Ritz Bal Harbour
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Article: The Ritz-Carlton South Beach & The Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour, Miami Achieve Health Security Verification From Sharecare & Forbes Travel Guide

The first thing you need to do is sit down and set your goals. Diana Scharf Hunt said “Goals are dreams with deadlines.” A lot of times, people are thrown off by the idea of taking the time to set their goals. Read more “Article: The Ritz-Carlton South Beach & The Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour, Miami Achieve Health Security Verification From Sharecare & Forbes Travel Guide”

CategoriesPress Release Uncategorized

JACQUELINE VOLKART APPOINTED DUAL GENERAL MANAGER AT THE RITZ-CARLTON RESORTS OF MIAMI BEACH

“I am thrilled to return to Miami and continue my career with The Ritz-Carlton in this exciting and dynamic market,” said Jackie. “Each hotel offers a truly unique Miami Beach experience, and I am honored to be a part of a team that helps create lasting memories for our guests.”
Read more “JACQUELINE VOLKART APPOINTED DUAL GENERAL MANAGER AT THE RITZ-CARLTON RESORTS OF MIAMI BEACH”

CategoriesPress Release

Lionstone Development Celebrates 50 Years in South Florida with Reception at The Ritz-Carlton South Beach

The Lowenstein Family Reaffirms its Commitment to the South Florida Community
MIAMI (Nov. 18, 2016) – Family-owned Lionstone Development celebrated its 50th anniversary with an exclusive reception at The Ritz-Carlton South Beach on Nov. 17, 2016. The evening underscored the company’s strong commitment to South Florida’s past, present and future. For the milestone, the Lowenstein family partnered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami to provide a matching grant of $75,000 to sponsor 50 matches.

“Our business was built on the idea of family and mentorship. The children in our community are an extension of that philosophy, and it’s incumbent upon us to nurture their goals and help their success to keep South Florida vibrant.”

DIEGO LOWENSTEIN, Lionstone Development CEO

More than 200 guests including local community and business leaders, and VIPs joined in on the celebration, including Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez of Miami-Dade County who served as master of ceremony, and presented the Lowenstein family with a Proclamation of Lionstone Development’s 50th Anniversary Day on Nov. 17, 2016. This recognizes the Lowenstein family’s exemplary achievements, contributions to the growth of South Florida, and entrepreneurial legacy. The memorable evening was punctuated with a live performance by the New World Symphony inspired by the sounds of Argentina, a nod to the Lowenstein’s heritage.

“Our family feels very privileged that we have been able to successfully grow and be part of the amazing evolution of South Florida over the years, and are very optimistic for the future”

DIEGO LOWENSTEIN, LIONSTONE DEVELOPMENT CEO

Lionstone Development’s foray into South Florida’s real estate development industry began with the purchase of its first hotel on Miami Beach in 1966. Since then, the Lowenstein family has developed some of the most iconic projects in the destination, many of which have helped shape Miami into a premier leisure offerings in global hospitality. Current and past project highlights, respectively, include The Ritz-Carlton South Beach, one of the top performing properties for the luxury brand; and EPIC, a first of its kind in the Downtown area. Most recently, Lionstone Development partnered with Virgin Hotels and, together, brought the first-ever Virgin property to Chicago in 2015, a brand they plan to bring to the market in the near future.

Aside from South Florida, the Lowensteins’ continue to invest selectively in Europe and the Caribbean, particularly in the upscale resort, and luxury all-inclusive hospitality sector.

South Beach Miami Ritz Carlton
CategoriesArticles Press Release Uncategorized

Article: The Ritz-Carlton Spa, South Beach

Ideally located in the heart of South Beach, Miami, the landmark hotel was originally imagined by architect Morris Lapidus, and following its floor-to-ceiling restoration is set to deliver a rare and refined experience marked by timeless design, thoughtful programming, and the anticipatory service of the Ladies and Gentlemen of The Ritz-Carlton.
Read more “Article: The Ritz-Carlton Spa, South Beach”

Diego Lowenstein in Hospitality.net interview
CategoriesArticles Uncategorized

Going Local – How to Attract Locals to Your Hotel’s Restaurant & Why It’s Key in Today’s Hospitality Landscape

1. As a hotel owner/developer, why is it important to engage locals as well as travelers? 
When you own and develop hotels, you’re always looking for the “next big thing” that will separate your property from your competitors’ properties and bring excitement to the community. This often manifests itself in new restaurant
outlets, a singular lobby, and pieces of technology or design updates that ‘wow’ potential customers. However, updates like this typically only cater to those who stay at the hotel, segmenting off a huge potential market a property can tap in
to: locals.

