Gym and spa openings are a dime a dozen across Miami Beach's hotel properties, but Thursday night's premiere of the 45,000-square-foot David Barton Gym—and the chain's first spa—brought 2,500 to the Gansevoort South Hotel and Residences.
Under the direction of owner David Barton, Stacey Feldman of Peacock Marketing LLC opted to forgo elaborate decor and focus her efforts on entertainment. More than 25 performers were on hand, ranging from international DJs and iconic rocker Tommy Lee of Motley Crue to glow-in-the-dark aerialists and nearly naked dancers, the latter of which got the club a ticket from police for "operating as a strip club," according to The New York Post's Page Six.
"Keeping with the theme of a rock-hard body, we invited Tommy Lee to rock it out and celebrate with us along with a special performance by my own rock band," Barton said in an email before the event. He hit the drums around 11 p.m.
To ensure guests' attention remained on the bilevel venue's North African architecture and design, Feldman only added black spandex-covered highboys to the space. "It was important that the event design didn't take away from the gym's stationary decor and design palette," said Feldman. "The circulating entertainment drew guests throughout different areas of the venue, constantly encouraging circulation."
Guests also meandered through the on-site spa, which opened in November. There, belly dancers from Zhantra Entertainment led guests throughout the 10,000-square-foot space, which is available for events, as is the gym.
DJ Irie opened the night from the centrally located stage, before DJ Aero and Tommy Lee took over with a blend of analog base, breakbeat, and electro-house music, followed by Barton's band, Appetite for Adduction, which closed the night.
At midnight, guests headed up to the property's rooftop pool deck, Plunge, for an after-party and informal fashion show from swimwear designers Amaya, Betty Bangs, and Lavi.