NEWH - April 2005 - (Page 14)

conrad’s first ground-up hotel will expand its legendary service by Nancy Bohnett and Wendy Clark Conrad Hotels, the luxury brand of the Hilton family of hotels, is experiencing continued global success. Its first new-built, freestanding hotel in the United States is the Conrad Miami,which opened July 1, 2004, revealing a new level of design and architectural excellence. The 36-story, mixeduse Espirito Santa Plaza dominates the Miami skyline with its bold façade of glass and steel, designed by renowned architectural firm Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, and striking interior, designed and purchased by The Gettys Group. The new tower also houses Espirito Santo Bank of Florida, general office space, retail space, a signature restaurant, bar and media ballroom, as well as 203 guest rooms and 103 condo suites. Additional hotel amenities include a rooftop pool, luxury spa and fitness center. When construction began, no hotel brand had been named, so it was imperative that the developer pull together a powerhouse team familiar with the luxury hotel market. The team had to be capable of designing a five-star guest experience without the benefits of a brand’s technical services department. Estoril, Inc., owner and developer of the property, hired The Gettys 14 glass building architecture is a style found rarely in the world. The Portuguese financial corporation Espirito Santo Group, owner of its development company, is a key philanthropist of the arts and has taken care to ensure that artistry is portrayed through the inside and outside of the building. Exterior of Espirito Santo Plaza. Group and the Miami office of SB Architects (Sandy Babcock) as the architect-of-record for the hotel’s interior. Befitting the clean lines of the building’s exterior, the style of the hotel is decidedly modern. Upon entering the Conrad Miami, hotel guests are directed to the 25th floor Sky Lobby. The lobby, with its 11-story atrium, commands breathtaking views of Biscayne Bay and sets the tone for the entire hotel. Seven floors house the 203 contemporary guest rooms, while “Gettys and SB Architects have applied their expertise in the luxury market to create a jewel worthy of one of the world’s most prestigious brands,“ said Bill Ross, President of Estoril, Inc. The property’s sleek façade of concave glass and steel, a result of more than three years of design and construction, is said to symbolize the gateway to Latin America. The curved Atrio Restaurant at Conrad Miami.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NEWH - April 2005

NEWH - April 2005
Letter From the President
Upfront
Contents
Hospitality News
Lessons From Retail
Conrad’s First Ground-Up Hotel
2005 Leadership Conference
Remember Me? Using Video to Have Your Message Remembered
Woman of the Year
Design Showcase … Under the Tuscan Sun
Spa and Wellness Trends
Brand Perception
NEWH Icon Awards – Anna Perryman
First Canadian NEWH Chapter Chartered
Coming Events
HD at a Glance
HD Plantinum Circle Inductees
Contributors

NEWH - April 2005