1. South Beach—the part of town most visitors make a beeline for—is known for its glam hotels. One of the newest properties is the W South Beach, which debuted in July. The 20-story hotel has 312 guest rooms and 10,000 square feet of meeting space, including two ballrooms and a beachfront lawn for 1,000. Several nontraditional meeting spaces are available, like a 2,500-square-foot fitness center, a Bliss Spa (set to open in February 2010), and penthouse suites for intimate gatherings. Two eateries, Soleá and Mr. Chow Miami, seat 180 and 300, respectively. The Opium Group’s Wall nightclub is also available for events.
2. With a reputation as a party hub on South Beach, the Clevelander underwent a 22-month, $40 million renovation before reopening in April. New to the property are an 11-room tower and four event spaces that can accommodate as many as 800. Among the venues are the south tower’s new SPF4 Sundeck, which can hold 90, the 54-seat Game On Sports Bar, and the 1020 Music Boxx nightclub for 113.
3. The Related Group opened the Viceroy Miami in the financial district in February 2009. The 62-room hotel, one of three towers that make up the Icon Brickell property, has 4,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space, including the Great Room, a 15th-floor event space for as many as 120, and nightclub Club 50 on the 50th floor. A two-acre pool deck on the 15th floor connects to the other towers and offers views of downtown and Biscayne Bay. The 28,000-square-foot spa was designed by Philippe Starck.
4. A recent addition to the boutique hotel scene, the Riviera South Beach opened in December 2008. The $25 million property has 54 suites and 4,000 square feet of event space, including a courtyard pool area and a rooftop terrace for as many as 100.
5. Another of the Ocean Drive properties to get revamped was South Beach’s Betsy Ross Hotel, which reopened in April as the Betsy Hotel. The 63-room property has two new spaces for events: chef Laurent Tourondel’s 96-seat BLT Steak and a 3,500-square-foot rooftop solarium with space for 150. Additional amenities include a three-cabana spa, a fitness center, and an intimate 500-square-foot pool deck.
6. In November 2008, the iconic Fontainebleau Miami Beach celebrated the completion of its $1 billion renovation, aimed at turning the property into a Vegas-style all-inclusive resort. The 1,504-room property has 107,000 square feet of traditional meeting space, a 40,000-square-foot spa, and a 21,000-square-foot ocean lawn. There are also 11 dining options, including Hakkasan, Gotham Steak, and Scarpetta, all of which have semiprivate dining areas. The 30,000-square-foot LIV nightclub has multiple bars and a performance stage.
