Benchmark Hospitality International®, a leading U.S.-based hospitality management company, has named Edita Matic director of sales and revenue management for Marenas Beach Resort, located in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, north of Miami. Rikki Boparai, managing director of the Personal Luxury collection of Florida, made the announcement.
Host Hotels & Resorts, the nation's largest lodging real estate investment trust, in conjunction with Destination Hotels, the largest operator of independent hotels and resorts in North America, announced today the opening of YVE Hotel Miami. A completely new hotel concept designed for savvy travelers, YVE Hotel Miami is located in the heart of downtown Miami's business and financial district. The 243-room hotel offers guests a stylish and charismatic experience that is synonymous with the city of Miami.
Nobu Hotels and Eden Roc Miami Beach announced today the 2015 vision and plans for the Nobu Hotel at Eden Roc Miami Beach to open during the second half of 2015. Chef Nobu, Academy award-winner Robert DeNiro and Hollywood producer Meir Teper are the masterminds behind the much anticipated Nobu Hotel project. This is the second U.S. hotel under the Nobu Hospitality brand and shall encompass the largest Nobu Restaurant and Bar Lounge in the world.
With more than 20 years in the hospitality industry, Maine de Biran began her career at Westin Hotels & Resorts’ regional office in New York City as National Accounts manager, responsible for corporate and associations accounts. She then moved to the travel industry segment with Rockresorts, a portfolio of luxury properties owned by Laurance Rockefeller. In 1990 Maine de Biran moved to Paris, France where she gained experience in the international arena and worked on various foreign hotel projects including Hotel Montalembert, Hotel Pont Royal and Hotel de Vigny. In 1996 Jane founded the luxury hotel representation firm JMB Associates (later rebranded to M Luxury Collection). The collection featured a wide array of luxury resorts and hotels worldwide, such as Auberge du Soleil, One Devonshire Garden, Miraval Spa and Hotel Pont Royal to name a few. She sold M Luxury Collection September 2014, just prior to joining the Trump National Doral family.
There is a moment that comes in the life of a city. With the arrival of a single new project or development, forces that have been building for years suddenly become clear, and the city as a whole is propelled to a new place, a new stage of growth, a new status on the world stage.
"Thompson Miami Beach, as with all Thompson hotels, is designed to inspire and to engage our guests in bold, yet approachable experiences reflective of the hotel's locale," says Niki Leondakis, CEO of Commune Hotels & Resorts. "Together with celebrated hometown chef Michelle Bernstein, we are thrilled to offer guests a diverse and engaging collection of hospitality, dining and nightlife options in one of the most coveted areas of Miami Beach."
As General Manager, Wehen will oversee day-to-day operations, including the property’s onsite supper club, Kitchen 305, and widely acclaimed Aveda Seven Seas Spa & Salon. He will also manage sales, revenue management, finance and catering services for the property. In addition he is going to support the expansion of the Newport Group supporting transitions and conversions of new hotel projects.
JW Marriott Miami, the luxurious AAA Four Diamond hotel located in the heart of Brickell Avenue, is excited to announce Alex Paz as their new Executive Chef. Paz will lead the hotel’s culinary program, including restaurants The Trapiche Room, serving impeccable Mediterranean cuisine; La Terrazza Café and Bar, which serves American cuisine with a more casual ambiance; and Isabela’s, an American cuisine restaurant for breakfast and private events. Paz will also be responsible for elevating the hotel’s banquet offerings, creating personalized experiences and gourmet menus for groups of any size. Chef Paz prides himself in including a bit of Floridian flair in every dish he creates. He carefully sources his products from local providers, including north and central Florida’s top farmers and ranchers for home-grown meats and dairy. Based in Miami, he will also be able to feature the freshest seafood options on the menus, which are modified daily. The Chef attributes his unique cooking style to his travels throughout the Caribbean, Central America, Europe and South East Asia. Today, Chef Paz’s dishes are a careful blend of local and global cuisine, much like the city of Miami.
Zachary Felter brings extensive knowledge of the Miami hospitality market to 1 Hotel & Homes South Beach. Prior to 1 Hotels, he quickly accelerated from national sales manager to director of sales at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel where he managed a team of 11, established new programming that successfully met and surpassed sales goals, and created and executed the hotel’s sales budget and plan, adjusting as necessary to meet goals. Felter began his career as a member of the sales team at the iconic Eden Roc Miami Beach Hotel.
