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Resort & Spa Appoint Gemstone Resorts International as Manager |
BRECKENRIDGE, Colo. - Oct. 10, 2000 - Gemstone Resorts International,
a full-service resort management and ownership company headquartered in
Breckenridge, Colo., today announced that it has been selected to manage
the legendary Roney Palace Beach Resort & Spa in Miami�s South Beach
district.
The 17-story Roney Palace resort complex occupies a full city block and features 600 feet of beach frontage�the largest of any South Beach resort. With 585 four-star hotel rooms and suites and 567 luxury condos, it is one of the largest privately owned buildings in the state. Approximately 50 percent of the hotel rooms are one- and two-bedroom suites, while the remaining inventory of oversized rooms measure a minimum of 660 square feet each, making the resort�s accommodations among the most spacious on the beach. The complex currently is undergoing a complete renovation. Rich wood
and imported marble in the new atrium lobby evoke the feel of the Roney�s
storied past. Throughout the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, the landmark property
was home to such high-profile personalities and celebrities as Orson Welles,
Desi Arnaz, and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. The owners are restoring
the splendor of the original Roney, with many creative and contemporary
touches being added to ensure its four-star status.
�The owners have given us a landmark property with which to work and the mandate to use our unique strengths to maximize its potential,� said Mark van Hartesvelt, one of Gemstone�s principals. �We tailor our management strategies to each project and do not use �cookie-cutter� practices at our resorts. Our goal at the Roney Palace is to create an exciting, unique and fun property that takes full advantage of its South Beach location.� Gemstone and property owners have worked together over the last few months to design points of difference into the project that take advantage of its size, location and facilities. The project includes such unique elements as:
�Groups will enjoy activities that no other South Beach resort can provide,� said Jay Lee, Gemstone�s VP of sales and marketing. �We have designed elements that are fun, exciting and efficient�in keeping with the Roney Palace mission statement.� The size of the project allows for groups to be separated from one another and from the individual resort guest, who is able to enjoy the full-service fitness center; a specially designed fantasy pool (featuring disappearing edges that blend the pool into the ocean when viewed from the bar and grill area); beach club; video game room; shopping arcade; a lobby lounge built around a 600-gallon salt water aquarium; Currents Cafe overlooking the ocean; and the Atlantis Poolside Bar and Grill. �The uniqueness of South Beach coupled with the one-of-a-kind features
we are installing at the Roney Palace make this a perfect project for us,�
said Jeff McIntyre, Gemstone�s other principal operating partner. �We bring
a perspective to a project that is different from most management companies,
which is exactly what is required for the types of resort opportunities
in which we specialize.�
Gemstone Resorts International specializes in complex resorts that comprise multiple operations, such as hotels, interval ownership, condominium and association management and marketing, restaurants, retail and resort-related activities. The company is engaged in complex resort marketing and management, asset management and consulting. Gemstone currently manages major projects in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida and Utah. Additionally, Gemstone asset manages a Ritz Carlton in California, and serves as the Western U.S. regional director for Orlando-headquartered Westgate Resorts. |
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Daly Gray Chris Daly 703/435-6293 |