1675-12 Ritz-Carlton The Lowenstein Family
Pictured left to right at the grand opening of the Ritz-Carlton, South Beach: Gabriel Boano, Paula
Lowenstein-Boano, Alfredo Lowenstein, Diana Lowenstein, Carla Lowenstein, Gisela
Lowenstein, Diego Lowenstein, Flavia Lowenstein-Elortegui, Martin Elortegui
The Lowenstein family business interests originated in Argentina in the late 1930s after Luis
Lowenstein relocated from Frankfurt, Germany prior to the beginning of World War II. The
family was exclusively involved in beef and horsemeat production and was one of the largest beef
exporters in the world.
Then in the mid-1960s the family began to diversify its holdings with investments in South Florida
real estate. Acquisitions included hotels, apartment buildings, commercial/retail and office
properties. During the 1970s and "80s, Alfredo Lowenstein, Luis"s son, ventured into new
business pursuits which included food service, communications and building upon the family"s
real estate holdings in both Argentina and the United States. His son, Diego Lowenstein, entered
the family business in the early 1990s.
In 1998, the family made a strategic decision to divest all of its Argentine assets. A year later,
Lionstone Hotels& Resorts was formed to consolidate and act as a marketing umbrella for the
family"s real estate endeavors in the United States and the Caribbean.
Today, the Lowenstein family continues commercial, residential and hospitality development
under its new name, the Lionstone Group. The company"s most recent project is the $200 million
transformation of Miami"s historic DiLido Beach Hotel into a completely restored oceanfront Art
Moderne landmark hotel under the celebrated Ritz-Carlton flag.