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HALL D / BOOTH R21 SPECIAL FEATURE: ITB ASIA SMARTreport commercial content Key West counts numerous attractions for visitors including exciting water sports of many varieties! Swimming pools and cocktail bar, Marker Waterfront Resort Comfort in the Keys Florida Keys unveil new and enhanced accommodation for travellers From late 2014 through 2016, eight new properties — comprising just over 1,000 rooms — have opened or are planning to open from Key Largo to Key West. In addition, a number of meticulously renovated lodgings are welcoming visitors. It would be difficult to cover all, so in this edition, we’re spotlighting the eclectic, artistic Key West – at the southernmost end of the chain. Travellers now are welcomed at the island’s entrance by the Keys Collection, a trio of newly built properties located on North Roosevelt Blvd. The first among them, The Gates Hotel, debuted its initial building in spring 2015 and plans to open the second building in October. The new 245-room hotel blends refined luxury, minimalist design, artwork, food and music into a chic and comfortable lodging experience. Highlights include the Rum Row bar, two large swimming pools with cabanas and daybeds, a restaurant featuring breakfast, lunch and dinner, fitness and business centers, and a distinctive atmosphere reminiscent of “old Key West.” The second Keys Collection property, the Fairfield Inn and Suites, opened its doors in May 2015 with 133 rooms including 17 suites. Amenities include poolside cabanas, business and fitness centers, and daily complimentary breakfast. Slated to open in December, the Hilton Garden Inn is to complete the trio of Keys Collection properties. The hotel is to have 141 new rooms, some featuring balconies. The property’s on-site amenities include an outdoor resort-style swimming pool with poolside service, a restaurant open daily for breakfast and a lobby bar. Guests who want to stay in Key West’s Historic Seaport district can check into The Marker Waterfront Resort, a 2-acre luxury property that debuted in December 2014. The 96-room resort combines a modern and timeless aesthetic with the free spirit and tropical nature of the Key West community. Guests can relax and swim at multiple swimming pools surrounded by lush landscaping, complete with poolside cocktail service, or savour Cali-Mex– inspired cuisine at the on-site Cero Bodega. These are only a handful of the Keys properties debuting enhancements or opening. Others include Islamorada’s renovated Smuggler’s Cove Resort and Marina, Marathon’s new Courtyard by Marriott, the renovated Tranquility Bay Beach House Resort and Captain Pip’s Marina & Hideaway. Several Key West properties have been or will be renovated including the Doubletree Grand Key Resort, Crowne Plaza Key West La Concha, Olivia by Duval and La Te Da Hotel. www.cleverhotel.org Hotel & Tourism SMARTreport / Worldwide Edition N°27 / September - November 2015 15
