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Owners of Roney Palace Beach 
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 complexity of the resort demands a special kind of management company,� said Mike DiVeronica, president of Roney Associates, owners of the resort. �The South Beach location and the many moving parts and size of our project require creative, outside-the-box thinking.  Gemstone brings this to the table.�

The resort includes 30,000 square feet of high-tech meeting space; 100,000 square feet of flexible outdoor function space; 20,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor exhibit space, four restaurants and bars; 60,000 square feet of retail space; a state-of-the-art Larry North fitness center; 600 feet of beach front; a private beach and recreation area for groups and individuals; and two large, ocean-view swimming pools.


The original Roney, built in 1926, was the first hotel on
Miami Beach to offer cabanas, tennis and golf. Its fame attracted guests the likes of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Orson Wells, Rita Hayworth and Vincent Astor;
Radio Commentator Walter Winchell did many of his famous worldwide broadcasts from here. 
                                   
Today�s Roney Palace Resort & Spa, rebuilt on this site in 1968, replicates the glamour and excitement of its heritage, while incorporating state-of-the-art technology and modern amenities. With the first phase now completed, this $25 million-plus reconstruction is the largest project under one roof in South Florida.

�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:
 

"Size does matter� great rooms and suites, each measuring a minimum of 660 square feet, that feature residential furniture from France, high-speed Internet access, full connectivity, in-room faxes, cordless phones and 27� televisions 
"Blue Sky� outdoor meeting and function areas that can be open or tented, air conditioned or natural, for up to 1,200 people, creating the most flexible and unique function space on South Beach 
"Meeting-planner suites� for meeting planners who require a high-tech �war room� next to their sleeping room 
"Romance suites� that will be the envy of South Beach, featuring a living room, Jacuzzi, balcony hammock and butlered dining area 
An �Adult Playpen,� a 1,500-square-foot fun-spot for the over-21 crowd that provides state-of-the-art electronics, coupled with long-time, adult-game favorites, to include virtual golf, pool tables, foosball and a private bar
�Beach Blanket Bingo,� a large private beach recreation area that includes sand volleyball courts, a climbing wall, horseshoe pits, an outdoor board room, hammocks, cabanas and a �Beach Blanket� movie area 

�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.�
Alex Kotler, managing partner for Roney Associates, stated, �We enjoy the creativity and innovative thinking that Gemstone brings to the table. What has impressed us most, however, is their sensitivity to the owners� objectives and their �return-on-investment� mindset.�

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.

###

Contact:
Daly Gray
Chris Daly 
703/435-6293

 

Also See Westgate at the Canyons, Park City, Utah Breaks Ground for 270 Unit 5 Star Luxury Resort / August 2000 
Historic WinterHaven Hotel, South Beach, Miami, Reopens after $2.5 million Restoration / Feb 2000 


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