One of Starwood’s great South Florida hotel options has long been the Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa, located in Hollywood, Florida. With nearly 1,000 rooms it’s a massive hotel, and the great thing is that they have a ton of suites, which means that historically Platinum suite upgrades were plentiful.
It’s not the most luxurious hotel in the world — certainly not in the same league as the St. Regis Bal Harbour located down the road — but the prices are usually reasonable and it’s on a nice stretch of beach.
Unfortunately per a notice posted on the hotel’s website, it looks like the Westin Diplomat will be leaving Starwood as of October 30, 2014:
The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa, Hollywood, Florida will be leaving the Starwood system on October 30, 2014. Reservations for dates on or after October 30, 2014, will not be eligible for Starwood Preferred Guest membership benefits, award redemption or accrual.
The investment company purchasing it seems to have big plans for the property. Per the Miami Herald:
Thayer, based in Annapolis, Maryland, has paid $460 million to buy the 1,000 room, beachfront hotel from United Association, a 370,000-member plumbers and pipefitters union based in Annapolis.
In addition to the hotel, with spa and tennis courts on nearly 10 acres at 3555 S. Ocean Dr. in Hollywood, Thayer also bought a neighboring 18-hole golf course for $20 million, and paid $55.5 million for several adjacent parcels at 3451-3690 S. Ocean Dr.,
Thayer made the deal through three affiliates, Diplomat Hotel Owner LLC, Diplomat Golf Course Venture LLC and Diplomat Landings Owner LLC, according to a deed recorded Thursday in Broward County, the Daily Business Review said. In total, Thayer paid $535.5 million to Diplomat Companies Limited Partner, linked to the plumbers’ trade union.
Rumor has it the hotel will be rebranded as a Hilton. Wonder what they’ll do with all those suites, given that they don’t like upgrading elite members. 😉
(Tip of the hat to Loyalty Traveler)
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