SLS Hotels / Miami Hotel Mambo / Hotel Openings / Hotel News / Philippe Starck / Jose Andres / Sam Nazarian / ? All Tags

The SLS South Beach Sure Looks Sexy (Thanks to That Mirror on the Ceiling)

Where: 1701 Collins Ave [map], Miami Beach, FL, United States, 33139

The SLS South Beach doesn’t open for another two months but we’re finally getting a little more insight as to what the second-ever SLS Hotel will look like.

And like most things, in South Beach, it will be oozing sex appeal. But only up in the guestrooms. The rest of the joint is taking an eclectic design approach.

USA Today has some scoop on the interior design details of the hotel including a retro American camp theme at reception:

The reception desk is made from a distressed slab of wood; the lighting, from an antique wood kayak hanging from the ceiling. Vintage shots of camping trips reinforce the camp theme.

Down at Bazaar, the restaurant from Chef Jose Andres (which is also found in the first SLS Hotel in Los Angeles), Philippe Starck designed a room that is to be covered in grandma-approved art in only one color, acid yellow.

Expect love-it-or-hate-it acid yellow touches throughout the room – in photographs, on book shelves and in paintings.

Eeeeeeeee.

Article source: http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2012/4/25/112029/017

Reality TV Hotels / Miami Hotel Mambo / Hotels on TV / Hotel Staff / ? All Tags

Catalina Cast, Er Hotel Staff, Prancing on Beach in Anticipation of Reality Show

Where: 1732 Collins Ave [map], Miami Beach, FL, United States, 33139

As the preview spot for the new CW show, The Catalina, tells us: ‘If you think the guests like to party, wait til you meet the staff.’ Thanks to their recent cavorting on South Beach captured in The Daily Mail, we have our opportunity.

The article doesn’t tell us much about the cast… er, hotel staff of the Catalina, but if a picture says a thousand words, this piece is a thesis worthy of The New Yorker. They’re young, they’re thin and buff… they have a bit of the Jersey Shore about them, they work with hangovers–what else do we need to know?

Article source: http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2012/4/24/75717/6503

Details are starting to emerge, with SBE founder Sam Nazarian telling Miami magazine:

Were not doing a traditional nightclub. Hyde Beach is a beach club on par with Cinquante Cinq in St. Tropez.

Sounds swanky! But if you’re not the party type and hate it when hotel pools are overrun with soirees that don’t allow hotel guests in, even to take a swim, you’ll be happy to hear that SLS South Beach will have two pools: one designated for the daytime debauchery St. Tropez-style and one exclusively for hotel guests.

Hyde Beach is also where the already-infamous Philippe Strack-designed food truck serving food by Jose Andres will be parked.

We’re sure Hyde at American Airlines Arena will be a sweet place to hang during the game–but something tells us that you’re more likely to spot LeBron at the one down in South Beach…

[Rendering: courtesy SLS South Beach]

Article source: http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2012/4/20/74755/8591

The Catalina is known for drawing a party crowd but we didn’t realize that the hotel’s staff were part of that gang. A press release for the show describes the team as a “fun-loving group” (uh oh) and a “dysfunctional family unit” (ditt-uh-oh).

But that doesn’t mean they don’t do their jobs–an important consideration for anyone interested in crashing at the Catalina. Of course, this all depends on what you expect from a hotel job description.

According to Catalina co-owner Nathan Lieberman, “The staff at The Catalina are workaholics. They party like it’s their job.

The Catalina will premiere on the CW Network on Tuesday, May 29th, at 8 p.m.

[Photos: HotelChatter]

Article source: http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2012/4/17/72910/2902

The statement then goes on to list a RevPAR index average of 200. GHM also maintained that all expenses at the hotel in all departments were within industry standards (we had heard that some departments were spending carelessly.)

GHM’s Jenni also strongly defended his company, saying:

We will continue to share the exact details of our tenure at the Setai to ensure the truth is known, said Jenni. I will not stand by and have our company and our hotel management team subjected to a steady stream of baseless allegations.

The statement concluded with a list of the awards the Setai garnered during GHM’s management tenure which includes several from Conde Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure and U.S. News World Report.

We had also heard that GHM was heading to court to file an injunction but we’re trying to get to the bottom of that now. In the meantime, if you’re on the scene at the Setai, let us know how it’s going! (Anonymity assured, as always.)

Article source: http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2012/4/16/12190/4816

Miami Hotel Mambo / Hotel Openings / Hotel Opening Rates / Hotel Contests / ? All Tags

The Lord Balfour Will Open in South Beach on June 15, With Rates From $199

Where: 350 Ocean Drive [map], Miami Beach, FL, United States, 33139

We initially thought that The Lord Balfour would make his–or her, judging by the look of the photo murals on the walls–debut in South Beach this winter. Then, it was looking like spring. Now, let’s just go ahead and call it summer, as word comes down that the renovated boutique hotel in “SoFi” (South of Fifth Street) is now taking reservations from June 15.

According to a press release, introductory rates will start at $199 a night. When we plugged June 15 into the online rezzie system, we found a Queen room going for $209 a night. That snags you around 198 square feet, bamboo flooring and amenities that include a docking station, 40″ HD TV, plush robes, slippers and ETRO bath products.

Article source: http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2012/4/12/173922/697

Hotel Key Cards / Miami Hotel Mambo / Hotel Design / ? All Tags

The Angler’s Boutique Resort Wants Guests To Take Home Their Room Keys

Where: 660 Washington Ave [map], Miami Beach, FL, United States, 33139

Oh, look: hotels who not only read our post but play right into our very own hotel design plans! After we posted about incorporating Hotel Key Cards into home decor, we learned that The Anglers Boutique Resort is encouraging guests to take their room keys home with them–and has redesigned said keys for this very reason.

As the staff at the South Beach property know, lots of Miami guests love to take home trinkets representing the beach’s Art Deco past, so they turned to their own history when redoing their room keys.

The main building of Angler’s was designed by architect Henry Maloney, who designed a number of small hotels in Miami Beach in the 1930s–most in the Mediterranean Revival style (and pretty much now all converted into apartment buildings).

Now, when you stay at the Angler’s, you can skip the overpriced souvenir shops along Washington Ave, spend more time in the hotel’s lovely little pool or at the cute, vintage bar, and just toss your room key in your bag when you leave to remember you stay.

Article source: http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2012/4/10/72712/1885