In 2022, we learned about plans for an Andaz property in Miami Beach, in the form of an existing Hyatt property being renovated and rebranded. There’s now a major update, as we have a sense of what we can expect from this property, and when it will open.
In this post:
The Confidante Miami Beach becoming an Andaz
The Confidante Miami Beach currently belongs to The Unbound Collection, which is Hyatt’s brand for independent upscale hotels.
In 2022, the 339-room hotel was sold to new owners, at a cost of $232 million, or $684,000 per key. At the time it was announced that the property would undergo a roughly $60 million renovation, and to then be rebranded as an Andaz. We now know what this transition will look like.
The Confidante Miami Beach will be closing as of March 25, 2024, and the property should reopen in the fourth quarter of 2024 as the Andaz Miami Beach. Extensive renovations will be done in the coming months, including the introduction of an all-new lobby (with a “first-of-its-kind ocean view check-in experience”), a reinvention of all culinary offerings in partnership with José Andrés Group, and a new pool area.
Below you can find some renderings of the new Andaz Miami Beach — the plans look beautiful!
I’d consider this to be great news
Since I live in Miami, I’ve never stayed at The Confidante Miami Beach. However, based on everything I’ve heard, the hotel is a bit past its prime, but of course people like it for its beachfront location. The hotel isn’t by any stretch of the imagination “luxury,” not that The Unbound Collection is supposed to be that.
It’s great to see that money will be put into this hotel to hopefully make it feel a bit fresher and more luxurious. This will without a doubt be Hyatt’s most premium property in the Miami area, so I’m sure many World of Hyatt members will appreciate this.
Miami has long been a hot hotel market, but it has only gotten hotter during the pandemic. Room rates have been through the roof, and I’m sure the Andaz will be able to charge much higher rates (which is of course the negative aspect of this rebranding).
Bottom line
The Confidante Miami Beach will be closing shortly, and will reopen in the fourth quarter as the Andaz Miami Beach. It’s nice to see Hyatt finally getting a higher end property in Miami, since it’s an area where the brand lags (meanwhile Marriott has lots of great options in Miami).
What do you make of the plans for the Andaz Miami Beach?
So proud to have been a significant part of the transition of this iconic property.
Can’t wait to get it open! #nexthospitality
Andaz is such a scam of a brand. Inflated luxury prices, but with very limited service and staff. Hotels like the Andaz 5th Avenue in NY care much more about conference business than actual guests.
Tend to agree. Andaz has really lost its way. Andaz 5th Ave is low hanging fruit, for sure, as it's a disaster of a property. But the rest are also mediocre at best and charging absurd rates in many locations. It's following the W path of factory existence.
My family stays at this hotel regularly. We loved it for its mid century decor and Frank Sinatra era swank. The location is the very best but what set The Confidante apart from the many luxury properties I’ve stayed is being demolished. Well we part in peace. I do not intend to go back … there are plenty of hotels like the one in the concept pictures. I will continue to visit those and try...
My family stays at this hotel regularly. We loved it for its mid century decor and Frank Sinatra era swank. The location is the very best but what set The Confidante apart from the many luxury properties I’ve stayed is being demolished. Well we part in peace. I do not intend to go back … there are plenty of hotels like the one in the concept pictures. I will continue to visit those and try out something new in Miami Beach. Au revoir Le Confidante! I knew you as you were and will not forget.
60mm renovation in 9 months? I'm not sure it's possible to spend the money that fast and finish the project timely.
My thoughts exactly. Obviously they don't want to miss the Winter '24/'25 season but I just don't really see this likely being done on time given the work needed from the renders. Perhaps they focus first on public areas and then only have some of the rooms refreshed and it becomes a chaotic mess as they try to wrap up the rest with guests back on the property -- though perhaps that will also good...
My thoughts exactly. Obviously they don't want to miss the Winter '24/'25 season but I just don't really see this likely being done on time given the work needed from the renders. Perhaps they focus first on public areas and then only have some of the rooms refreshed and it becomes a chaotic mess as they try to wrap up the rest with guests back on the property -- though perhaps that will also good to have a slower ramp as I wonder what happens to the staff while they are closed.
We've stayed at The Confidante twice. It was fine. Musty and dated but nice locale. Cash rates were relatively low(for the location) but point rates were often very good(again, for the location).
Given the new brand, cost of refurb and location this property will probably rise to at least a Cat 6, perhaps 7 pushing rates way up when it reopens(later this year seems quite ambitious.)
Still looking forward to checking it out...