Acquisitions Of The b2 Miami Downtown Hotel For $57.5 Million And 90% Of The Grand Hotel Esplanade Berlin For Gross Purchase Price Of euro 81 Million and The Sale Of Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina For $199 Million
W South Beach, the globally renowned cosmopolitan escape located just steps away from the Atlantic, has expertly crafted every detail from "Will you?" to "I do" to create the million-dollar wedding celebration of a lifetime. The meticulously crafted package includes every detail from an extravagant four-night escape leading up to the wedding, to an unforgettable ceremony and reception with every detail custom-designed, to a lavish honeymoon in Bora Bora. All orchestrated by a dedicated wedding planner, the ultra-indulgent experience provides the lovebirds with a care-free engagement and a wedding night that will keep the couple and their guests starry-eyed for years to come.
PARSIPPANY, N.J. (Sept. 24, 2014) – Following an extensive, multi-million dollar renovation of the former Shelborne South Beach, Wyndham Hotel Group, the world's largest hotel company with approximately 7,540 hotels and part of Wyndham Worldwide Corporation (NYSE: WYN), today announced the opening of the landmark 200-room Shelborne Wyndham Grand South Beach in Miami Beach, Fla. The historic oceanfront hotel is located on Collins Avenue in the heart of South Beach's Art Deco district, steps from world-class dining, nightlife, shopping and beaches. Its opening furthers the Hotel Group's strategy to expand its namesake Wyndham Hotels and Resorts® brand in key destinations around the United States. The Art Deco property, designed by architect Igor Polevitsky and later updated by Morris Lapidus, first opened in 1940 and was known for decades as one of the most sophisticated and popular resort destinations in South Beach. Owners Flag Luxury and the Galbut family recently completed an extensive renovation to restore and celebrate the property's heritage while also incorporating modern conveniences and amenities for today's South Beach traveler, from complimentary wireless internet access to nightlife VIP concierge service and vintage car rental access. Shelborne Wyndham Grand features four on-site restaurants and bars, including Morimoto South Beach, internationally acclaimed Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto's flagship eatery in Miami; revamped guestrooms and meeting spaces designed by Richard Mishaan; restored public areas conceived by designer Meg Sharpe; exclusive pool and beach access; a Blue Harmony® spa; and extensive event space. It joins Wyndham Grand® Hotels and Resorts, an ensemble of distinguished hotels within the Wyndham Hotels and Resorts brand that represent one-of-a-kind experiences in key destinations with refined accommodations, attentive service and relaxed surroundings. Miami becomes the latest major market to welcome the upscale Wyndham® brand. Since 2013, the brand has flagged several key properties in top travel destinations, including New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, Dallas and Charleston, S.C., as well as Anaheim, San Diego and Santa Monica in California. "We couldn't be more thrilled to bring the Wyndham name to South Beach and it's particularly special to do so with such a legendary property," said Bob Loewen, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Wyndham Hotel Group, which has managed the hotel's operations since February 2013. "This reimagined, high-end destination will offer services, amenities and experiences that reflect Miami's unique culture and lifestyle, while also representing the excellence and distinctive offerings for which Wyndham Grand properties around the world are known." The hotel's 200 guest rooms feature décor inspired by vintage cars from the 1950s, city or ocean views and 46-inch Interactive Smart Samsung® televisions with mobile device connectivity via the Shelborne Wyndham Grand app, which provides guests with access to hotel amenities. Shelborne Wyndham Grand is home to the much-anticipated Morimoto® South Beach from celebrity Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto. Chef Morimoto and his team will also oversee all on-site catering and 24-hour room service at the hotel. Additional dining and bar experiences include The Drawing Room, The Bistro and casual, beachfront dining alongside fire pits and Ping-Pong tables at Oasis Grill. Direct beach access, located just steps from the hotel, is available through the private beach club. An oceanfront pool and lounge area offers drink cart service, daily activities and exclusive, air-conditioned cabanas with entertainment centers, full bathrooms and private mixologists. Guests can unwind at the on-site Blue Harmony® Spa, which features body treatments and skincare services using Natura Bisse® and Dr. Hevia® products, a couples' spa suite and a nail salon. The 24-hour fitness center contains state-of-the-art equipment and offers private trainers upon request. Shelborne Wyndham Grand's reinvention also includes 15,000 square feet of expanded event areas that include meeting rooms, an executive boardroom, breakout rooms, a grand ballroom and extensive, flexible outdoor space. Wyndham Grand properties are situated in some of the world's most popular travel spots, including Orlando, Fla.; Kauai, HI; Charleston, SC; Chicago, Ill.; Doha, Qatar; Frankfurt and Berlin, Germany; and Shanghai, China, among others.
