Press Release
June 8, 2001
MIAMI BEACH, FL -- Hans-Joachim and Ursula Krause, owners of The Miami Beach Ocean Resort and The National Hotel,
announced that The Miami Beach Ocean Resort will convert to The Palms on November 1, 2001. The 242-room, boutique
style seaside resort is currently undergoing a $5 million renovation to its 7,000 square feet of meeting space,
guest rooms, gardens and public areas. The renovation plans are scheduled to be completed in brief time spans over
the next five months to ensure no disruption to current customers.
``These extensive renovations will guarantee that The Palms can offer groups, business and leisure travelers the
finest and most sophisticated facilities in the area,'' stated Klaus Voss, general manager of The Palms. ``Our
plans call for a dramatically enhanced, technology friendly, interior design to create a functional, tropical and
elegant environment.''
The Palms has retained Patrick Kennedy, an award-winning designer, to plan and execute the renovation. ``It's a
fusion of the Eastern and Western world,'' said Kennedy. ``Miami epitomizes this fusion. It is the capital of South
America with a huge influence of Indonesia with some Silicon Valley thrown in.''
The Palms, an Art Deco influenced property located at the northern part of South Beach, boasts a grand entrance
with double-height Colonial doors that open into a spacious lobby, which extends outward toward the tropical gardens
and the ocean beyond.
Those massive doors will open into a lobby worthy of a ``theatrical entrance,'' Kennedy vowed.
The mood evoking design and furniture seeks to transport guests to the antebellum era of majestic tropical estates
where lazy afternoons were spent rocking on the porch or sipping mint juleps with friends. Soothing tones, with
neutrals inside and whites and blues outside, will pamper the senses.
Soft lights will accentuate bas relief-like accents on the walls and cast an illuminating glow throughout. ``We
want to evoke a feeling of refuge and grandeur,'' said Kennedy.
For The Palms, impeccable service and aesthetically pleasing yet functional design will differentiate them from
the competition. No detail has been ignored, from the spa toiletries in the bathrooms to the sheer curtains, capturing
varying hues of sand and sea. All accommodations will boast uninterrupted views of the ocean, gardens or city.
All guestrooms feature custom-designed furniture in blends of light and dark woods with contrasting upholstery
in shades of cream, green and blue that capture the ocean's subtle color scheme.
The technological needs of the business and leisure traveler are a top priority at The Palms. Each room is equipped
with high-speed Internet access, a large work desk and two phones -- a cordless and a stationary one -- with dual
data ports. A self-service business center, which accepts cash or payment via quick-swipe credit card, features
two computer terminals equipped with Microsoft Office Suite, a laptop station, pay telephone, fax, laser printer
and copier.
Additional amenities planned for The Palms include a concierge desk with a map of Miami Beach and the surrounding
areas that -- illuminated from beneath -- will allow guests to see exactly what route they must take to get where.
Behind the Front Desk, a bank of plasma TV sets will play a continuous video loop of the ocean to give guests a
sense of liberating, tropical tranquility.
The lobby will expand into the Great Room, a library-style lounge area boasting the hotel's trademark centerpiece
-- giant indoor palm trees -- and provides a casual setting for picking up the news from an array of international
newspapers, taking up a game of chess, or a quick continental breakfast before a day of work.
The lush tropical gardens at The Palms will transport guests away from the hustle and bustle of city life and connect
directly to the beach and the Atlantic Ocean. The Bougainvillea hideaways, the custom-designed poolside cabanas,
offer the ideal backdrop for days of lazing in the South Florida sun. The Palms will provide its own beach service,
complete with sun lounges, umbrellas, towels and drink service.
The Palm Garden Grille will offer al-fresco dining on its vast poolside terrace, or elegant casual-elegant ambiance
within its greenhouse-style interiors. The cuisine is Mediterranean-inspired and features an abundance of fresh
Florida seafood.
The Veranda Bar beckons for a casual bite to eat or to savor a cool, refreshing drink. The gazebo, just steps away
from the azure waters of the Atlantic Ocean, is the perfect spot for enjoying a cool breeze or stargazing at night.
Meeting and incentive planners worldwide will appreciate The Palms conference facilities, which feature over 7,000
square feet of flexible meeting space including six breakout rooms.
Situated just north of Miami Beach's historic Art Deco District, The Palms is located at 3025 Collins Avenue, minutes
from scenic Ocean Drive, trendy Lincoln Road Mall and the Miami Beach Convention Center. The Palms is conveniently
located 12 miles from Miami International Airport.
For reservations, please call (800) 550-0505 or (305) 534-0505 or visit The Palms on the Internet at www.thepalmshotel.com.
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Contact:
SAMCOR Communications, Coral Gables, Fla.
Ivonne Labrada Leichtling / Alison Sokol, 305/443-5454
ivonne@samcor.net / alison@samcor.net