1674-2 Stu Blumberg STUART BLUMBERG
MARCH 4, 2005
Began as bellman at Americana in 1956; was a sophomore at U-Florida. Befriended by
Bob Tisch —encouraged me. Tisch a natural person. Maintained communication after
went back to U-Fla.
After U-Fla, went to work for MB CofC for 2 1/2 years; started 1960 as a go-fer. Paul
Bruun encouraged me to apply for job opening at MB convention center and auditorium
but I had no experience. Was assist' manager 62-65. When didn't get mgr job in 65, I
went to work for(uncle) Bercuson at Aztec. Actually, he sent me to Carlsbad (the old
Tuscany) across from Diplomat to learn the business. Worked front desk, housekeeping,
switchboard. Was there 5 years. Then to Aztec front desk. Quit after fallout w/Bernie.
Went to Sheraton 4 Ambassadors, hired as reservation manager. Had 2 weeks training in
Dallas, came back, worked one week; fired.
Sent resume to Hilton Plaza. Week later, talked with Singer. Sept. '67. Hilton link was
strictly use of name. After a year, terminated Hilton and Gleason. Became Hotel Plaza.
Hired as PR director. (Gleason was a partner; paid fee; designed Great Room; Belafante,
Rowan&Martin, Woody Allen) Became GM second day. From 67-70. Lived on the job;
learned the business. Hotel made money but debt service was too great.
(00,
Highlight was when Nixon used hotel as HQ in '68. Singer had partners; was bought out.
Partners sold to Playboy.
Grossman was architect; elevators left, lobby right — kitchen too far from eating area.
Teamsters had put up money too.
Went back to Aztec ion '73 as manager, worked to '79. Went to Daytona to help open
new hotels. Came back, was introdu ed to Tibor Hollo. June '79; Plaza Venetia. Stayed 8
years. In Oct/Nov. 86 went to work for Muss as owner's rep to GM of Fontainebleau;
was Muss' spy. Muss got me involved with CofC —also Seacoast as a hotel. Within a
year, went on board, then chair-elect. Tried to keep Muss name on convention hall.
Stayed until March '91. Hired by MB Hotel Assn. Started in 1994 w/118 members now
over 500 including limos, etc, allied members.
First condo was Carriage House.
Jonathon Tisch story. Thought of when Letterman's mom went to winter Olympics in
Norway and did interviews, Asked his mother(Robert's wife) Joan to do same of people
in Miami Beach about convention hotel. She refused. Jonathon dressed like mother, with
blonde wig, interviewed people on the street, showed video presentation to committee.
When Blumberg took over in 1991, bothered that hotels not putting money back in hotels.
Andrew hit and hotels got insurance money and used it to fix up hotels. They wanted to
compete against upcoming Loew's.
Hotels-to-condos like Shelborne and Hilton Plaza.
Hotels-to-condo hotels are new to here. There was one since 1970 in Scottsdale
(Camelback?) Innesbruck in Tarpon Springs. Started here quietly; rocketed here and
nationally.
"I've been through time shares, hotels to condos, condo hotels, the rebirth of South Beach
and the hotel industry as I know it will be here long after the others are gone. There
always will be transient visitors."
THE FIRST HOTEL IS STILL HERE. (me)
Orlando sells family and conventions. We are different than any other market. We sell
family, we sell hip-hoppers, we sell conventions, we sell business clients, we sell spring
break, we sell gay and lesbian..."
Sheraton Bal Harbor coming down.
There are about 22,000 hotels rooms in all of Miami Beach; about 5,000 in SoBe
MARCH 15, 2005
Demo or super bowl is county wide, 50,000 hotel rooms in county == sunny isles beach,
aventura. Super Bowl requires 17,000 hotel rooms. Demo convention or anything of that
magnitude becames s. fla. Team effort, Broward, Palm Beach.
What's impact 5 years from now. Can't tell, there's no point of reference.
C