Tourism in the Tropics

Turnberry, Fairmont part ways

The Aventura resort formerly known as Fairmont Turnberry Isle has dropped the “Fairmont” from its title and operations.

Turnberry Hotel Group has taken over management of the 392-room property, now known as the Turnberry Isle Hotel & Resort. Turnberry Hotel Group is a division of Turnberry Associates, which created the resort in the 1970s and reacquired it in 2006.

In a statement, Turnberry Hotel Group President C. Scott Rohm thanked the international luxury hotel chain for its efforts. “However, it is time for change at Turnberry Isle Hotel & Resort,” Rohm said. “Turnberry Hotel Group is re-emphasizing the glamour, personalized service and experiences that reflect the iconic resort’s unique history and character.”

Reservations, meetings and other events will transition without any changes, the hotel said.

The statement said that “nearly all” Turnberry Isle staffers have been invited to remain. The company would not say how many decided to stay or how many employees had been let go.

Douglas Hustad, formerly the vice president/general manager at The Inn on Biltmore Estate in Asheville, N.C. is the new managing director.

Through a spokesman, Rohm declined to answer any additional questions. A Fairmont spokeswoman would not comment beyond issuing a statement acknowledging “issues related to the Turnberry Isle and its hotel management agreement.“

The companies were involved in legal wrangling back in 2009, when Turnberry sued Fairmont claming the operator mismanaged the property. Fairmont said it was owed millions in fees, and an arbitrator eventually said Turnberry had to pay Fairmont $6 million. Neither company would address that history Monday.

Miami-Dade hotel consultant Scott Brush said shedding a brand and management company could save an owner money — but there are risks.

"The question is whether they can, without that name, generate all that business. And it’s tough,” Brush said. “Except the Turnberry does have a name all on its own.”

Tourism keeps on trucking in Florida

Numbers out this week prove what hoteliers have been saying for months: This spring was a good one for the tourist industry in Florida.

Second-quarter visitors increased by nearly 7 percent statewide, according to Visit Florida. Last year's numbers were lower than officials had hoped because of the oil disaster in the Gulf.

We talked to tourism chiefs and hoteliers in South Florida, and they all agreed: A busy spring turned into a solid summer, which is expected to lead to a strong fall and winter.

Read more in today's story here.

More areas going smokeless at sea

Cabins on major cruise lines will be smoke-free by the beginning of next year as cruise ship companies tighten their smoking policies.

Norwegian Cruise Line announced this week that smoking in staterooms will be outlawed starting in January. Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line and Princess Cruises made similar announcements in June.

Read more here about why the cruise operators are making the changes.

Vacation renters, beware

Back in June, we wrote about a couple whose wedding plans were scuttled when the Miami Beach home they'd rented for the occasion turned out to be a scam.

Turns the vacation rental fraud victims have plenty of company. We've been tracking down information and other similar stories for the last month. In today's story, linked here, read more about vacation rental scams and how not to fall for one.

Esti and Ryan Brooks had a happy outcome: Hotel Breakwater, which was just opening on Ocean Drive, heard about the story and donated their venue for the ceremony. They're hoping the final chapter of this ordeal will involve an arrest -- and the return of their $6,300.

 

Morgans' South Beach hotels have solid second quarter

Morgans Hotel Group's Miami Beach hotels -- the Delano, Shore Club and Mondrian -- all posted gains in the second quarter of 2011 compared to 2010. The company itself posted a loss in the quarter, though a smaller one than the previous year.

During a call to discuss earnings Tuesday afternoon, CEO Michael Gross said the company would likely not be looking to sell the Delano despite selling off several other properties earlier this year. Morgans recently announced it had used the stylish South Beach property to secure a $100 million line of credit, which will be used to fund growth.

Read more about the company's plans for the Delano, and a new Mondrian coming to the Bahamas, here.

Norwegian Cruise Line reports higher prices, bigger spenders

Norwegian Cruise Line posted a $29 million profit in the quarter that ended June 30, a marked improvement from the previous year, when the Miami-based company reported a net loss of nearly $15 million.

The cruise operator brought in $568.6 million in total revenue, up from nearly $478 million during the same time the previous year. Net revenue was $418 million compared to $349 million during the second quarter of 2010.

Adjusted EBITDA — earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization — increased 29 percent to $123.5 million.

Net yield, or the revenue generated per berth per day, increased 4.2 percent thanks to higher ticket prices and increased spending onboard.

President and CEO Kevin Sheehan said the company’s newest ship, Norwegian Epic, performed well as it moved from the Caribbean to the Mediterranean during the second quarter. He said the rest of the fleet has shown “consistent” yield improvement.

Epic debuted in June 2010; two new ships dubbed Project Breakaway are on order. Though they aren’t scheduled for delivery until 2013 and 2014, Sheehan said the company is preparing for their arrival.

“We need to get everything ready for the Breakaway ships and make sure we’ve got the business lean and mean,” he said.