Concierge
Hyatt Regency Miami
Miami
What service can you provide to groups that they normally might not receive?
As a concierge, I have the advantage of making great contacts through networking, especially with business owners and managers. This way if groups need transportation I can arrange for a group discount. For the famous clubs around Miami, I like to have complementary passes available, and for restaurant reservations I ask for the nicest table with the best view. Also, guests always get a complimentary drink or dessert on me.
What are your group restaurant recommendations?
We are lucky to have a great variety of restaurants influenced by various cultures. The Hyatt Regency’s Riverwalk Cafe provides casual dinning, and our sports bar, Currents, offers a great menu as well. Within walking distance of the hotel, I recommend River Oyster Bar for fabulous seafood and Porcao Churrascaria [Brazilian], which is known for its Rodizio and views of Biscayne Bay. Also, Gloria and Emilio Estefan’s restaurant, Bongos Cuban Cafe, serves authentic Cuban cuisine.
In South Beach, I recommend Quinn’s on Ocean Drive, Barton G and local landmarks Joe’s Stone Crab and The Forge.
What are your bar or nightclub recommendations?
Tobacco Road, the oldest bar in the city, is located close to the Hyatt and features live music daily. For the high-energy party crowd, Club Space offers a fusion of different rhythms in every room. A new edition downtown is Karu & Y, an upscale restaurant and nightclub showcasing art, architecture and entertainment.
Just 15 minutes away on South Beach, guests can party like celebrities at clubs like Mansion, Opium Garden and Prive.
Can you recommend a good place to take a stroll?
Brickell Avenue and Mary Brickell Village are beautiful areas to walk downtown. Key Biscayne is a wonderful place for walking or biking, as it offers amazing panoramic views of downtown, unobstructed water views and magnificent sunsets.
Are there any quirky places we should check out?
It takes just 10 minutes to get from the Hyatt to the heart of Little Havana, where you feel like you are sneaking into Cuba. You can drink the famous Cuban café and see how cigars are rolled by hand. This area is also becoming a magnet for the young, hip and artistic. Cultural Fridays are held the last Friday of every month, during which music and art spill onto the streets from the live stage at the local landmark Tower Theater.
If we only have an hour or two, what should we definitely check out nearby?
A nice place to go is Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, which is famous for its lavishly decorated rooms filled with antiques from the 15th through 19th centuries, and its wonderful gardens inspired by Italian Renaissance palaces. Vizcaya is easily accessible from downtown by Miami’s Metrorail system.
I also recommend visiting the Design District, an artist’s paradise boasting a collection of art galleries, high-end furniture stores and good restaurants.
A party of 12 wants to have dinner right away. What restaurant can accommodate last-minute requests of this size?
Quinn’s in South Beach. It is one of Miami’s best seafood restaurants and is famous for outstanding service and Chef Gerry Quinn’s culinary finesse.
What has been an unusual request from a group?
We had a conference in-house and the name badges did not arrive to the hotel on time. I was asked to find around 400 badges, which sounds simple, but none of the local office supply stores had this large of a quantity in stock. Finally, after placing numerous calls, I was able to buy badges from several different stores and have them ready in time for the conference.