FORT LAUDERDALE – October 3, 2018 – As Fort Lauderdale Beach emerges as a premier destination for business and leisure travel, one of the market’s largest resorts is completing a top-to-bottom renovation. DiamondRock Hospitality Company has completed the first phase of the multi-million-dollar project at the Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort, which included transforming the property’s 432 guest rooms and suites, updating common areas, and adding an award-winning restaurant: Lona Cocina Tequileria.
DiamondRock’s investment in the Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort coincides with the region’s growth as a global tourism hub. Last year, the market welcomed approximately 13 million visitors – up nearly five percent year-over-year – with the beach and waterfront serving as the destination’s top demand driver, according to Visit Fort Lauderdale. Likewise, 2017 saw a five percent increase in the number of international visitors, with Brazil, Canada, China, Spain, the UK and Germany being Fort Lauderdale’s top feeder markets abroad.
“Fort Lauderdale has long been one of the east coast’s most beloved destinations for sand and surf, and that appeal is growing both domestically and abroad. With a prime location on the ocean, proximity to the airport and cruise port, the most meeting and event space of any hotel along the beach, and affiliation with the Marriott Rewards program, the Westin Beach Resort was ripe for a refresh,” said Marcos Borras of DiamondRock Hospitality Company. “Now, with the addition of all-new guest rooms and suites and one of the City’s most buzzed-about restaurants, Lona Tequileria Mexicana, the Westin is positioned to grow its leisure and business clientele, while also winning the loyalty of locals.”
The transformation of the hotel’s 432 guest rooms includes the addition of modern and crisp decor that reflects the blue waters of Fort Lauderdale Beach, upgraded lighting and furniture, new bedding, and updated flooring. The sense of immersing guests in the destination was an integral part of the design, with research from Visit Fort Lauderdale indicating that 44 percent of travelers cite the beach and waterfront as the top activity in the region.
The Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort will soon begin the revamp of its 40,000 square feet of flexible indoor and outdoor event space. Ideal for group meetings, industry conferences and social events, the property offers several ballroom options, with 10,000 square feet of outdoor event space overlooking the beach and Intracoastal.
