The Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort officially opened its doors this week, another cog in the lodging explosion that is taking place in the beachfront city just north of Miami. "This is an important event for both Hilton and Fort Lauderdale as a destination," says the property's general manager, Andreas Ioannou. The 25-story, all-suite property has 373 oceanview studios; and one-, two- and three-bedroom suites, which all feature whirlpool-jet bathtubs and flat-screen TVs. Another amenity is the grocery concierge, who can stock each suite's kitchen. Fort Lauderdale is absorbing an influx of new properties being built—two Starwood properties are opening and two Trump properties are in the works. Fort Lauderdale is also home to the nation's second-largest cruise port, which adds to tourist traffic. Visit [www.fortlauderdalebeachresort.hilton.com].
