A recent New York Times article (“$28,000 a Night: Hotels Race to Attract Superrich Clientele,” January 20, 2014) put the spotlight on a new luxury travel trend, the creation of super-suites for a small niche market looking for unrivaled grandeur, opulence, and bragging rights. At the New York Palace, the Jewel Suite by Martin Katz is described as “a sort of penthouse Versailles.” Meanwhile the Ritz-Carlton in Dallas has just opened an enormous “suite wing”, comprised of adjoining suites in case you travel with an entourage.
The Miami market deserves special attention, as it’s witnessing a boom (hello, COMO Hotels!), each property striving to out-luxe the next and win the high-end leisure traveler. Case in point: The Hilton Bentley unveiled its penthouse in December after a multi-million dollar renovation. As the Kardashians’ digs in “Kourtney & Khloe Take Miami,” the penthouse already had a claim to fame. But now, it has a rooftop infinity pool, Jacuzzi, and private terraces.
Encompassing 3,000 square feet, the penthouse has wrap-around views of the Atlantic from its perch at the very tip of South Beach. There’s also a kitchen, dining room, and entertainment center (with surround sound) for entertaining visitors. In-room technology is controlled via iPad.
Hilton Bentley Miami/South Beach, 101 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139, Tel: (305) 938-4600, http://www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/florida/hilton-bentley-miami-south-beach-MIABMHF/index.html
