What service can you provide to groups that they normally might not receive?
At Conrad Miami, I especially enjoy planning activities for groups because it gives me an opportunity to showcase the city I love to many people at the same time. We have quite a few groups from a variety of industries stay with us throughout the year and utilize the state-of-the-art meeting space available at the hotel. It is easy for me to plan their activities because we do it so often – I can quickly give them insiders’ information about a great local film festival, arrange transportation to take them on a shopping trip, or help them get the best seats to the latest show at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts.
One of the favorite parts of my job is offering guests access to unique experiences at Conrad Miami, such as electric bicycles, which we recently began to offer so that guests can enjoy eco-friendly tours of Miami. This is an especially unique feature that allows guests to see the city at their own pace. Catering to the needs of groups is something we do so often that it now comes as second nature and we are able to quickly create customized agendas that fit the needs of the attendees.
What are your bar or nightclub recommendations?
The Bar at Level 25 in Conrad Miami is always one of my top recommendations. It was just named one of the Best Hotel Bars in Miami by Huffington Post, and we’re very proud of that. The bar has both indoor seating and an outdoor balcony with beautiful views of the city and Biscayne Bay from its location on the 25th floor of the hotel. Miami is known for its nightlife and Conrad Miami’s location is ideal for reaching some of the most popular nightclubs, with South Beach just across the bridge and Coconut Grove and Mary Brickell Village just around the corner. We recommend nightclubs based on the guests’ personality and plans for the evening, Miami has a nightclub for every age and lifestyle, so we cater each recommendation based on each guest.
Where would you recommend is a good place to take a stroll?
The weather in Miami is almost always perfect for a stroll, whether it be on the beach, in one of our many outdoor shopping facilities or neighborhoods. The downtown area, known as Brickell, is particularly nice. From Conrad Miami, our guests enjoy walking the beautiful pathways along the water to Brickell Key, or exploring Mary Brickell Village, which features a number of restaurants, lounges and shops. They also can easily access these areas by using our electric bicycles, which escort guests around the city at up to 20 mph and feature complimentary helmets, maps and “on the go” snacks.
I also recommend the Miracle Mile area in Coral Gables, which is a beautiful daytime or evening stroll with all types of restaurants and small shops. Lincoln Road on Miami Beach was one of the nation's first pedestrian malls offering unique shops, restaurants, bars and the best people watching areas in town.
Which unusual local spots would you recommend we check out?
I always recommend that everyone check out the view from Atrio at Conrad Miami: our award-winning restaurant has amazing views of the sunset and is probably the only restaurant with a view like that. In Miami, a very unique area to explore is the growing Wynwood Arts District. There are many art galleries, boutique shops and trendy restaurants in the area. One gallery I highly recommend is Zadok Gallery, a fantastic gallery that also provides the artwork displays at our hotel.
To get a feel for the different cultural groups that comprise our city, I recommend you visit the Calle Ocho (8th street) area because it is one of the best places to experience part of Miami’s Hispanic culture and personality. There you will find some of the most authentic Cuban restaurants, markets, music and much more. This area is known as the heart of Miami’s Cuban community and is a must-see for any traveler who wants the authentic Miami experience. Don’t forget to check out Domino Park, one of the main meeting places in Little Havana. Almost any time of the day it is filled with retirees and neighborhood people playing dominoes or chess. I also like to recommend Little Haiti to give guests an understanding of the diversity in our city and the many cultures our residents represent.
What is an unusual request from a group you’ve had?
We get all types of requests – but one recent request that stands out came from a group of over 100 women from Zurich, Switzerland. They were looking for a place to all play volleyball but did not want a public court. Conrad Miami has rooftop tennis courts but they wanted to venture out in Miami. I was able to locate private courts for them at Nikki Beach on Miami Beach, where they could not only play volleyball but also enjoy the lounge and nearby beach for the afternoon. They were extremely happy and let me know that they had a wonderful day.
A party of 12 wants to have dinner right away. What restaurant can accommodate last-minute requests of this size?
I would first recommend our award-winning restaurant, Atrio Restaurant and Wine Room, located on the 25th level. There they would enjoy spectacular views of Miami from the restaurant or over Biscayne Bay and Miami Beach from the balcony. If they prefer to go off-property, I would then ask if they want to go to South Beach or stay in downtown Miami/Brickell. If they were interested in staying downtown, I would recommend Scalina Ristorante, which is located just down Brickell Avenue with authentic Italian food overlooking the Miami River and Brickell Key. If their preference is South Beach, I would recommend Joe’s Stone Crab, which is an institution in Miami known for its great steaks and key lime pie, or Prime 112, which has a wonderful selection of steaks and popular sides, like the Five Cheese Truffle Mac. Both have a great bar scene too. There are so many great places to choose from with wonderful ambience and delicious cuisine that we try and connect our guests’ taste buds with the right restaurant.
Can you describe one unique event that has taken place at your property that stands out?
Recently, two large groups of doctors stayed at Conrad Miami for educational events taking place at the same time. The doctors, who had come to Miami from different parts of the world, spoke a variety of different languages. It was exciting for myself and our staff to watch them learn some of the English language and our customs while they stayed at the hotel. We often receive large groups of international travelers, but this experience allowed our whole team to develop international relationships and learn about other parts of the world.
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