Key International plans $15M update to the Marriott Stanton South Beach

Key International, a real estate investment and development company specializing in hospitality, revealed a $15-million renovation plan for its Marriott Stanton South Beach. This news follows the completion of initial upgrades – the January 2017 opening of Baja-inspired Mexican eatery Lolos Surf Cantina – and will result in a multitude of new amenities and enhancements.

Located at 161 Ocean Drive, in Miami Beach’s exclusive South of Fifth district, the 224-room hotel is undergoing a multimillion-dollar revamp over the next 12 months, adding two new dining options, improvements to the existing, on-site Starbucks and the addition of a full-service spa.

“We are excited to reveal our renovation plans for Marriott Stanton South Beach,” Diego Ardid, co-president of Key International, said in a statement. “We carefully curated these unique, new concepts to transform the property into an amenity-rich destination, with various culinary experiences, to be enjoyed by vacationers and locals alike.”

Development of Lolos Surf Cantina initiated in late 2015 with the repurposing of former guestrooms to deliver a beachside dining option that was of great demand. The 2,850-square-foot space was created in collaboration with chef/partner Richard Ampudia and Plan Do See, a global hospitality brand based in Japan with multiple holdings in New York, L.A., Chicago and Bali, to reflect the convivial spirit of Mexican hospitality with fare sourced from local purveyors.

Currently underway, the next phase of Key International’s renovation entails the spa and a second, new dining venue in partnership with Plan Do See to be a branded Japanese restaurant. The upgraded Starbucks will also be unveiled during this stage to feature a modernized barista counter, along with added case goods and artwork throughout. All three concepts are set for completion in late 2017

The new, full-service spa will be operated by NFC, the largest provider of amenity management in the nation. The space will present 1,500 square feet of space overlooking the property’s landscaping.

Key International’s final stage of renovations to Marriott Stanton South Beach will incorporate a complete refurbishment and rebrand of the existing DecoBlue restaurant. Scheduled to open in 2018, the new concept will introduce a flow-through social space that incorporates indoor and outdoor dining overlooking the ocean.