Beachside luxury on Florida’s Key West

Two hundred and twenty-two luxury rooms and suites on the Gulf of Mexico, cuisine by renowned chef Norman Van Aken and a 6,000-square-foot conference facility are to highlight Beachside Resort & Conference Center, slated to open October 15 in Key West.

The resort is situated at the entrance to the island at 3841 N. Roosevelt Blvd. Blending a sophisticated urban elegance with Key West's unique laid-back attitude, it is to offer five-star amenities on seven acres of lush waterfront property.

Accommodations include 129 one-, two- and three-bedroom suites and 93 standard king rooms with plush beds, décor in soft earth tones, LCD flat-screen televisions and bathrooms with marble Jacuzzi tubs.

Suites feature fully equipped gourmet kitchens. Many incorporate spiral staircases leading to the private beach and heated pool or to a private sundeck.

Beachside's amenities are to include a 24-hour front desk, concierge and room service; reserved covered parking, fitness center, private helicopter landing pad, valet service, business center and free WiFi.

The property's food and beverage program is directed by master chef Norman Van Aken. Van Aken is to preside over Tavern N Town, offering small plates at the relaxed Tavern and gourmet dining at the elegant Town. Plans call for Tavern N Town to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Beachside's conference center is to offer a variety of conference, meeting, party and banquet facilities with top-of-the-line audiovisual and sound systems. The ballroom accommodates up to 400 guests for a seated dinner or transforms into five separate rooms for meetings and breakout sessions. Outdoor function space also is available.

Source : http://www.easier.com/

Condos Vs. Condo Hotels For Vacaton Home Ownership

Condo hotels, also called condotels, are a relatively new concept in vacation home ownership. Rapidly gaining popularity, numerous condo hotels are now being built in Florida, Las Vegas, Chicago, Toronto, the Caribbean and many other locales around the U.S. and the world. To help illustrate the unique qualities of condo hotels, here’s a look at how they compare with traditional condos.

AMENITIES

Condos - The average condo has a community pool and some common areas.

Condo Hotels - A condo hotel has many of the amenities you would find at a four- or five-star hotel. In addition to a pool (or pools), there is probably an on-site restaurant (possibly several), a lounge, a full-service spa, a state-of-the-art exercise facility, poolside bar, etc. The amenities in a condo hotel are far greater than what you would typically find in a condo.

FURNISHINGS

Condos - Condos are usually sold unfurnished. You may decorate your unit as you like, and you pay for all furnishings.

Condo Hotels - A condo hotel unit is delivered to you completely furnished, typically with high-end furniture, appliances and fixtures selected by a professional interior designer. All units are decorated the same, more or less, much like hotel rooms. Condo hotel units are delivered user-ready upon receipt. The cost for furnishings is included in the price of the condo hotel unit.

SERVICES

Condos - You are responsible for your own housekeeping and unit upkeep. Services are usually limited to maintenance and possibly security.

Condo Hotels - You get daily housekeeping as you would in a luxury hotel. You have access to room service, concierge services, maintenance services and check-in services. The vast majority of condo hotels are operated by big-name hoteliers like Ritz Carlton and Hilton, the consummate professionals when it comes to customer service. Most of the same services available at their high-end hotels are offered at their condo hotels.

LOCATION

Condos - Condos can be found in almost every major market across the country. Some condo developments are in resort areas, while others are not.

Condo Hotels - At this time condo hotels are only available in a handful of locations, all of which are major vacation destinations or highly desirable cities, such as South Florida, Las Vegas and Chicago. Condo hotels are usually built on the most desirable pieces of land such as on a golf course, overlooking the ocean or in the heart of a major city.

PRICE

Condos - Prices for condos can start as low as $70,000.

Condo Hotels - Units start at $200,000, and most are substantially more. An oceanfront four- or five-star condo hotel unit can cost $500,000 to over $1,000,000.

RENTAL INCOME POTENTIAL

Condos - You have the option of renting out your unit when not using it. However, you are responsible for finding your own renters, preparing the unit for those renters, dealing with any maintenance issues that arise and collecting the rent. The condo association’s approval may be required on renter issues. You keep 100% of the rental revenue.

Condo Hotels - All details are handled for you. When you’re not using your condo hotel unit, you simply place it in the rental program. Renters would be found for you, and all aspects of the renters’ stay would be handled by the hotel management company. The entire process would be hassle-free for you.