We've stayed at The Confidante twice. It was fine. Musty and dated but nice locale. Cash rates were relatively low(for the location) but point rates were often very good(again, for the location).
Given the new brand, cost of refurb and location this property will probably rise to at least a Cat 6, perhaps 7 pushing rates way up when it reopens(later this year seems quite ambitious.)
Still looking forward to checking it out since The Confidante was pretty uninspiring.
What even is the current vision for the Unbound collection? I usually think of it as very autograph/curio but I was stunned when Hyatt put The Chatwal under it. And then when you deep dive through the list, The Chatwal isn't alone for being an extremely pricy property in a collection that is overall not luxury - as mentioned here - but also really all over the place in quality. It's really just a hodgepodge in the enormous range of "everything nicer than JDV"
I find Unbound to be mostly excellent. There seems to be a strong level of quality to these properties that wish to stay independent in style and design. The same with Autograph which are the only hotels I tend to use with Bonvoy.
I've stayed in many Unbound including the Chatwal you mention, Hotel Du Louvre, and my favorite, Hotel du Palais in Biarritz. I find all I've stayed at to be more than excellent...
I find Unbound to be mostly excellent. There seems to be a strong level of quality to these properties that wish to stay independent in style and design. The same with Autograph which are the only hotels I tend to use with Bonvoy.
I've stayed in many Unbound including the Chatwal you mention, Hotel Du Louvre, and my favorite, Hotel du Palais in Biarritz. I find all I've stayed at to be more than excellent and right on brand. Miami is such a different breed though that I never trust anything there outside of MO or FS properties. It's verging on Vegas as a cash grab amidst mass market mediocrity.
This is exciting. I stayed at the confidante and thought it was overrated compared to the hype but see how it could be great under the right brand. Don't see how this refurbishment can be done so quickly though. I bet we won't see the hotel reopen until 2025.... and even that feels optimstic
The current version of the Confidante is 'fine'. But it needed this.
We stayed there Spring 2021 and while the location was pretty good, the property was a little beat up and the service level - especially in the restaurant - was sub-par.
It didn't help that the road was being torn up outside the hotel, making Ubers impossible.
The location up Collins works and the beach was really nice.
The renovation looks incredible. If...
The current version of the Confidante is 'fine'. But it needed this.
We stayed there Spring 2021 and while the location was pretty good, the property was a little beat up and the service level - especially in the restaurant - was sub-par.
It didn't help that the road was being torn up outside the hotel, making Ubers impossible.
The location up Collins works and the beach was really nice.
The renovation looks incredible. If it prices in at 25k points even better.
The suites were fine size-wise, but the decor and furnishings were dated and odd. It looks like this will be fairly swank. The pool and whole scene at the Confidante was decidedly more budget-excursion. I'm guessing this is going to be similar to The National.
Looking forward to checking this out next year.
I enjoyed my two stays at the Confidante. We stayed there when our daughter was a student at the University of Miami. I loved the food and the beachfront experience.
The rooms were outdated but the night entertainment and delicious meals made up for it.
I will say I actually liked The Confidante - I took my partner there for our anniversary a few years ago, and we had a great time! I found the property charming in a retro way; it kind of reminded me of Clearwater Beach when I was a kid growing up. While I was a Globalist at the time, I mentioned it was our anniversary, and they sent up a bottle of sparkling wine, gave...
I will say I actually liked The Confidante - I took my partner there for our anniversary a few years ago, and we had a great time! I found the property charming in a retro way; it kind of reminded me of Clearwater Beach when I was a kid growing up. While I was a Globalist at the time, I mentioned it was our anniversary, and they sent up a bottle of sparkling wine, gave us a few complimentary drink vouchers for the bar, and left a small box of local chocolates in our room one day while we were out.
That said, a renovated Andaz should be a traditionally nicer experience overall (and should yield higher per night revenue), but I do hope they still lean into the historic charm a bit instead of just becoming another generic beach hotel. I'd love to see it turn out more like the Fenway Hotel in Dunedin using the property's history as a theme than a hotel that could be "anywhere".
Agree with you, Tom. I thought the Confidante was charming, and pretty fun in a retro way. Hopefully they keep that vibe while elevating and cleaning things up. Our service has generally been quite good, although there have been pretty regular hiccups with the food and beverage side of things. Hope Chef Andres' involvement will put that in good order.
I had a number of great trips at the Confidante. No, it wasn't 5 stars, but the location was great, the decor was fun, it was affordable via Hyatt points, and it was a great beachfront location. Thank you for the memories, Confidante!