The newly opened Andaz Miami Beach isn’t just a sleek oceanfront resort with buzzy design and fine dining. It’s a blueprint for a new generation of Hyatt’s Andaz properties in the United States.
“The opening of Andaz is a major milestone for the brand,” said Fernando Rivera, general manager of the Andaz Miami Beach. “We’re making Miami Beach the cornerstone of the next step.”
While the Andaz brand has expanded globally with properties in destinations like Dubai and Tokyo, it’s not always the first brand that comes to mind when travelers book a stay with Hyatt in the U.S. That could soon change.
According to the hotel’s leadership, Andaz Miami Beach will act as a proof of concept for an evolved vision of Andaz as a true resort brand with a vision centered on immersive design, elevated culinary experiences, and full-spectrum leisure amenities.
Instead of a dark lobby check-in counter, guests are welcomed into a bright, second-floor lounge with views of the pool, palm-lined terraces, and the Atlantic Ocean. They’ll be greeted with a Mediterranean-inspired welcome cocktail infused with lavender and Lebanese gin, and a personal check-in host will get them settled from a couch, not a counter (though, there will be some counter check-in availability for those in a rush).
“[The] arrival experience is unlike any arrival experience in Miami Beach,” Rivera said.
It’s a fitting entrance to a property designed to raise expectations. For culinary travelers, Andaz Miami Beach is introducing a trio of venues from chef José Andrés, including Bazaar, his celebrated dinner concept that first debuted in Miami at the SLS South Beach. The new iteration will be a full-circle moment for the chef and a high-profile return of the dining concept to the city. Also from the Jose Andrés Group: Aguasal, an all-day Mediterranean restaurant, and Bar Centro, a mixology bar. Guests can also enjoy food and cocktails at poolside Soleo Pool & Beach bar and café.
“It’s culinary excellence all the way around,” Rivera said.
Of course, the food and drink are only part of the equation. The property offers a full-service spa, a robust beach service program, and 300 ocean-facing chairs. There is also a soon-to-debut private members’ club set within a historic 1930s bungalow that’s currently being restored as an exclusive retreat for members and top-tier guests and suite clients.
“Our [beach club experience] is truly thinking about that luxury customer and ensuring that they have a unique experience with a private house and a private lawn with elevated furniture on the beach,” Rivera said.
Don’t miss out on the multifaceted swimming deck at Andaz Miami Beach. The hotel’s rooftop pool has been engineered for flexibility, with a hydraulic floor that can rise and transform into an event deck, catwalk, or stage. That flexibility positions the hotel as a major player for high-end activations, whether for Swim Week, fashion launches, or private celebrations.
“When you create these experiences, that’s where you’re really able to impact the market,” Rivera said.
This type of programming is at the heart of Hyatt’s broader investment in Miami Beach, where the company is planting flags across nearly all its lifestyle and luxury brands. In addition to the new Andaz, Hyatt’s network in the area now includes properties under the Dream, Thompson, and Standard brands.
“Each brand has a target market for travelers,” Rivera said while highlighting how each brand can coexist with its respective siblings and offer something unique.
That uniqueness will be key for advisors looking to steer clients to the right experience. Andaz Miami Beach is shaping up to appeal to affluent leisure travelers who are seeking a vibrant Miami Beach location with a fresh perspective — including aloe-infused ice cubes and an emergency phone to be used for popsicle delivery (the only kind of emergency one needs on a Miami Beach vacation).
“We’re incorporating lifestyle in luxury because we need to create memorable experience that when you leave here, you cannot stop talking about what we did for you,” Rivera said.
Andaz Miami Beach is now open, with the José Andrés-led Bazaar opening later this year.
Related Stories
Andaz Hotels Appoint New Leaders in Hawaii and Mexico
Hyatt Announces Plans for Two Hotels in Saudi Arabia’s Jaumur
Hyatt Focuses on Luxury and Lifestyle With Strategic Expansion and Travel Advisor Partnership
Hyatt Grows Luxury and Lifestyle Brand Footprint Across Americas