You would receive a portion of the rent revenue, typically 40%-50%; the balance would go to the management company. Because the condo hotel most likely is a national or international hotel chain (such as Hilton or Ritz Carlton), it has a global sales force, multimillion dollar marketing campaigns, loyalty programs, a centralized reservation system and a strong Internet presence, all of which suggest that the property’s management would probably have better success at keeping your unit rented than you would as an individual condo owner.

APPRECIATION POTENTIAL

Condos – Whether your condo will appreciate or depreciate depends strongly on its location. Because there are so many condos on the market, the rules of supply and demand often help keep prices down. For the same reason, condos can be hard to resell.

Condo Hotels – Because condo hotels are a relatively new type of property investment, they are limited to just a handful of locales across the country. The supply is small and demand is currently high and growing, all of which contribute rapid and significant appreciation. Another factor to keep in mind when reselling a condo hotel unit is that you’re selling not only the actual unit but also the luxury lifestyle that comes with an amenity-filled, high-service property.

Many condo hotels are sold out in pre-construction. Often the developers, sensing the high demand, will themselves raise prices many times before all units are gone.

For example, The Mutiny condo hotel located in Coconut Grove, Florida was the first condo hotel to be built in South Florida. From the time the developer began accepting deposits until it sold out in pre-construction, there were nine price increases. People who bought early did exceptionally well.


Source : http://www.ownahotelroom.org/

Beachfront Hotels in Florida

Florida is the most famous for it beautiful sun soaked white sand beaches with the clear blue water of the sea touching the shore rhythmically. Irrespective of the age group you belong to, the work you do, your likes and dislikes, you cannot help but get enchanted by the scenic beauty of Florida. At a place like this what can be more enchanting than a spacious and tastefully decorated room with a patio or verandah overlooking the beach.

The entire tourism industry of Florida thrives on the presence of the beaches here. Therefore, it is no surprise that the entire beach line is dotted with a number of hotels, resorts and motels. You will find tourist accommodations that will suit all sizes of holiday budgets. Yet, the majority of the accommodations are expensive and thus, extremely luxurious.

A number of these hotels can accommodate even those tourists who are visiting on less than extravagant budget. These hotels offer you the beautiful gardens from where you can soak in the breathtaking view of the sea and the powdery white beaches. You can also rent cottages which are fully furnished and at times they also provide you with the luxury of a Jacuzzi and/ or a swimming pool. A number of hotels provide you with bicycles so that you can pedal your way through the beautiful places in this idyllic setting.

Some of the hotels are strategically designed with large windows so that the guests are not left bereft of any chance to soak in the exhilarating beauty of Florida even while they are within the premises of the hotel. These hotels are more often than not surrounded by small establishments which offer exquisite Chinese, Japanese, Mexican, Lebanese, Caribbean and Indian delicacies. The fact that the beach is a few steps away from your hotel room makes your stay very refreshing and relaxing indeed.

Source : http://ezinearticles.com/

Condo Hotels Offer Luxury and Great Investment Potential

Not Your Typical Vacation Home

What could be more perfect that owning a luxury vacation home at a landmark resort and receiving rent revenue whenever you’re not using it? Condo hotels are the newest trend in vacation home ownership. Live in it when you’re there; rent it when you’re not.

So how do condo hotels differ from owning a traditional vacation apartment or condominium? These are not your typical second homes. They are fabulously-furnished condominium suites in some of the most famous hotels and resorts around the country. The properties are usually large, high-rise, luxury hotels operated by a big name like Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton, Sonesta, Starwood or Hilton. Prices range from $200,000 to over $1 million for prime properties.

Generate Revenue to Defray Mortgage Costs

How do condo hotel owners find renters? This is what makes the program so appealing. When owners are not using their unit, it is put into the rental program of the hotel. By capitalizing on a hotel’s name recognition, advertising, national affiliations, centralized reservation system and management expertise, unit owners typically receive a higher level of rental income than they would from a traditional vacation home. Plus the hotel takes care of dealing with the renters, as well as all housekeeping and maintenance of the condo hotel units. Talk about hassle-free!

