Meet Me In Miami December 29, 2009 Five new and renovated hotel meeting spaces, plus a new culinary academy with group programs
Epic Miami's rooftop pool
By Donna M. Airoldi
There's always something exciting going on in the world of Miami hotels, especially for planners. Earlier this year I had the chance to tour some of the Greater Miami area’s new properties and programs good for meetings and incentives. Each place was appealing in its own way for different types of groups; all had fantastic service. Here are some highlights:
Epic Hotel
Planners looking for South Beach style but without having their attendees stay in the potentially distracting district should consider the Epic, Kimpton Hotels' first new-build property in Miami.
Located downtown overlooking where the Miami River meets Biscayne Bay, the 411-room hotel's decor is modern but not minimalist. Its soaring lobby features copper- and gold-toned sculptures, chandeliers and elegant yet comfortable sitting areas. The spacious, earth-toned rooms come with computers, flat-screen TVs, environmentally friendly air tubs, Acqua di Parma amenities and balconies with dramatic views. Room service, the fitness center and the complimentary business center are available 24 hours a day; there's free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel. An Exhale Spa with 15 treatment rooms is due to open January 2010.
A private marina in front of the hotel saves transfer time and money for groups with a dinner cruise or fishing activity on the itinerary. The hotel also can cater onboard events.
Epic's 25,000 square feet of meeting and event space—with eight rooms named after superheroes, playing off the hotel's "epic" theme—is located on the 14th floor and accommodates from 45 to 400 attendees. A rooftop pool deck, complete with 10 cabanas, holds 500 for a banquet, 600 for a reception. For excellent seafood, try the hotel's award-winning restaurant Area 31—named for the United Nations designated fishing area off the Miami coast.
From now through Dec. 31, 2009, the Epic is offering group room rates from $139 per night, plus 10 percent off master account folio charges.
With a name change and a $20 million renovation, including new meeting facilities, restaurant and spa—touted to be the first Aveda luxury beachfront spa in the United States—The Palms Hotel & Spa (formerly The Palms South Beach) feels like a brand-new property, yet retains its Old Florida, plantation-style charm.
All 251 rooms now feature sand-and-sea colored interiors, 400-count Egyptian cotton linens, flat-screen TVs, iPod radios, new shower-only bathrooms, plush bathrobes and slippers, and Aveda amenities. The lush, tropical pool area also is all new. Wi-Fi is available throughout the property.
The renovation of the hotel's 8,000 square feet of meeting space was completed in November. The Palms now has nine rooms, including two ballrooms (with floor-to-ceiling windows), able to accommodate groups from 15 to 200 attendees for banquets, 350 for receptions. An additional 3,000 square feet of outdoor facilities include a new veranda/banquet area, poolside lounge, two terraces and a lawn. There's a 24-hour business center. The Mediterranean-fare Essensia Restaurant & Lounge and 5,000-square-foot Palms Spa both opened in May.
From now through Dec. 23, 2009, group rates start at $139 per night with complimentary general session, 50 percent off breakout room rentals, up to two VIP guestroom upgrades, one per 40 comps, and up to five welcome amenities for VIP guests.
The Eden Roc, a Renaissance Beach Resort & Spa (and Miami Beach classic), was reborn after nearly $200 million in renovations. The hotel’s exterior and lobby were given a facelift to preserve Morris Lapidus’ original architectural features, while the rest of the famed hotel was essentially gutted and updated with modern interiors and new soft goods and amenities.
The Ocean Tower, opened in late January, added 282 rooms to the original Resort Tower for a total of 632 rooms. Each Ocean Tower room faces the beach and has a balcony with a colorful lounge chair. The large marble bathrooms with spa shower have a windowed wall for those who crave natural light while bathing. Rooms in both towers feature Renaissance Smart Desks, iHome systems, HDTVs and a safe able to fit laptops. The Spa of Eden Roc, with 17 treatment rooms, is due to open in February 2010.
Eden Roc's all-new meeting spaces include 28 flexible meetings rooms, with 50,000 square feet of indoor space between the two towers combined, can accommodate up to 650 for dinner and 1,000 for receptions in its main ballroom, and between 15 to 1,000 for meetings in additional spaces. More than 25,000 square feet of outdoor space, with ocean views, can fit 300 to 700 guests banquet-style, 1,500 for a reception.
