It is unfortunate, but natural disasters have become a distressingly more common element of modern hospitality. Instead of bowing before the unlucky circumstances and property damage, however, many hotels and venues are seizing the opportunity to remodel and reopen even better than before. More than a year since Hurricanes Irma and Maria struck, this resilience is reshaping the Florida Keys and Puerto Rico.
Cheeca Lodge & Spa
Situated in Islamorada, Florida, this lodge embodies the laid-back, peaceful beach ideal. Forced to rework and replace nearly everything but the buildings themselves, Cheeca Lodge reopened earlier this year with a complete facelift in the wake of Hurricane Irma. But after the hotel redid the lobby, rooms, and pier, the renovations have continued. A third oceanfront pool and a second tiki bar will both arrive by the end of the year. The lodge features 214 guest rooms and 4,600 sq. ft. of event space.
Hawks Cay Resort
In the wake of Irma, investors doubled down and spent $50 million to not only return Hawks Cay and its 177 guest rooms to their former glory, but also to build on what came before. Capitalizing on the aesthetic and atmosphere of the Florida Keys, the resort has a new, naturalistic, ocean-inspired decor, renovations throughout the main hotel and two new restaurants. One is a casual eatery; the other is a modern steakhouse. The resort offers 20,000 sq. ft. of waterfront meeting space.
Postcard Inn Beach Resort & Marina
Another mainstay of Islamorada, Postcard Inn closed for more than a year, but it will reopen the first week of November. Redesigned to epitomize what the resort is calling boathouse chic, the guest rooms, lobby, meeting areas and marina have been renovated to offer a rustic yet luxurious experience. Attendees can also look forward to 130,000 sq. ft. of event space and a range of new activities, such as fishing classes and dive-in movies, to mark the reopening.
Isla Bella Beach Resort
More than rebuilding, this resort is a step toward the future. The first new hotel to open in the Florida Keys since Irma, Isla Bella promises 199 guest rooms, 24,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and everything else attendees expect of a modern, versatile beach resort. Located on Knights Key, this will be the first full-service luxury resort in the city of Marathon. Opening in early 2019, it will feature five swimming pools, a fishing pier, and every room will have a view of the aquamarine ocean.
El San Juan Hotel
With explicit care taken to restore and maintain the historic and iconic look of one of Puerto Rico’s premier hotels, the $65 million renovation following Hurricane Maria will also rejuvenate El San Juan when it officially reopens its doors on Dec. 14. Offering 388 guest rooms and more than 40,000 sq. ft. of event space, the hotel will now offer modern amenities alongside a grand, Old World aesthetic.
