In Florida, the W Fort Lauderdale has completed the first phase of its $55-million renovation. The project was first announced two years ago.
Designed by Meyer Davis Studio working with the W brand’s global design team, the new décor and design were influenced by the hotel’s nautical surroundings, with the customized design fusing mixed metallic details with an airy layout.
Owned by Related Companies, the renovation touched every corner of the property, including all 517 guestrooms, suites and residential suites; grand porte cochère; rooftop WET deck pool; and meeting spaces.
The final phase to complete the hotel’s new look this fall will include a new ballroom and an oceanfront restaurant from James Beard Award-nominee Stephen Starr.At the heart of the renovation is the hotel’s fourth floor, home to the “Living Room” (the brand’s version of a hotel lobby), outdoor terrace, welcome desk and spa, all of which received a full makeover.
The entranceway has glimpses of the pool’s reflection along the walls, filtering down from the fifth floor. The fourth floor's design uses blue and white hues, reflecting Fort Lauderdale Beach. The new floating welcome desks are complemented by a graphic backdrop. There is also the new Sushi Bar at the fourth floor, helmed by chef Shuji Hiyakawa, a protégé of Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto.
The guestrooms, suites and residential suites got new flooring, furniture, light fixtures and contemporary accents, as well as a color palette of ocean blues and rose gold touches. With views of the Atlantic, Wet East now has new lounge chairs, umbrellas and day beds, and a poolside bar on top of a black and white Art Deco-inspired tiled deck.
The final touches of the renovation, slated for completion over the coming months, will include a new 4,000-square-foot ballroom, adding to the nearly 40,000 square feet of existing meeting and event space, which currently includes 16 indoor and outdoor function spaces.
The hotel also tapped Stephen Starr to add a second Restaurant & Lounge concept, with ocean-view sidewalk dining, to complement the existing Steak 954. The new Starr restaurant and ballroom are expected to be revealed by fall 2017.
Anna MacDiarmid is the GM of the W Fort Lauderdale.
