Hotels / → All Tags
Fantasy Friday: Polo and All Things Posh at the Four Seasons Palm Beach
This Fantasy Friday offers is one you might be able to pull off! Imagine, no need to cry in your coffee that you haven't a spare 5-figures (or more!) to drop on a flash hotel experience. Well, today we're going to actually take it down a notch because the amenities on this one are so swank, we couldn't pass up spreading the news.
This time we head to Florida's Four Seasons Hotel Palm Beach, which apparently has a big polo scene with its access to the International Polo Club. Well, alright. We're down with trying the "Sport of Kings (or at least future ones--how ya doin' Wills?).
The Four Seasons Hotel Palm Beach has built up three bonus offers to go along with their rate--and you get to choose which one that appeals most to you. Which would you rather have: an hour-and-a-half personal lesson with the sport’s top talent team, a private gourmet picnic at the Club where you’ll watch a match, or VIP brunch at the Club with preferred veranda seating during the match. Oh, and the kicker for all this? Whichever you pick,you'll be transported to The Club in a sleek Maserati and given copious amounts of Veuve Cliquot champagne during your adventure. Yeah, that's the business, baby!
Miami Hotel Mambo / Sports Hotels / Florida Hotels / → All Tags
Who's Playing Dirk Diggler At The Fontainebleau?
Every so often we highlight a post, photo, or review from one of our readers that we feel should be shared with the rest of you.
Here’s a pic from our Facebook friend Gregg Rory Holland, who sent this room key snap from Miami’s Fontainebleau Hotel. He joked(?) that maybe it was the room key of Nick Saban, head coach of University of Alabama’s Crimson Tide team.
Funny enough, today on our Twitter feed, follower @nickpastula posted “Bama is staying at the lux Fontainebleau, Irish family friendly Westin” when referring to the BCS National Championship. Of course, “Irish”, of course, refers to Notre Dame, who apparently isn't get all fancy with their quarters, and their players haven't been banned from getting ESPN in their hotel rooms like Dirk, uh, Nick supposedly ordered!
Hotel Restaurants / Miami Hotel Mambo / Kim Kardashian / Florida Hotels / → All Tags
Sushi and Star-Gazing at Shelborne Hotel's Newest Restaurant
If you’re looking for fabulous stargazing and sushi in Miami, look no further than the newly-opened Sushi MiKasa in the Shelborne Hotel.
Reality TV star (and Kim Kardashian BFF) Jonathan Cheban teamed up with Chef Kevin, who’s known for dishing out top quality sushi on New York City’s Upper East Side joint Sushi Seki, to open the restaurant, which exudes glamour with peacock blue velvet draped walls and gold accents.
Boasting a private entrance (naturally, for Cheban’s celebrity friends), the space accommodates only 62 guests, and Cheban exclusively talks with HotelChatter on why he thinks this new venture will be successful.
Miami Hotel Mambo / Hotel News / SBE Hotels / Hotel Management / Sam Nazarian / Florida Hotels / Historic Hotels / Miami Hotels / → All Tags
W SoBe Owner and SLS Master Finally Admit To Buying Miami’s Raleigh Hotel
Today, David Edelstein – owner of W South Beach – and Sam Nazarian – the wizard behind the sbe brand and owner of the new SLS Hotel South Beach announced plans to join ranks and buy Miami’s Raleigh Hotel.
Now, when we chatted over this in August, no one wanted to make an official comment. It was like some weird FB relationship status--"I won't change mine until you change yours!" OK. Now we know you're together.
Both men, famous for their hotel business savvy, will scoop up the landmark Raleigh from the Brilla Group and set out to revamp the Art Deco property that was the place to be when it opened in the ‘40s on Collins Avenue.
Listen, this is a powerful partnership—Edelstein is known for the trendy W hotel and developing such areas as Miami’s Lincoln Road mall, and Nazarian’s sbe group has dominated the swank SLS brand for a minute. Big $$ and big dream at work, here.
But, will these forward thinkers respect and keep the hotel’s historical identity in mind?
Hotel Restaurants / Miami Mambo / Dream Hotels / South Beach Hotels / Miami Hotels / Florida Hotels / → All Tags
New Serafina Restaurant Is A "Dream" For South Beach
When restaurateurs and founders of Serafina Restaurant Group Vittorio Assaf and Fabio Granato were lost at sea, the friends made a promise to one another that if they eventually saw land they would open the best pizza and pasta restaurant they could think of.
Years later, they’ve launched close to a dozen locations of Serafina everywhere from New York City to São Paolo – and now in Miami in the Art Deco and super swanky Dream South Beach.
The new location, which focuses on northern-Italian cuisine, features family recipes that have been handed down from generation to generation. Plus, it boasts a traditional wood stone oven to make the more than 24 varieties of pizza on the menu.
Hotel Rebrandings / Hotel Openings / Hotel News / Florida Hotels / Cape Coral Hotels / Starwood Hotels / Westin Hotels / → All Tags
Westin Cape Coral Opens In SW Florida
The Westin opened its first full-service property in southwest Florida last week in Cape Coral at Marina Village, located 18 miles from Southwest Florida International Airport and overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, the Caloosahatchee River and San Carlos Bay.
Why come here? Well, Cape Coral is called the "Waterfront Wonderland" as it has more miles of canals than any other city in the world (400 miles of navigable waterways), so the 263-room Westin (previously known as The Resort at MarinaVillage) capitalizes on the location. The hotel is ensconced in the waterfront community of Tarpon Point, and, as a result, boating, fishing, and marine activities are big draws here.
While we love us some pool time, the hotel is close to Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, and Fort Myers Beach, which screams "day trip" to us.
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Fontainebleau Hotel Heir's Killer Gets Life In Prison
Narcy Novack, wife of Fontainebleau hotel heir Ben Novack, was sentenced to life in prison yesterday for plotting the murder of her wealthy husband and his mother Bernice in July 2009.
Ben Novack, 53 at the time of his death, was the son of Ben Novack Sr., who built Miami Beach’s famed Fontainebleau hotel in 1954, a Collins Avenue institution that has seen everyone from the Rat Pack to Juvenile.
In a twisted, mind-boggling crime that involved hit men, Narcy Novack and her brother Cristobal Veliz were eventually convicted of the murder of Ben Novack at the Hilton Rye Town hotel. The details are gruesome and said to be the final revenge from Nancy’s year’s of suffering through Ben Novack's sexual perversions and notorious cheating, including a long-time affair with a former porn star and prostitute.
Narcy's long list of charges include domestic violence, stalking, money laundering and witness tampering in order to gain fortune.