The Real Appeal of Condo Hotels Is Appreciation

While it’s nice to receive rental revenue on your vacation home, the more important factor from an investment standpoint is its appreciation. Condo hotel units have been appreciating at a far faster rate than single family homes and condos in the same areas.

Most condo hotels are purchased directly from the developer. With limited inventory, condo hotel units have been moving at lightning speed. In fact, almost all condo hotels sell out in pre-construction, long before even a single spade of dirt has been overturned. And as is the case in any situation where supply is greatly outpaced by demand, condo hotel owners have been seeing tremendous appreciation in their units.

World-Famous Resorts Attract International Attention

Most condo hotels are located in seasonal resort areas. South Florida, particularly Miami Beach and Ft. Lauderdale, is one of the country’s hottest markets with world-famous properties like the Fontainbleau, Canyon Ranch Living and Trump International leading the way. Las Vegas and some of the Caribbean Islands are also popular condo hotel destinations.

Who’s buying? The answer, in a nutshell, is everyone. That is, investors and vacationers who recognize the appreciation potential of a revenue-generating vacation home. That appeal isn’t limited to U.S. buyers. The concept of condo hotels has had international appeal with buyers from Latin America and Europe competing with Americans for the best properties.

Source : http://www.creiaonline.org/

Luxury Golf Hotels in Florida

A boutique hotel in Florida offers exclusive golf course privileges, the best water views from every room, and a great golf vacation for the whole family.
Luxury golf vacations are popular throughout the world. In the United States, great golf courses are hardly in short supply - and one of the best golf courses affiliated with a luxury hotel is in Florida. The award-winning Camp Creek Golf Course, 10 minutes away from the WaterColor Inn on Florida's Gulf Coast, is a gorgeous course, beautifully designed by Tom Fazio to provide a challenging game in a lovely setting. The golf course is private, and use is limited to guests of the Inn and WaterSound luxury vacation rentals. Here, a perfect family golf vacation is par for the course.
The WaterColor Inn & Resort

The WaterColor Inn is a boutique inn; a small 60-room luxury hotel. The design is open and airy, with full-on views of the Gulf of Mexico from every room. You read that right; every room has a water view. The patios are open and airy as well. Many guests love the hotel room's showers, because they are all designed to give an additional water view - the luxury of taking a shower with the whole of the Gulf of Mexico in view really is a terrific vacation experience.

In a sense, the best type of luxury golf resort vacation is easily had here; after all, Camp Creek was named Florida's #1 Golf Course of the New Millennium, and the WaterColor Inn was named 7th best hotel in the US by Travel & Leisure magazine, for a reason. This beachfront luxury inn is small, so that guests feel special and pampered on their golf and beach vacation. Yet it is also adjacent to the town of WaterColor, one of Florida's prime planned communities for residents and tourists. You're never too far from a restaurant or shop (if need be), despite the "getting away from it all" ambience of the luxury hotel. As a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, Watercolor Inn offers many non-golf activities such as free bike rentals, kayaking, a full-service day spa, tennis, and Camp WaterColor for children ages 4 to 12.
Camp Creek Golf Course

This Tom Fazio-designed golf course is, likely, the biggest draw of the resort. The fairways are contoured for a challenging game, with views all around. A serious golf course, for serious players, the Camp Creek course is private - use is restricted to WaterColor Inn guests and WaterColor Sounds luxury vacation rental guests - and relatively quiet. Children who play golf, and the family taking luxury golf vacations together, play at the WaterColor Inn & Resort's family golf course, the Origins Course. A few rounds at Camp Creek make for an exclusive, quiet experience.

The dunescape landscaping of the 18-hole. par 72 championship Camp Creek golf course is notable for both its beauty and gentle elevation changes. Tom Fazio has been often recognized by other golf course architects as the "Best Modern Day Golf Course Architect," and Camp Creek exemplifies his creative approach to course design. The slope rating is 145, not easy for beginners or hackers, and the golf course is measures 7,159 yards on a 1,000+ acre property.
Origins Golf Course

A luxury golf family vacation is nothing without tee time for the kids. Sure, children love the Watercolor day camp (who wouldn't love a make-your-own-sundae activity?) but quality family time on the child-friendly Origins Course is relaxing and fun. The only hole that is at all challenging here is the fourth green, which has a small, round, deep sand trap (a pot bunker). Other than that, the fairways are wide and flat, the atmosphere is low-key, and the family vacation memories accrued are more valuable than those gotten from enrolling the kids in Camp WaterColor every day of the trip.

