Many Florida properties are sprucing up and adding new features. Hoteliers talked with TravelAgentCentral.com about their property updates during the annual Florida Huddle conference at World Golf Village in St. Augustine earlier this year, as well as at other events.
What's new? What's different? Here’s just a small sample of the many hospitality developments this year around the Sunshine State.
Central Florida
In Orlando, the Nickelodeon Suites Resort (www.nickhotel.com) celebrates its eighth birthday with eight new experiences this year. These include: birthday surprises and a chance to stay free on your birthday; auditioning to be a contestant in Double Dare Live in Studio Nick; new dining and photo experiences with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Foot Clan; a new Nick Jr. Show in Studio, Dora’s Friendship Fiesta, featuring Dora the Explorer and friends as well as Geo and Milli from Team Umizoomi; a new character breakfast with SpongeBob SquarePants and his Bikini Bottom friends; the debut of the SpongeBob SquarePants 4-D movie, “The Great Jelly Rescue,” this spring; an inaugural summer kids’ day camp; and character celebration weekends for every month in 2013.
Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center (www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/mcogp-gaylord-palms-resort-and-convention-center) in Kissimmee, has finished its $50 million renovation that includes a new Cypress Springs Family Fun Water Park. Families can explore a Tree House, party poolside with Shrek & friends, thanks to a DreamWorks Animation partnership, go on a scavenger hunt, enjoy a “splash-and-screen” movie.
Guests can also enjoy a new Wrecker Sports Bar, including a two-story, 37-foot sports screen and 50 HDTVs ranging from 32” to 60.” And a new adult –only swimming pool features a South Beach design with fully stocked private cabanas that feature televisions screen, lounges and ceiling fans.
In central Florida’s interior southwest of Fort Meade, Streamsong Resort (www.streamsongresort.com) opened two new golf courses in December 2012. Architects Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw of Coore & Crenshaw and Tom Doak of Renaissance Golf Design collaborated to create Streamsong Red and Streamsong Blue respectively.
A lakeside 12-guestroom clubhouse is complete; it features a golf shop and a steakhouse-themed Restaurant Fifty-Nine. A new 216-room lodge and spa will open later this year with additional restaurants, a rooftop lounge and lakeside pool. Streamsong also will offer outdoor adventures such as guided bass fishing, hiking trails, bird watching and a shooting club.
Central Florida West
Delray Beach-based Ocean Properties Ltd is formulating a joint venture with the Longboat Key Club and Resort (www.longboatkeyclub.com) on the central Gulf of Mexico coastline. Ocean Properties also owns the nearby Longboat Key Hilton Beachfront Resort, Lido Beach Resort, Sandpearl Resort and Residence Inn by Marriott Treasure Island. The pending joint venture is the next step in a $400 million expansion-and-renovation plan that received local government approval in June 2010.
Tampa-based Mainsail Lodging & Development recently announced a target opening date of November 2013 for the Epicurean (www.epicureanhotel.com), a 137-room boutique hotel devoted to extraordinary culinary experiences. Located in the Hyde Park historic district of south Tampa, the food-focused hotel will feature a large, state-of-the-art culinary classroom, high-end bistro, wine shop, rooftop lounge, full-service spa, and a retail and production bakery and pastry shop.
The Epicurean is being developed in collaboration with the legendary Bern’s Steak House, and will be the first newly constructed property in the United States to join the prestigious Autograph Collection® of Marriott International, Inc.
Also in Tampa, the Mainsail Suites Hotel & Conference Center (www.mainsailtampa.com), which was originally a 360-room property, will soon transition to a total of 120 one- and two-bedroom suites. The conversion will include $1.5 million in interior upgrades to rooms and the lobby. Slated for an August 2013 completion, room renovations will include upgraded flooring throughout living rooms, bedrooms, and bathrooms; new sofa sleeper and lounge chair in living rooms; white faux wood blinds; new light fixtures in dining rooms; new high-end euro top bedding; upgraded bedding accessories; flat screen televisions for all bedrooms; and new artwork.
Guest bathrooms also will receive a complete overhaul, including new accessories in a brushed nickel finish; upgraded vanity marble countertops, lighting and mirrors; and grab bars in all tubs. The hotel’s lobby area will receive fresh paint throughout and the guest check-in desk will be enhanced to include a stack stone backdrop and more modern signage. The hotel’s remaining 240 units will be converted to rental residences operating as Mainsail Apartment Homes.
Barefoot Beach Resort (www.barefootbeachresort.com) of Indian Shores, FL, says 2012 revenues were up 12 percent over the previous year. It’s recently contracted with iQware to update the property management system; that will increase online booking and social media booking capability and help the property enhance customer service.
