View Gallery One Fort Lauderdale – A Doubletree Guest Suites Hotel's Online Profile

After close to a year of work and a multi-million dollar ‘Extreme Makeover’, the landmark Intracoastal waterfront hotel formerly known as the Doubletree Guest Suites Galleria, celebrated their repositioned property with a gala celebration.  On Wednesday, January 17th, an estimated 450 guests sampled the food of Executive Chef Mark Lewandowski, sip wine and champagne and enjoy a special evening of interactive live entertainment.  The hotel is at 2670 East Sunrise Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale.

“Upon entering the lobby, guests experienced an up-scale, contemporary ‘arts’ setting,” according to General Manager Bill Derbins, a 29 year veteran Hilton employee.  The property’s transformation is being touted as the new “flagship” for the Doubletree brand.  “It’s not a typical hotel renovation but an actual condo/hotel conversion construction renovation which is much more extensive in all aspects.  We’re literally opening a ‘brand new’ hotel!” said Derbins.

That art setting will change each month starting in February 2007, as artists, art galleries and art guilds will present upwards of 150 original paintings, photo/art, and sculpts, transforming the expansive lobby and public spaces into a virtual art gallery.  Each exhibit will be heralded with a fundraiser, benefiting a wide variety of area charities.

The hotel’s ‘Extreme Makeover,’ has included extensive gutting of each of the property’s 231 one and two bedroom suites, a new coffee/espresso bar and wine bar, a new interior and exterior cocktail lounge, and more than 8,000 feet of interior flexible function space and break-out meeting rooms that feature wall-mounted Plasma TV’s, wireless Internet, and floor to ceiling new décor and furnishings. The elegant new drive-way entry features tumbled marble and fresh new landscaping.

The new suites boast marble entry foyers, granite and marble kitchens with stainless appliances, contemporary up-scale décor and furnishings, wall-mounted 42” Plasma TV’s, dining area for four, Sweet Dreams Sleep Experience bedding, and marble bathrooms featuring Rainfall Showers.

“We are now one of the key hotel players in Fort Lauderdale and have embraced our Vision Statement; ‘To be Fort Lauderdale’s premier, Intracoastal, All-Suite boutique hotel,’ enthused Chris Tompkins, Director of Marketing.   “Furthermore, with the sales, catering, events, and guest services team we’ve assembled, I am confident we’ll deliver an exemplary product and outstanding guest service that will help set us apart..  From the incredible talents of our Executive Chef to our Rooms Division Manager, our Director of Group Sales to our Director of Catering and Event Services, we’ll be setting the benchmark that I think competitive properties will be challenged to meet.”

“Our new restaurant and its offerings will appeal to both our guests and locals providing outdoor waterfront dining with unparallel views of the Intracoastal.  Guests can enjoy a ‘boat parade’ everyday while enjoying a delicious meal and their favorite libations,” said Derbins.  “In addition, guests will also have an opportunity to dine in their suites 24-hours a day/7 days a week as we’ll be offering 24-hour room service.”

Tompkins adds, “From a group perspective, our waterfront exterior is also an excellent venue for group functions for 20 to 300 people and there is no other hotel property in the city where you get this type of direct access and real privacy at the same time.”