The hotel also incorporates such green meeting practices as sourcing organic food from local vendors; eliminating heavy skirting, reducing the amount of washing necessary; using a hydration station in rooms with glassware instead of water bottles at each seat; and offering recycled pens and paper.
Value dates from Dec. 20 to 24, 2009 have up to nine perks for groups—depending on how many peak nights are reserved—ranging from complimentary continental breakfast to 5 percent Master Account credit off catered F & B and guestroom charges.
Ideal for incentives or small groups, the Viceroy Miami is an upscale boutique property with a stylish sophistication. It is part of the Icon Brickell residential project near the Brickell financial district.
The 162-room hotel was designed by Top Design judge Kelly Wearstler, with lush interiors that blend early 20th-century luxury with contemporary clean lines, all underscored by a rich peacock blue and gold color scheme and dark woods. Amenities include elegant fabrics, marble and deco elements, Aromatherapy toiletries and, in some units, kitchenettes stocked with cookware and Illy espresso machines.
More than 4,000 square feet of meeting and event space includes the Great Room ballroom for up to 120 dinner guests and the East and West salon rooms, at 860 and 580 square feet, respectively. Club 50 and the Rooftop Terrace on the 50th floor offer stunning panoramic views. Other outdoor event spaces feature an oversized fireplace, lounge areas and a communal dining table for up to 32 guests.
The Philippe Starck-designed Viceroy Spa includes 10 treatment rooms; dedicated spinning, yoga and pilates studios; and a gorgeous reflecting pool—the area around which makes for a cool and unique event space.
Admittedly, the Gansevoort is about a year older than the hotels above, but if you haven't yet checked out this oceanfront property on the north end of South Beach, it’s well worth reviewing.
The 340 guestrooms and suites are spacious and have a sleek, modern design. Some have kitchenettes and balconies. All have Wi-Fi, iPod docking stations, Fiji water, a large desk with office supplies and yoga mat.
There's more than 100,000 square feet of meeting and event space, most of it outdoors, making this property a good choice for special events. The stylish ballroom, with warm brown tones and branch-like chandeliers, accommodates up to 460 for banquets, 1,000 for receptions. There's also a 55,000-square-foot beach club, and the famous rooftop pool and lounge, which has been used for a variety of purposes—from incentive events to fashion shows to a Sony Ericsson-sponsored tennis exhibition, featuring Rafael Nadal.
Another treat? The year-old, 45,000-square-foot David Barton Gym and Spa, with 10 treatment rooms, 120 cardio machines, dozens of intense classes—from spinning to kick boxing—and slew of personal trainers. Hotel guests can use the facilities for just $15 per day.
In early 2009, the Biltmore Hotel, in nearby Coral Gables, launched its Biltmore Culinary Academy, a hands-on cooking school with classes for both beginners and advanced cooks.
The newly built classrooms are housed in the conference center at the hotel, and include a custom-designed kitchen lab. There's a focus on using fresh, local and seasonal ingredients whenever possible and on making sure students learn proper techniques.
Both team building classes and private lessons are available for groups. Prices start at $65 per person; sessions last about three hours. Individual attendees can sign up for regular classes, pending available space, for $110 per person.
Team building events are for up to 20 people. Participants are divided into four teams, each responsible for preparing one menu item. Private classes, for six to 10 participants, are similar to the regular cooking sessions, with time split between demonstration and hands-on work, after which attendees enjoy the meal. Cuisines offered: Italian, French, South Florida and Pastry. I took part in a Working With Chocolate session, led by the hotel's executive pastry chef Olivier Rodriguez, who not only thoroughly answered everyone's questions, but also gave each of us individual attention and technique tips.
W South Beach, the W brand’s first all-condo hotel, opened in July and offers 312 stylish studios and suites, plus more than 10,000 square feet of function space. The hotel's new Bliss Spa is scheduled to open the end of February 2010. www.wsouthbeach.com.
The historic Fontainebleau Miami Beach, located next door to Eden Roc, reopened one year ago after a $1 billion overhaul. The 1,504-room hotel boasts more than 107,000 square feet of indoor meeting space, 20,000 outdoors; four signature restaurants; three nightlife spots; and a 40,000-square-foot Lapis spa. www.fontainebleau.com.
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