Southeast Florida
In Miami’s Arts District, the Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay has completed $31 million in renovations including renovated guest rooms with Marriott’s Revive bedding and flat screen TVs; a fifth floor pool with sun deck, bar and water vistas; a sleek Lobby Reinvented where guests check in at new registration pods and have new work and relaxation spaces; a new Lobby Bar with rotating back-lit panels, a new Catch Grill & Bar with marina-side dining and drinks; and a new 2,600-square-foot Bay View Ballroom.
In the Greater Fort Lauderdale area, the Hollywood Beach Marriott (www.hollywoodbeachmarriott.com) is spending nearly $1 million on updates. Elevators have been completely refurbished. The Sunset Key Boardroom has been renovated and new pre-function furniture has been added. In addition, every room now has a refrigerator, in-room WiFi and wired Internet, a full-length mirror and new carpeting. The outdoor pool and outdoor furniture are new. Ocean Properties also purchased the marina on the intra-coastal side of the property; the hotel plans new docks and potential restaurant affiliated with the hotel.
Another Ocean Properties Ltd. hotel, the Delray Beach Marriott (www.marriott.com/pbidr), is adding oceanfront villas to its hotel room inventory.
In Greater Fort Lauderdale, two new entertainment and dining experiences have debuted at Seminole Paradise at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (www.seminolehardrockhollywood.com) in Hollywood, FL. Piāno, an upscale live music bar has opened its first U.S. location and the adjoining Sirocco Mediterranean Restaurant & Bar is now offering Aegean and African cuisine.
Southwest Florida
In southwest Florida, the Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club (www.naplesbeachhotel.com) has completed the latest phase of renovations and updates; this $5 million phase includes the opening of a new Gulf-view ballroom, complete renovation of the remaining guest rooms in the resort’s Florida Wing, and the complete renovation of the resort’s Gulf-side meeting rooms and pre-function space.
Also in downtown Naples, the Inn on Fifth Street (www.innonfifth.com), which recently completed a $1.7 million renovation of its landmark property, has also subsequently completed an $18 million expansion. Thirty-two new Club Level suites -- ranging from 550 to 900 square feet -- are within a new three-story building across Fifth Avenue from the Inn’s current location. The new suites offer large balconies, a separate check-in, private rooftop hot tub and sunbathing area. Guests receive buffet breakfast, afternoon tea, afternoon snacks, and evening cocktails and appetizers.
Northeast Florida
In northeast Florida, the Omni Amelia Island Plantation (www.omniameliaislandplantation.com), is reopening on March 5, following an $85 million makeover. The resort’s lobby will feature floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking an infinity edge pool and the Atlantic Ocean. The Omni also has added 155 additional oceanfront guest rooms, including 27 suites, for a total of 404 oceanfront rooms.
The tiered pool deck with 600 loungers (one for each guest bed) includes an adult infinity edge pool, a large family pool, and kid's splash area. The resort is expanding its programs for kids and teens with new recreation at Camp Amelia, Just for Families events, a Teen concierge, and Gamers – a hangout just for teens. Guests also can enjoy the new Heron’s Cove Adventure Golf with 18 family-friendly, putt-putt holes. The improvement project also results in 80,000 square feet of meeting space, $3.8 million in improvements to the golf facilities, a spa renovation (including two couple’s relaxation rooms) and a new dining options.
Amelia Hotel at the Beach (www.ameliahotel.com) recently updated their lobby with local artwork, has begun serving Starbucks coffee in guest rooms and has partnered with The Great Harvest Bread Company to offer “Beach Boxes To Go.”
The Amelia Oceanfront Bed and Breakfast (www.ameliaoceanfrontbb.com) is renovating and upgrading the Sea Escape suite, including tiled flooring in the bath, new sink and fixtures, updated window treatments, fresh paint and new furnishings to create more space. Additionally, the inn is updating its beach patio with new beach chairs, lounges, umbrellas and beach toys.
In Jacksonville’s southside, Marble Waters Hotel and Suites (www.marblewaters.com) is under construction and nearing completion; the $11 million hotel will have 80 rooms. In north Jacksonville, a new TownePlace Suites by Marriott Jacksonville Airport (www.marriott.com) will open in 2014; the $7.5 million hotel will have 107 rooms and will be located at 725 Skymarks Drive at River City Marketplace in North Jacksonville.
Northwest Florida
In Florida’s Panhandle, the 598-room Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa (www.hiltonsandestinbeach.com) has completed a $5 million renovation of meeting space, accommodations and its fine-dining restaurant, Seagar’s Prime Steaks and Seafood. Updates have also been made to the common space of the 400-room Emerald Tower, which houses the deluxe junior suites featuring bunk beds and separate media centers for kids.
For more Florida hospitality news, visit www.visitflorida.com or check out the "related links" on this page.