MIAMI (May 10, 2016) – Following nearly three years of planning and development, the luxury-lifestyle hotel EAST, Miami, is accepting reservations and opening its doors on May 31, 2016 in the heart of Miami’s Brickell district. The anchor hotel for Swire Properties’ $1.05 billion, 5.4 million-square-foot mixed-used development is the first of its kind for the Hong Kong-based brand in the United States. EAST, Miami will feature destination dining, state-of-the-art fitness facilities, cutting-edge technology, and lifestyle amenities for locals and visitors to Miami.
EAST, Miami is the first blend of Swire’s two award-winning brands in China, The House Collective and EAST. The House Collective, which includes The Upper House in Hong Kong, The Opposite House in Beijing, and the newly opened Temple House in Chengdu, has won fame for the edgy architectural design by Kengo Kuma, Andre Fu, and Make Architects; promotions with designers such as Christian Louboutin, Versace, DVF, Agent Provocateur, and Taschen; and art exhibitions with artists such as Zha Songgang and Guo Zilong. EAST is a lifestyle brand in Hong Kong and Beijing with signature dining options, Feast (food by EAST) and its rooftop bar Sugar, as well as collaborations with Art Beijing and Hong Kong's Art Basel. EAST, Miami will offer distinctive experiences with a locally relevant flair.
EAST, Miami has 352 guest rooms, including eight suites and 89 residence suites ranging from 300 to 1,800 square feet. All of the contemporary designed interiors by Clodagh Design feature balconies with views of the Miami skyline and Biscayne Bay, floor-to-ceiling windows, walk-in rain showers, and complimentary Wi-Fi. The one-, two-, and three-bedroom residence suites also offer fully equipped kitchen and laundry facilities, along with access to all hotel amenities and services.
THE EAST EXPERIENCE EAST, Miami will feature two signature restaurants designed by progressive Los Angeles-based design firm, Studio Collective. Located on the hotel’s fifth floor, Quinto La Huella, the first-ever outpost of Uruguay’s beachside Parador La Huella, which currently holds the No. 11 position on the list of Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2015, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, will open doors on May 23, 2016 and boast 9,700 square feet of space with 359 seats throughout the restaurant. It will feature unique fire-cooking methods with a parrilla at the heart of the kitchen, wood-fired ovens fueled with local red and white oak, a sushi counter highlighting Florida’s coastline, and an expansive poolside outdoor dining experience. Helming the kitchen at various points of the day (as the restaurant will be open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and late night bites), the executive kitchen staff includes Nano Crespo, Executive Chef of Quinto La Huella; Chef Alejandro Morales, Executive Chef of Parador La Huella; and Florencia Courreges, Executive Pastry Chef of Parador La Huella. Building upon their passion for destination dining establishments at properties in China and now in the United States, Brian Williams, Managing Director of Swire Hotels, and his executive team did extensive research into finding the perfect concept for the new hotel in the heart of Miami with Quinto La Huella. “For me, it was the continued recommendations from influential food writers in the culinary world and our anticipated customer mix that led me to Uruguay,” says Williams. For the owners of Parador La Huella, Martín Pittaluga, Gustavo Barbero, and Guzmán Artagaveytia, it was the ideal opportunity for expansion, and to partner with a world-class team of hoteliers and restaurateurs.
Building on the brand’s signature EAST Hotel rooftop space, guests can shoot up the hotel’s futuristic elevators to experience Sugar, the 40th-floor Asian-inspired rooftop bar and garden, serving tapas. The space will offer an approachable transition from late afternoon cocktails and sunsets to extended evening libations under the stars, complemented with savory shared bites. Additionally, the hotel will feature Domain, a lobby café and bar serving freshly brewed Panther Coffee, light bites and a variety of wine and spirits. Guests can expect convenient and eco-friendly amenities, including keyless entry and paperless check-in and check-out.