When a property engages locals at a high level, it adds a steady stream of revenue that can help the property’s bottom line during slower times of year. It also provides a groundswell of support for the hotel from a marketing standpoint. The more locals that have positive interactions with your brand, the more likely you are to receive positive feedback on review sites, which we all know lead to more interest in your property. Having locals patronize a hotel property also translates itself to opportunities for stayover guests to network which is one of the fundamental principles of why people travel in the first place.

2. What are a hotelier’s best tools to engage locals?
Hotels that are seeking to engage locals need to think about what offerings are most likely to bring someone through the door. In Miami, like most cities, that means a happening lounge, luxury spa offerings and unique restaurants. Both of these offer hotel owners and developers an opportunity to capture the attention of a local who is looking for a relaxing day off, a night out on the town, or a place to grab a bite to eat and be seen.

How hotel spas draw in locals —and how successful they are—may vary. The Exhale Spa at the Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour in South Florida, for example, offers multiple products for treatment and relaxation of hotel guests. Additionally, the
hotel also features specific amenities and classes in aerobics, core training, yoga, fitness and meditation that appeal to residents of the local community as well. Many hotel spas don’t do that.

This strategy captures not only a traveler who wants a massage, but also a local user who has the potential for higher frequency of use. In Bal Harbour, many nearby residents come in regularly for those classes during the week and then
transform into traditional spa clients as well.

The F&B offerings at a hotel can be a great tool to attract locals, looking for a completely unique dining experience. Whether hotels bring in celebrity chefs or simply create an unmatched atmosphere that leaves a great impression, locals
will talk about it and want to go back. Overall, by putting in the effort to develop places where locals can work, relax, eat, and enjoy their city any time of year, hotels can build in a steady revenue stream they can count on to help boost
the bottom line.

3. Let’s discuss restaurants a bit more – How big of an impact do celebrity chefs have on the ability to engage locals? On a hotel’s bottom line?
Today, it seems like more people are interested in the fast-paced restaurant world than ever before. Shows like Top Chef, Master Chef, and Hell’s Kitchen have introduced people across the globe to the world of culinary invention and, as
a result, the chefs who create the food we eat. Hotels that take advantage of this excitement over food and partner with a celebrity chef or recognized restaurant brand to serve guests are likely to see strong returns on their investment.

From a local standpoint, celebrity chefs or local “homegrown” chefs go a long way toward creating the buzz and excitement that restaurants need early on in their lifecycles to stay operational. More than that, though, they give locals the opportunity to get to know the chefs on a regular basis. In other words, they help foster trial and encourage repeat visits because locals want to be a part of the chef’s world; they want to learn more about the chef through his or her
food. This can have a significant impact on the hotel’s bottom line.

Case in point, Tatel Miami at the Lionstone Development-owned Ritz-Carlton South Beach, which features former Nobu Executive Chef Nicolas Mazier—and is owned in part by Enrique Iglesias, Pau Gasol, and Rafael Nadal—drew crowds of
locals during its first few weeks, including a number of local, regional, and national press, which helped raise the profile of both the restaurant itself and the hotel. Since then, the exquisite, traditional Spanish food and breathtaking design
have helped turn the restaurant and bar into a mainstay for local dining and nightlife.

4. From a design point of view, what can a hotelier do to make a restaurant space more local-friendly?
The goal of any hotel owner or developer looking to engage locals should be to offer a space that encourages gatherings in the manner that best fits the locale. One way to do this is to open up the kitchen and offer seating that overlooks what’s happening. This makes the dining experience more exciting and, if you have a celebrity chef, allows locals to feel like they’re getting to know the chef a little more every time they visit. We have developed this at our Virgin Chicago property.

Another strategy is to add group gather or lounge areas. This could mean a library room where guests sit with friends and play board games or a private social room with dedicated service to make locals and their guests feel like VIPs. Remember, the idea is to provide a space where locals will want to bring friends on a regular basis. Hoteliers need to consider restaurants that move away from cookie-cutter dining options and differentiate themselves with a truly unique
offering and experience.