The Ritz-Carlton will assume management of ONE Bal Harbour Resort & Spa on October 2, 2014. The luxury resort will become The Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour, Miami marking the tenth property in the hotel company's award-winning Florida portfolio.
Vazquez will report to Matthew Fry, Senior Vice President, Global Development, and will oversee the company’s aggressive growth strategy in the region. Vazquez, who has relocated to the company’s Miami office, brings more than 20 years of experience, most recently serving as brand standards and global project lead in Singapore for IHG. In that role, he was responsible for shaping and executing the operations strategy for IHG’s Asia, Middle East & Africa (AMEA) division and led the development of hotel operations models and process for new hotel brands, joint ventures and special projects. Prior to that, Vazquez was part of the Global Operations team and Operations Council based out of IHG’s head office in the United Kingdom, and held a variety of positions within the company, including roles in feasibility, development, investment and asset management, brands and operations/finance support. He also served as a General Manager and gained hotel operations and hotel openings experience at city-center, resort and convention properties in the U.S., Argentina and Venezuela. Victor is a CPA who holds a MBA from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland.
Luxury Miami Beach hotel, The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach, announces the appointment of Mr. Dennis Jung to the position of Hotel Manager. With more than 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry, the seasoned international hotelier will lead and oversee the operation of the 375 room hotel in Miami Beach, FL. The oceanfront restored 1953 Art Moderne building, in the famed Art Deco district, is located at the epicenter of South Beach.
Emerald Expositions announces the launch of Design Americas, a new show catering to the hospitality, contract, kitchen and bath and retail design markets. Developed as a response to the evolving world of design, the show will serve as the definitive destination for designers looking to explore the latest products and services either from a respective sector or across the entire design industry.
A two-decade hospitality industry veteran, Laine Blaker comes to his new position with extensive food and beverage, and operations experience. Prior to joining Benchmark Hospitality, Mr. Blaker served as corporate food & beverage operations director for the Washington, DC-based eXceed Hospitality Asset Advisors. While here he developed numerous F&B concepts, including opening successful sustainable farm-to-table restaurant concepts in Northern California.
Today, Melia Hotels International, one of the world's largest resort hotel chains, announced their next major launch; ME Miami, introducing the ME by Melia brand's first property in the United States. This new Bayfront property, slated to open in spring 2015, marks a pivotal moment in the brand's evolving global expansion strategy by making its way to one of the most popular travel destinations in the world and the U.S. headquarters of Melia Hotels International.
With more than a decade of experience driving sales and managing creative event programming, Wark possesses an extensive network of influential contacts and an impressive ability to stay ahead of market trends. As director of catering & events, Wark is charged with identifying and coordinating strategic alliances, managing all catering functions and establishing creative programming and offerings for locals, hotel guests and groups.
Casey joins the Thompson Miami Beach team from Miami Beach luxury resort, The Setai, where he served as executive director of marketing & sales for two years. During his time at The Setai, he led an extensive transition of the sales, marketing and revenue functions to a new management company. Casey also oversaw the opening of the first U.S.-based Expedia CruiseShipCenters retail and host agency franchise for which he remains a franchise co-owner and managing partner. Prior to his arrival in South Florida, Casey worked in the northeast market as vice president of hotel sales and marketing for one of the world’s largest casinos, Mohegan Sun Resort & Casino in Uncasville, Conn. There, Casey managed all hotel marketing and sales initiatives for a $1.4 billion expansion project, and developed and executed a comprehensive pre-opening and opening strategy.