Imagine living in a condo with everything at your fingertips: a full suite of amenities—from coworking spaces and wellness facilities to art studios and private screening rooms—all paired with luxury hotel services and wrapped in a stunning design. That’s the allure of today’s branded residences, and it’s no surprise demand is skyrocketing. In a post-pandemic world, “people are looking for space, but also a lifestyle experience,” says Adelina Wong Ettelson, global head of residences marketing at Mandarin Oriental, which entered…

The 1,000-room resort between Miami and Fort Lauderdale will be the fourth Signia property, a growing Hilton brand focused primarily on the meetings market. The Diplomat, originally designed by Nichols Architects in the 2000s, is currently part of the Curio Collection by Hilton, but soon will become the Signia by Hilton Diplomat Resort, reinforcing the property’s focus on serving meeting and incentive groups across 209,000 square feet of event space. The Diplomat’s oceanfront convention center includes a 50,000-square-foot Great Hall…

Concerts are becoming more than just a boost for tourism—they are reshaping the hotel industry. As highlighted in a recent article about the Oasis reunion and demonstrated by Taylor Swift’s record-breaking Eras Tour, hotels are increasingly betting on experiences tailored to concertgoers, driving guest engagement and boosting brand visibility. With Taylor’s South Florida concert dates approaching, this trend is evident in several Nichols Architects-designed hospitality projects. Hotels are crafting unique offerings to tap into the excitement surrounding the tour: Eden…

The British tabloid The Sun—one of the world’s largest newspapers by circulation—recently turned its spotlight on Florida’s Gulf Coast, exploring its hidden gems. hile exploring the manatees, art, and pristine white sandy beaches, the reporter stayed at the Nichols Architects-designed Opal Sands Resort. This luxurious four-star property, a favorite among visitors, features oceanfront balconies in every room and a pool just steps away from the crystal-clear turquoise waters. Check out the full article and recommended itinerary through the link below:…

Story by Natasha Lovell-Smith When travelling Florida’s West Coast, exquisite seafood, pristine beaches and fireworks are among the top recommendations. But one hotel is constantly named as a must-visit attraction: Opal Sands. Designed by Nichols Architects, the hotel is a crowd favorite with all its units facing towards the mesmerizing waters of Gulf of Mexico. Read on to get the review posted this week by MSN: 8. Stay at the Opal Sands Resort One of Clearwater Beach’s most luxurious hotels,…

When Jimmy Buffett’s song “Margaritaville” came out in 1977, its message was clear: find paradise and relax. It’s this notion that propelled Buffett, with the help of John Cohlan, to turn Margaritaville into a hospitality powerhouse centered on a laidback lifestyle. The first restaurant opened in Key West in 1987, the first hotel in Pensacola Beach opened in 2010, and in 2017, Nichols Architects designed the Margaritaville Orlando Resort. Our version of the Jimmy Buffett-inspired perfect vacation stay includes 20 suites, three…

Clearwater/St. Pete are trending as a top destination. While the area has long been known for its stunning beaches, a surge in social media content promoting the region, along with the tourism board’s efforts, is yielding impressive results. One consistent highlight in articles about the destination is the anticipation for Opal Sol’s opening this spring. Designed by Nichols Architects, this new hotel will feature 250 ocean-facing guestrooms across 16 levels. “Opal Sands is opening Opal Sol right across the street…

It took several weeks of voting and telling everyone we knew about it, but the EDITION Tampa is officially Florida’s most loved leisure project – at least according to the Florida Chapter of the American Institute of Architects’ People’s Choice Award. The project is a collaboration between developers from Strategic Property Partners, Design from the Morris Adjmi group and Nichols Architects team as Executive Architects. The condo/hotel opened in 2022, with the first five-star rating in Tampa Bay. With 172…

BY: OSCAR NUNEZ 8:00 AM ON JULY 19, 2024 The City of Miami Climate Resilience Committee recently reviewed two proposals concerning developing and using City-owned waterfront property on Watson Island. These proposals were presented for evaluation due to their deviation from previous plans and now include updated requests and public benefits. The following steps involve potential approval by the Miami City Commission at their upcoming meeting, followed by consideration by Miami voters in the next election. One of the proposals, named ‘Jungle Trail,’…

The Fontainebleau is changing again. This time, the iconic Miami Beach hotel is adding a convention center that’s expected to be finished in November. The new five-story space designed by Nichols Architects is being built to accommodate about 1,000 people. Over the years, the resort has gone over many transformations including a new tower, added and destroyed a mural, remade the pool area. The 2002 renovation and expansion led by Nichols Architects, included a 36-story condominium-hotel (Fontainebleau II), and a…