MIAMI— Renaissance Hotels Florida, a new cooperative sales and marketing alliance to market the brand to both business and leisure travelers visiting Florida, is entering the final phases of a $30 million capital improvements program at three of its resorts: Eden Roc Renaissance Resort & Spa in Miami Beach; Renaissance Miami-Biscayne Bay in downtown Miami; and Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club in St. Petersburg. Eden Roc began a second phase of renovations after its 1999 restoration. This year, a $14 million renovation program is under way that includes a redesign of the resorts meeting space, fine dining and casual dining restaurants, and pool areas. The renovation is slated for completion by December. Biscayne Bay has launched a $12 million renovation to reflect the areas revitalization as a performing arts destination, incorporating references to music, theater, works of art, and sculpture. The renovation includes 370 guestrooms, corridors, lobby, restaurant, ballrooms, ballroom lobby and porte-cochere. Renovations are scheduled for completion by January. Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club is in the process of completing a $3.6 million refurbishment project as part of its 10-year anniversary of the hotels historic restoration and grand reopening in 1992. The Vinoy is currently refurbishing all 360 guestrooms and suites with new carpet, furnishings, bedding, artwork and drapes. New lighting, carpeting and wall coverings will transform the resorts corridors. The refurbishment is slated for completion in fourth quarter. A fourth hotel, Renaissance Orlando Resort at SeaWorld, expects to initiate capital improvements in late 2003. “This major capital improvement plan reinforces the commitment that Renaissance as a brand and its parent company, Marriott, have to ensure the hotels provide the best service, amenities and experience possible for our business and leisure travelers,” said Randy Griffin, area director of Sales & Marketing, Renaissance Hotels Florida. Renaissance Hotels Florida, a new concept for the brand, empowers each of the groups sales managers to handle clients from initial query to completion of the booking on behalf of all participating hotels, handling both groups and leisure travelers. The group currently includes four of the nine Renaissance Hotels, Resorts & Suites in Florida with plans to add the other hotels in the future.
