APPROVED: Island Gardens condo/hotel

[Aessotariq]

We now know what nameplate the Island Gardens project is going to carry... The hotel to be built on Watson Island is going to be a Westin, a Starwood Hotels brand. Cr

[Urban_Legend]

I'm looking forward to Island Gardens, but I liked the first rendering better than the redesign...

[up+down=midtown]

one tower will be a westin and the other a shangri-la it will (i think) be the only the 3rd shangri-la in the US

[Aessotariq]

A Shangri-La in addition to our Mandarin Oriental? Awesome. I'm really liking how Miami is delving into Asia and beyond. It's a great fit.

[up+down=midtown]

so what famous hotel brand are we missing?

[Aessotariq]

hmmm.. lemme think... we have all the domestic brands (Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, Radisson, etc.) and the luxury brands of those major brands (J.W. Marriott, Conrad). We do have several Ritz's now, a Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, H

[up+down=midtown]

SOFITEL,stayed there in france its not so good.but were missing one of those

swisshotel

[Aessotariq]

French hotels in France are sometimes a shock to us Americains... My French teacher always warned us not to be surprised if what you're used to in lodging is different, like if you found that the whole floor shares a bathroom, or even if everyone uses the same bar of soap... (incroyable!) The other thing that Madame told us is that chefs hate it when a customer asks for their steak to be cooked well done.

A friend of mine came down on business and they put him up at the Sofitel here in Miami (it's off of 57th Ave south of the airport)... I think it's more the "resort", the service, and the restaurant that make it seem like such a posh place. The rooms were pretty ordinary when you considered the rates.

[up+down=midtown]

the water that came from the shower head smelled funny and for the steep prices we were paying all we got was a crossaint(sp?) for breakfast. so when i got home i wrote a pretty nasty review.

[dave8721]

one tower will be a westin and the other a shangri-la it will (i think) be the only the 3rd shangri-la in the US

Actually, it will be their first entry into the U.S. I think it will be their second in North America (they are building one in Vancouver I believe).

[Toucano]

We're losing the Sheraton too

[up+down=midtown]

Actually, it will be their first entry into the U.S. I think it will be their second in North America (they are building one in Vancouver I believe).

they're building one in chicago

[Aessotariq]

We're losing the Sheraton too

Sorta... Miami now has a new Sheraton property -- the former Radisson Merchandise Mart on Milam Dairy Rd/NW 72nd Ave and NW 7th St recently became a Sheraton. It opened not too long after the closing of the Sheraton Biscayne Bay.

[up+down=midtown]

what brand is going up at icon brickell

[dave8721]

they're building one in chicago

Yeah, I realized that too right after I posted it, but according to Shangri-la, the Miami version is to open first. The chicago one will be in the Waterview tower which is over 1000 feet, so I'm guessing it will take longer to build than Island Gardens, though I think Waterview has already started.

[up+down=midtown]

Shangri La has a website for their new Miami location with a really cool rendering. Sadly a Chicago forumer found this rendering before we did...

http://www.shangri-la.com/miami/shangri-la/en/index.aspx

[Urban_Legend]

Whoa that looks so cool! I love the glass at the base of the tower. I wonder if we'll see any other building design changes before construction starts...