A distinguishing facet of every Swire Hotels property is an exceptional focus on guest services. EAST, Miami will employ hundreds of local residents, and has transferred select highly trained personnel from its sister properties in Hong Kong, as well as restaurant staff from Uruguay for the hotel’s signature restaurant, Quinto La Huella.
Alongside two restaurants, a poolside bar and lounge, and a rooftop bar, EAST, Miami will offer 20,000 square feet of event space and outdoor venues. All event spaces feature floor-to-ceiling windows, complimentary Wi-Fi access, cutting-edge audio-visual equipment, and technical support. Customizable menus and canapés will be available ranging from small bites to family-style sit-down dinners, as the hotel’s special events team will customize every event experience based on the client’s needs. Located on the 39th floor, EAST’s 3,300-square-foot ballroom, known as The Crush, offers 270 degrees views of Biscayne Bay and the Miami skyline. The 38th floor houses two 1,600-square-foot event spaces, Rise and Set, along with an 850-square-foot boardroom, High Noon. Four workshops located on the 6th floor are ideal for intimate meetings and gatherings ranging in size from 630 square feet to 1,525 square feet.
The hotel’s gym, BEAST (Body by EAST), features the latest Technogym® equipment and will be accessible 24 hours a day. There will be free weights and resistance machines, plus mats and plenty of stretching space. Guests can download the EAST, Miami app to check out its monthly calendar of wellness programming which will be launched in phase 2. The 20,000-square-foot outdoor Pool & Deck area will showcase four unique pool experiences – a lap pool, spa pool, cold plunge and hot tub.
THE DESIGN The overall design of EAST, Miami was developed by award-winning Miami-based architectural firm Arquitectonica, with specific restaurant and lounge interiors designed by Studio Collective, embracing both ancient and modern-day building methods. Within each room, public space, and lobby, guests will delight at the collaboration between New York’s Clodagh Design, an agency who embraces both ancient and cutting-edge methods in an effort to comfort not only the body but also the mind.
Art is also a huge component for all EAST hotels and guests will see celebrated artwork and installations throughout EAST, Miami, courtesy of Indiewalls, an innovative art curating agency. Working closely with local and national artists, the design team hand-selected works of art including sculptures, paintings, and photographs to highlight Miami’s characteristics as a beautiful port town drenched in a palette of blues, yellows, whites, and ambers. Custom commissions, unique sculptures, and expertly framed prints combine to create an individualized collection that further defines EAST, Miami as a relaxing outpost for both entertainment and culture.
Not simply a hub for fine art and a striking take on the future of Miami’s urban culture, EAST, Miami is a forward-thinking, green-certified development. The property’s highly acclaimed Climate Ribbon, an architectural fixture located in the center of Brickell City Centre’s commercial sector, will use natural wind currents to cool the space without requiring the addition of cooling units. The hotel has also achieved LEED certification, citing resource efficiency by using less water and energy, as well as a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
Every Swire hotel plays an integral role in Swire Properties’ mixed-use developments, offering guests and locals an array of options to stay entertained at their convenience. For the brand’s first U.S. property, EAST, Miami is nestled in the heart of the long-awaited Brickell City Centre, a mixed-use development spanning more than nine acres, slated to open this fall. The 500,000-square-foot shopping center contains five levels of luxury and contemporary brands, a fine-dining movie theater, as well as a variety of other culinary and entertainment options. Luxury outlets like Saks Fifth Avenue, BCC’s anchor retailer, as well as Valentino, Audemars Piguet, Illesteva and recognized brands from South America will make their U.S. debut, filling a retail void that has never existed previously in the Brickell district. Additionally, more than 30 restaurants will open at Brickell City Centre, including the expansion of local favorites like Pubbelly and Pasion del Cielo.
Located at 788 Brickell Plaza, Miami, Florida 33131, the hotel is centrally located within a 15-minute drive from the Miami International Airport, and situated on top of Brickell City Centre – conveniently connected to popular districts such as Wynwood, the Design District, and South Beach. More information can be found at www.east-miami.com/.
