FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – NOVEMBER 2017 – W Fort Lauderdale is set to reveal the final phase of its $55 million-dollar renovation, bringing a fresh, vibrant design to the entire property, including the Hotel and the Residences. Owned by Related Companies, the full-scale renovation, which completed November 28, 2017, touched every corner of the property, including all 517 guest rooms, suites, and residential suites, the porte cochère, rooftop WET deck (pool) and additional meeting spaces. The final addition to complete the hotel’s new look this winter will include the debut of El Vez, an oceanfront restaurant from James Beard Award winner, Stephen Starr.
“W Fort Lauderdale is already known as the perfect beachside escape, loved by in-the-know locals and fun-seeking travelers alike,” said Anthony Ingham, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels. “The newly reimagined W Fort Lauderdale is the latest example of how we are reinvigorating our North American portfolio along with our ownership partners, ensuring W sets the scene and continues to innovate the guest experience.”
At the heart of the renovation is the hotel’s fourth floor, home to the signature Living Room (the brand’s take on the staid hotel lobby), outdoor terrace, Welcome Desk, and BLISS Spa, all of which received a full makeover. Restyled to create an amped up atmosphere, guests are now greeted at the entranceway with bright glimpses of the pool’s reflection along the walls, filtering down from the fifth floor. Blue and white hues are carried throughout the fourth floor’s design, reflecting Fort Lauderdale Beach’s sun and sand. The new Welcome Desks are complemented by a statement-making graphic backdrop to create an intimate check-in experience. Adding additional flavor to the fourth floor is the new Sushi Bar, with its menu designed by the renowned Sushi Chef Shuji Hiyakawa, a protégé of Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto. A corner’s turn from Living Room is Mingle, a new 4,000 sq. ft. ballroom, adding to the nearly 40,000 square feet of existing meeting and event space, which currently includes sixteen indoor and outdoor function spaces.
Designed by award-winning interior designer Meyer Davis Studio, in conjunction with the W Brand’s global design team, the new décor and design reflects the shimmering energy of Fort Lauderdale Beach while staying true to the bold and signature aesthetic for which W Hotels are known. Influenced by the hotel’s nautical surroundings, the customized design creates a dynamic look by fusing mixed metallic details with an airy and vibrant layout.
The guestrooms, suites and residential suites received new flooring, furniture, light fixtures and contemporary accents accompanied by a soothing palette of ocean blues and rose gold touches. With unparalleled views of the Atlantic, WET East now offers new, sleek lounge chairs, umbrellas and day beds, and a full-service poolside bar, which sit atop a black and white Art Deco-inspired tiled deck – a work of art in itself.
Additionally, the hotel has tapped Stephen Starr to add El Vez, a second Restaurant & Lounge concept that will bring a vibrant setting, regional Mexican fare and seamless service to W Fort Lauderdale, and complement the existing oceanfront Steak 954. Starr, a recent James Beard Award winner, currently oversees the culinary experience throughout the hotel including STEAK 954, Living Room, Sushi Bar, WET pool decks, room service and banquet events. The new Starr restaurant will serve as the final touch of the hotel’s new top-to-bottom restyle and is expected to welcome guests this winter.
As W Fort Lauderdale unveils a fresh look and feel, it is also launched a new weekly line-up of nightly pulsating programming from complimentary henna designs to build your own body scrubs, all free of charge. Kicking off with Mondays are a B@#&%!, the reoccurring Monday event will include hand and arm massages offered by Bliss Spa technicians, as well as a bar for attendees to create their own organic body scrub. At Tuesday’s Bollywood Night, the hotel will offer vibrant cocktails and complimentary henna designs, while Wednesday’s The Studio will feature live art demonstrations, and Off the Wall Thursdays will allow guests to pick out their own songs for the DJ to play. Visitors will be able to move into the weekend with complimentary cigars, mojito and rum specials and hints of Latin music at the hotel’s Heat Wave on Friday nights, throwback to an 80’s lounge on Saturdays during Neon Nights with a live DJ, and cap off the weekend with live jazz during Saxxxy Sundays.
“W Fort Lauderdale is already an extraordinary destination hotel, so this significant investment and complete restyling is truly going to take the property, and the guest experience to a whole new level,” said Anna MacDiarmid, General Manager, W Fort Lauderdale. “We are ready and eager to begin sharing it with our guests, Residential Owners and the community.”
About W Fort Lauderdale
Lounging along an exclusive stretch of sugar-sand coastline, W Fort Lauderdale inhabits the hottest address on the beach, inviting guests to explore the escape’s seductive spaces and take advantage of the brand’s signature Whatever/Whenever® service. The hotel’s 517 anything-but-typical rooms and suites boast unrivaled ocean and Intracoastal views, elevating the expectation of waterfront luxury. On property, guests can dine on delicious cuisine at Stephen Starr’s STEAK 954, sip creative cocktails in the hotel’s Living Room and indulge in tropical-inspired treatments at the signature BLISS Spa. For more information, visit www.WFortLauderdaleHotel.com.
Media Contacts:
Diamond PR
Lisa Schwartz
1 305.854.3544
Liz Eads
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