1675-15 Ritz-Carlton THE MIAMI HERALD
Copyright (c) 2003, The Miami Herald
DATE: Thursday, December 25, 2003 EDITION: Final
SECTION: Business PAGE: 3C LENGTH: 121 lines
SOURCE/CREDIT LINE: From Herald Staff and Wire Reports
MEMO: BUSINESS BRIEFS
NEW RITZ-CARLTON DELAYS ITS OPENING
HOTELS
The delay-plagued Ritz-Carlton South Beach was finally set to open
Christmas Eve, but true to tradition, the five-star hotel at the last minute
put off its premiere until Dec. 31.
"There were some unexpected construction delays that were noted at the
very last minute" on Tuesday, said Ritz-Carlton spokeswoman Michelle Payer.
—They took a walk-through and decided to hold off until Dec. 31. The decision
was made very late. "
Guests had been scheduled to start checking in on Wednesday at the hotel,
located at 1 Lincoln Rd., with the 375-room hotel expected to be almost
one-third full for New Year's Eve.
Payer said guests will be offered accommodations at the Ritz's two other
nearby properties in Key Biscayne and Coconut Grove.
The hotel, which is owned by Miami's Lionstone Hotels and Resorts and Flag
Luxury Properties of New York, is in the final stage of a five-year, $200
million restoration and construction project that overhauled the 1950s Dilido
Hotel and added new wings.
But the project ran into contractor problems and is opening 21/2 years off
schedule.