Staying power of an iconic hotel, Delano

MIAMI BEACH, Florida – In 1995, hotelier Ian Schrager and designer Philippe Starck, made a big and whimsical statement all in white when they opened the ultra-chic Delano in Miami Beach, Florida. Some 30 years later, Ennismore and Delano brand minority stake development partner Cain International still want to make hay with a name that once was all the rage with the jetset. It shows just how powerful a single concept can become.

The new team has released first-look images of the renewed Delano Miami Beach, scheduled to open late next year after a complete renovation. Preempting the SoBe repositioning was an October 2024 opening of the 251-room Delano Dubai and the April 2023 opening of the first Maison Delano – the brand’s metropolitan concept - in Paris.

Ennismore and Cain have stated it has further plans to grow the brand with properties in Mexico, Costa Rica and London, and want to find locations in New York City, Los Angeles, Mallorca and Rome. They also implied more opportunities are under development in Europe, the Middle East, U.S., Caribbean and Latin America. It had previously announced projects in Cartagena, Colombia, and Seoul, South Korea.

Eldridge, a holding company with a network of businesses across finance, technology, real estate, and entertainment, in November 2020 completed the acquisition of the Delano South Beach from SBE Entertainment. The property has been closed since then and Cain International, Eldridge’s real estate investment firm, has been leading the strategic repositioning.

In Miami, the 171 guestrooms and suites, including poolside Bungalow Suites and Penthouse Suites, will be guided by “a tonal palette and organic fluidity expressed through bespoke lighting and furnishings.”

Reimagined Delano brand signatures include a new take on the ‘Apple a Day’ amenity with crafted apple-shaped glass vessel filled with curated treats. Taking advantage of the resort’s prime beachfront location, oversized windows and terraces offer views over the Miami skyline or the Atlantic Ocean.

Delano Miami Beach will be home to four restaurant and bar concepts, including a reimagination of the Rose Bar. The resort will also feature curated retail and spaces for events and meetings, as well as a wellness studio and spa. The ground-floor pool will be joined by a new beachfront amenity deck and a second pool on the fourth floor.

The design of Delano Miami Beach pays homage to its Art Deco roots with preservation of key historical features. The original vertical paint bands and terrazzo flooring will be reinstated, while the Delano logo and the lobby's hexagonal columns are being restored. The mezzanine bridge will be reimagined to maintain sightlines to the pool and gardens. Delano Miami Beach has been designed by Elastic Architects in collaboration with Ennismore’s in-house design team.

Ennismore, founded in 2011 by entrepreneur Sharan Pasricha, entered a joint venture with Accor in 2021, creating a new autonomous entity with Accor holding a majority shareholding. Ennismore comprises three pillars: a lifestyle collective rooted in culture and community, immersive resorts creating havens for escapism and entertainment, and luxury venues pioneering the art of exclusive culinary destinations.

Ennismore has 15 brands and two independent F&B groups with 170-plus open hotels and 120-plus in the pipeline, as well as over 500 restaurants and bars. Ennismore operates hotels in over 35 countries with over 25,000 team members.