5. What other strategies can hoteliers employ to ensure they’re offering an F&B experience that will turn locals into regular customers? Anything else to add?
Being locally minded in design and approach to food and beverage options is a key strategy to help keep stayover guests who are looking for fresh experiences on-property and attract locals who will champion homegrown talent. Providing
catering options that employ this locally-driven mentality to local groups is also a clever way of maintaining engagement and growing revenues. Locals have many options to dine out in restaurants that are standalone, and hotels that create
barriers through elevated parking charges and pricing premiums will always be at a disadvantage.

The key here is to minimize the pain points and embrace the changes and nuances that need to be provided to locals to get them to periodically visit a hotel restaurant. Not easily done but many in markets across the country have proven
that this is totally achievable. Finally, promotional activity is also paramount to maintain locals’ engagement with any given hotel restaurant. That means a proper public relations and community outreach strategy needs to be developed and sustained at a property and restaurant level. This will help foster trial and keep the restaurant and property top of mind for locals and traveling
visitors, alike.

Diego Lowenstein
Diego Lowenstein has been part of the family’s varied business interests across several countries since 1990. Before relocating to the United States in 1999, he held executive positions with several of the family’s companies in Argentina
including its real estate holdings and development firm, food service and restaurant, operating and franchising ventures.

Diego Lowenstein heads a third-generation family business
CategoriesPress Release

Lionstone Development Celebrates 50 Years in South Florida with Reception at The Ritz-Carlton South Beach

Diego Lowenstein heads a third-generation family business, started by his grandfather, who escaped Frankfurt in Nazi Germany and made a new life for himself and loved ones in Argentina during World War II. He started with nothing, his grandson said, but with perseverance won the fortune to place his offspring where they are today. Read more “Lionstone Development Celebrates 50 Years in South Florida with Reception at The Ritz-Carlton South Beach”

Ritz Bal Harbour
CategoriesPress Release Uncategorized

Refinancing Completed for The Ritz-Carlton South Beach

MIAMI (March 28, 2016) –– The Ritz-Carlton South Beach successfully executed a $210,000,000 refinance with Cantor Commercial Real Estate and Societe Generale. The transaction was announced by Lionstone Development and Flag Luxury on behalf of the Dilido Beach Resort L.L.C. a joint venture between such entities. Greenberg Traurig and Eastdil Secured represented Dilido Beach Resort L.L.C.

“The closing of this financing serves to further confirm the strength of The Ritz-Carlton South Beach. We are delighted to own this asset and look forward to its continued success.”
– Diego Lowenstein, CEO of Lionstone Development

“We are very pleased to secure this financing for our flagship hotel. South Beach is a vibrant and diverse hospitality market and we are proud to be the leaders in this market today and for years to come.”
– Paul Kanavos, CEO and Chairman of Flag Luxury

About Lionstone Development
Miami-based Lionstone Group has a 50-year track record of owning, developing, leasing, and managing hospitality and residential properties throughout South Florida. Lionstone’s property and development portfolio includes distinctive  projects such as The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach; The Ritz-Carlton, Bal Harbour; EPIC Residences & Hotel; and the first Virgin Hotel located in Chicago. For more information, visit www.lionstonedevelopment.net.

About Flag Luxury
Having planned and completed over $4 billion of hospitality, retail, entertainment and residential projects, Flag Luxury is a leader in its industry. Notable recent projects include The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach; The Ritz-Carlton, Bal Harbour; The Ritz-Carlton, Coconut Grove and Residences; The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club and Spa Jupiter; The Shelborne Wyndham Grand South Beach; The Wyndham Orlando Resort; I Shops Retail Orlando; I-Drive 360 Orlando entertainment and retail complex; the Harmon Retail Center on the Las Vegas Strip; and The Ritz-Carlton Shops South Beach. Flag Luxury currently has over $1 Billion of new projects in its pipeline in New York City, Miami and San Francisco.

about us

The Lowenstein family of Lionstone Development planted its roots in Miami in 1966 with the purchase of their first hotel in Miami Beach. Since then, the family has been proud to be a part of South Florida’s evolution in the past few decades, becoming a prominent world class cultural, leisure and business destination.

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