Miami Hotels Expecting Another Banner Year Ahead - 2001-01-15
<B>Miami Hotels Expecting Another Banner Year Ahead</B>
By Robert Selwitz
Last year was a particularly good year for Miami and Miami Beach hotel development, and--according to Stuart Blumberg, president and CEO of the Greater Miami and The Beaches Hotel Association--2001 looks even better.
"I'm thrilled that the nearly two-decade-old hotel building drought is over," said Blumberg. "With the recent Mandarin Oriental and JW Marriott openings, three Ritz-Carltons debuting this year and a new Four Seasons under construction, Miami is now a hotel man's dream."
Early this year, Blumberg foresees a temporary drop in occupancy as the new properties' inventory is absorbed. But, he said, "I see no decline in rates. Local hotels are willing to follow the old precept of 'short term pain for long term gain.' " This, he said, particularly will be evident with luxury properties, which are confident that those who can afford the very best will pay the upscale tab.
Of all the new entries, the Mandarin Oriental, now wrapping up its soft opening phase, best symbolizes the new Miami hotel scene. "The quality this hotel represents provides a positive boost to the entire region," Blumberg said. "For years, the very best we offered business travelers were fine properties, such as the Inter-Continental. But, Mandarin, which is very selective about where it sites new entries, plus the Four Seasons and Ritz-Carltons, has elevated Miami into a world-class category."
The $100 million, 329-room Mandarin Oriental Miami, in the downtown Brickell financial district, features suites with balconies, spa and health club facilities, a large pool, 200-seat signature restaurant, lobby lounge, martini bar, 12 multiple-size function and meeting rooms totaling 15,000 square feet, a grand ballroom, 24-hour business center and unobstructed views of Biscayne Bay and the Miami skyline.
Nearby, Miami's Four Seasons Hotel and Tower on Brickell Avenue will become the tallest building south of Atlanta. It will rise 63 stories and offer 1.5 million square feet of mix-use space, 1,000 parking spaces, retail shops and a spa and fitness center. Completion is scheduled for spring 2002.
Clearly, 2001 will be a banner year for Ritz-Carlton as it opens a trio of Miami-area hotels. The action begins in April, when the 300-room Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne debuts. Situated on 44 acres, it will feature a European-style health spa and fitness center, two heated pools, 12-court tennis center, restaurants, a beach club, guest rooms offering ocean and bay views with marble baths and Whirlpool tubs, a gourmet food market and meeting center.
The following month, the Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove will offer 115 guest rooms and suites, a Club Level, gourmet restaurant with private dining room, cigar bar, swimming pool, state-of-the-art fitness center, business center and 5,000 square feet of meeting space.
And in August, the Ritz-Carlton South Beach at the former site of the 375-room DiLido Hotel will be ready for business following a $100 million renovation and expansion. Onsite will be The Café outdoor terrace and private dining room, a pool bar, specialty restaurant, The Lobby Lounge with outdoor seating, a spa and outdoor pool, Club Level and Club Lounge and 20,000 square feet of meeting space.
Also in South Beach, the $100 million Bentley Beach Condo-Hotel will open in the fall with 98 suites, restaurants and a European-style spa.
The year 2000 also was an active one for Marriott, which saw two Miami entries. The 21-story hotel and meeting center JW Marriott is in the heart of downtown Miami's business district. The hotel features 300 guest rooms, including 22 suites, and three executive level floors, four restaurants and more than 18,000 square feet of meeting facilities. Also on hand is a health club, swimming pool and 24-hour full- service business center.
Another major year 2000 lodging addition was the 150-room Inter-Continental Miami Airport West. The hotel features a business center and seven meeting rooms totaling nearly 5,000 square feet of space.
The airport itself, one of the world's busiest, is in the midst of a $5.4 billion construction/expansion program. When the dust settles, there will be an additional 5 million square feet that will cover runways, taxiways, taxi lanes, access roadways and parking. Furthermore, construction of a fourth runway is expected to be complete in 2002. This is expected to greatly increase airfield capacity, lessen the chances of flight delays and better position the destination for growth.