The year is winding down and fall is upon us, yet Florida’s hotel scene shows no signs of cooling down. Here are a few additional properties that have recently opened, or will open before the year’s end.
The W Miami
The centerpiece of the 10-acre, bayfront Icon Brickell enclave, W Miami has quickly made a splash onto the downtown Miami hotel scene following the June purchase, subsequent renovation and re-branding of building’s former resident hotel, Viceroy Miami. Each of the hotel’s 148 guestrooms feature private balconies with views of the city or Miami River, floor-to-ceiling marble bathrooms with W signature lemon + sage Bliss sink side amenities, and a W pillow menu. Guests can catch some sun on the 2-acre, rooftop WET Deck featuring a 300-ft. infinity pool, or enjoy cocktails at Whisper Cocktail Lounge, also located on the 50th floor rooftop. The 15th floor features the signature W Living Room and the 15th & Vine Kitchen and Bar restaurant, where guests can munch on crispy flatbreads, braised short ribs, and mushroom risotto at communal tables. On weekday afternoons, 15th & Vine Kitchen and Bar hosts a happy hour complete with sliders, kebabs, and signature coconut mojitos. While the onsite fitness center is a great place to work off those extra happy hour calories, suggest your clients rent a public Citi Bike to combine fitness and sightseeing. Rates start at $242 per night. For more information, call (305) 503-4400 or visit starwoodhotels.com.
Ikona Hotel in Fort Lauderdale Beach
Last month, the second of the Gzella Collection Hotels’ beachside boutique properties opened steps away from the golden-sand beaches of Fort Lauderdale. Ikona Hotel—a stylish multimillion dollar restoration of the former Shell Motel—is a fashionable yet low-key escape designed by “Travel Channel’s” Blanche Garcia with mid-century modern architectural features and modern interior decor. The property features 24 deluxe rooms, family apartment suites and well-appointed penthouses equipped with custom-made furnishings, premium amenities such as Nespresso coffee makers and a living room area. The 3-story hotel overlooks a private pool and courtyard garden, and while it does not offer its own food and beverage options, the property is conveniently located near the area’s top restaurants, bars and cafes, including Shooters Waterfront, Tap 42, and American Social. While out on the town, your clients can also check out the nearby Las Olas shopping district, home to luxury retailers, art galleries and alfresco dining venues, take in a show at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, or wine and socialize at one of the area’s oceanfront bars. Ikona’s sister properties, the Fortuna Hotel, which opened in April, and the Mirra Hotel, opening next year, round out the Gzella Collection portfolio. Rates at the Ikona Hotel start at $201.60 per night. For more infomation, call (954) 467-0568 or visit gzellacollection.com.
Playa Largo Resort & Spa in Key Largo
The highly anticipated Playa Largo Resort & Spa—the Autograph Collection’s 100th hotel—welcomed its first guests last month in Key Largo, Florida. The first resort to be built in the Upper Keys in more than 21 years, we first reported on Playa Largo Resort & Spa in January after having a first-hand look at the beginnings of this jaw-dropping, head-turning kind of beauty, which you can read about here. “Conceived from a desire to offer visitors to Key Largo a luxurious and modern full-service resort option,” as said by general manager Shakir Hussain in a press release statement, the 144-guestroom resort sits on more than 14 waterfront acres, offering 10 secluded bungalows and a 3-bedroom beach house with private plunge pool. Amenities and services include an expansive waterfront pool, 745 ft. of sandy beach, a fully equipped fitness center, two tennis courts, a basketball court, watersports rentals and a private marina. Gourmet dining is available at three onsite restaurants, including La Marea, a traditional steakhouse; Las Olas ceviche and sushi bar; and Sol by the Sea, offering waterfront views and local fresh-caught seafood. An ideal playground for both big and little kids, Playa Largo Resort & Spa features the full-service Ocean Spa, where adults can pamper themselves, and the Playa Kids daily discovery camp for the little ones to enjoy. For more information, visit playalargoresort.com, marriott.com or autographhotels.com.
To view additional hotels that opened in Florida this year, check out the Florida’s 2016 Hotel Forecast and Update: Florida’s 2016 Hotel Forecast articles we published last November and January, respectively.
