MIAMI BEACH, FL— With next month’s opening of the Royal Palm Crowne Plaza Resort here, Peebles Atlantic Development Corp. President/CEO R. Donahue Peebles is, in effect, fulfilling a promise to local municipal leaders and the industry at-large— that of unveiling what is billed as “the first black-owned luxury resort in this country.” In Peebles’ estimation, the 422-key beachfront edifice would do much to “change the social landscape” via its recognition as a “symbol of economic opportunity” for minorities throughout the lodging/real estate industries. The $80-million project comes to fruition some five years after the deal for the property’s development was initially struck and— perhaps more notably— eight years after a 1,000-day black tourist boycott of Miami was lifted. According to published reports, construction of the Royal Palm Crowne Plaza was “pivotal in a 20-point plan drafted and agreed upon by activists, city officials and lodging executives” as a means of ending the black tourist boycott of the city in 1993;” an action that allegedly cost the surrounding county “an estimated $20 million – $50 million in lost convention business and tourist dollars.” But the resort property itself represents something considerably more tangible than a political statement. As Peebles explained, construction of this four-star, full-service facility was really more in the mode of “building two vastly different boutique-style hotels side-by-side simultaneously,” with each of the twin 17-story towers offering a totally different experience as well as a separate rate structure. Both towers feature their own pool, restaurant and check-in/reception areas. However, the Shorecrest Tower— which retains the lower 45 feet of what had been the 50-room Shorecrest Hotel— has now been fitted out with 130 regular suites and 35 lanai suites. On the other hand, the Royal Palm Tower now stands on the site of the old seven-story Royal Palm Hotel which— because of the historic significance of that structure— had to be replicated following its condemnation by the city. Today, this part of the new twin-peaked lodging complex encompasses 272 guestrooms arrayed in what Peebles termed “a standard mix.” Furthermore, though the new resort is primarily positioned as a leisure- and transient-guest property, its location on Collins Avenue at the northern terminus of Ocean Drive puts it just four blocks from the Miami Beach Convention Center and three blocks from the Lincoln Road Mall. As such, Peebles said he expects to reap a considerable amount of convention-delegate business. Underscoring this aired expectation is the fact the NAACP has reserved accommodations at the property in line with its 2003 conference, building on what Peebles said was “some $5 million in business already on the hotel’s books for 2002.”
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