Golfers of all skill levels are accommodated at the WaterColor Inn golf courses. The hotel itself is one of the best in the US for the family that loves luxury golf vacations, and that enjoys the fun of a Florida beach resort. Fun, relaxing quality time with the kids; it's what family vacations are all about.

Source : http://luxuryresorttravel.suite101.com/

Florida festival line-up 'remarkable'

Florida's Palm Beach County council has claimed that the line up for its 2008 arts festival is "nothing less than remarkable".

Visitors to the Florida Festival of the Arts Boca in 2008 will be treated to a "remarkable" line-up of artists and events, according to the Palm Beach County council.

Next year's festival, which will be held between February 29th and March 16th at the Count de Hoernle Amphitheatre in Boca Raton, Florida, has been designed to resonate with international literary and musical enthusiasts.

The organisers of the event - Centre for the Arts at Mizner Park - are hoping to position the Festival of the Arts alongside such prestigious events as the Tuscan Sun Festival, the Festival del Sole Napa and the Ravinia Music Festival.

On the line-up for the Florida event next year will be the Russian National Orchestra, Grammy-winning guitarist Chic Corea, Nobel Prize-nominated author Joyce Carol Oates and stateswoman Kathleen Kennedy Townsend.

Palm Beach city councillor Peter Baronoff said: "As a city, we are extremely excited to host and be involved in helping to create this world-class event which, I am sure, will easily come to compare with major festivals of its kind the world over.

"This year's extraordinary paring of exceptional music and literature is certain to further put us on the map."
Source:http://www.holidayextras.co.uk/

Florida festival line-up 'remarkable'

Florida's Palm Beach County council has claimed that the line up for its 2008 arts festival is "nothing less than remarkable".

Visitors to the Florida Festival of the Arts Boca in 2008 will be treated to a "remarkable" line-up of artists and events, according to the Palm Beach County council.

Next year's festival, which will be held between February 29th and March 16th at the Count de Hoernle Amphitheatre in Boca Raton, Florida, has been designed to resonate with international literary and musical enthusiasts.

The organisers of the event - Centre for the Arts at Mizner Park - are hoping to position the Festival of the Arts alongside such prestigious events as the Tuscan Sun Festival, the Festival del Sole Napa and the Ravinia Music Festival.

On the line-up for the Florida event next year will be the Russian National Orchestra, Grammy-winning guitarist Chic Corea, Nobel Prize-nominated author Joyce Carol Oates and stateswoman Kathleen Kennedy Townsend.

Palm Beach city councillor Peter Baronoff said: "As a city, we are extremely excited to host and be involved in helping to create this world-class event which, I am sure, will easily come to compare with major festivals of its kind the world over.

"This year's extraordinary paring of exceptional music and literature is certain to further put us on the map."

Winter Park commissioners approve Marriott hotel

JW Marriott will operate a new luxury hotel on the site of this city's legendary Langford Hotel.

City commissioners approved the elite hotel as the new operator Monday night on a 3-0 vote.

JW Marriott plans a 250-room hotel, spa and event space at the corner of Interlachen and New England avenues. That space has been empty since the Langford Hotel closed in 2000 and was demolished in 2003.

The city approved the site for a 230-room hotel and spa in 2001, but the owner, Langford CP, LLC has been searching for an operator ever since. Monday, commissioners agreed to amend that to 250 rooms. The principal owners are John Anderson and Jim Heistand.

Anderson said civil construction is expected to begin in May.

The ballroom and meeting space would be larger than initially approved, increasing to 14,570 square feet from 8,250 square feet. The spa would shrink to 12,000 square feet from 20,000 square feet.

The six-story hotel would actually have a slightly smaller footprint than what the city approved in 2001.

The only objections came from the neighboring luxury condominiums, The Residences. Bill Battaglia, president of their association, said condo owners had not been shown plans in advance.

There are 39 JW Marriott hotels in the world, 16 in the United States, according to the hotel's Web site. They include a 1,000-room JW Marriott Hotel and Resort on Central Florida Parkway in south Orange County.

The hotels pride themselves on attentive service, fresh flowers, large rooms with flat-panel televisions, lavish bathrooms and artwork.