It's snowing in New York…again. In order to combat yet another dreary winter day, we thought we'd take a trip to Miami to see what hotels are sizzling down there this season, in hopes of warming up our spirits in the Great White North.
We’ve been eagerly awaiting the arrival of hotelier Ian Schrager’s Edition Hotel on the sexy Miami scene. In a recent interview with The Miami Herald, Schrager dishes some fun details: the Edition will have a nightclub, bowling alley and ice skating rink. The celebrity hotelier has been working in partnership with Marriott International on his new Edition brand. Located on the site of the old Seville Beach hotel at 2901 Collins Avenue, The Miami Beach Edition is slated to open in first quarter 2014. Its top two floors will be comprised of 26 high-end residences. (Splurge on one of the residences, priced from $3,000 per square foot, and you’ll be neighbors with Schrager himself, who plans to buy one of them.) For more information, visit www.editionhotels.com.
Doral Golf Resort & Spa Miami has announced the scheduled redesign of the guestrooms of the newest addition to the TRUMP HOTEL COLLECTION. Designed by Ivanka Trump in cooperation with WATG’s Wimberly Interiors, the guestrooms will feature a palette of neutrals – including ivory, Champagne and caramel – accentuated with mahogany wood and gold-leaf Spanish revival details. Furnishings and details will include golf-inspired tartan plaid, classic herringbone and geometric patterns, while the artwork will feature classic photos of golf legends that have either played Doral Resort’s Blue Monster course or are admired by The Trump Organization’s chairman and president, Donald J. Trump. According to Ivanka Trump, executive vice president of development and acquisitions at The Trump Organization, the property’s new design for Doral’s guestrooms is “at once sophisticated and playful. The palette is elegant and luxurious, with rich accents, blended with patterns and imagery inspired by the sport of golf. The design has a classic, clean feel that’s paired with modern amenities and polished to Trump standards.” The renovation of the guestrooms will begin in Spring 2013, following the PGA TOUR’s World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship at Doral Resort. The stated objective of this comprehensive, $200-million transformation is said to be to “create the greatest golf resort in the country, if not the world”. Renovation of the main building, lodges, conference areas, spa, food and beverage outlets, pools, and Champions Pavilion will set a new tone for the resort, while the Members’ Clubhouse will be redesigned to include upgraded facilities and amenities. The renovation is slated to conclude in 2014, at which point the resort will be rebranded “Trump Doral.”
Late last year, the InterContinental Miami announced that it would be rolling out $30 million in upgrades. From a 19-story “digital canvas” that illuminates the downtown skyline each night and multimedia features that showcase Miami’s culture throughout the hotel, to fully-renovated suites designed by tennis star Venus Williams' V Starr Interiors and a new destination restaurant, the InterContinental Miami is expected to “set new standards for luxury, technology and guest interaction in Miami”. The improvements, set to debut this fall, are the brainchild of hotel owner Strategic Hotels & Resorts. Rising 34-stories in the downtown Miami with views of the Atlantic Ocean, Biscayne Bay, and adjacent Bayfront Park, the InterContinental Miami features 641 guest rooms including 34 suites, and 33 meeting rooms with more than 101,000 square feet of conference and exhibition space. A flagship property within the Strategic Hotels & Resorts portfolio, the InterContinental Miami is a hotel of choice among heads-of-state, public figures, celebrities, and executives. The InterContinental Miami’s transformation will be visible before guests even set foot inside. A “digital canvas” encompassing thousands of LED lights will tower above Miami’s urban core and will be visible from miles away. The canvas will project digital images and animations on the hotel’s east and west facing facades, highlighting current affairs and community events. Interactive functions will enable guests and the general public to curate content through social media and online engagement. A fully renovated entrance area will feature customizable lighting and sound elements, along with a Times Square-style LED marquee to welcome guests, large groups, and special events. Upon entering the hotel's new lobby, guests will be immersed in a multimedia environment featuring 18 LCD screens showcasing streaming content ranging from digital works by local artists and information about Miami-area attractions. Touchscreen coffee tables throughout the lobby will allow guests to order cocktails, plan local outings, book dining reservations and spa appointments. Nearby, a live camera feed will display real-time video of Biscayne Bay.