The 1 Hotels brand goes beyond the concept of lodging and into sustainable living with its flagship, the 1 Hotel South Beach, in Miami
For decades, Miami has been an attractive destination both for leisure and business, and seems to remain this way, as its fair weather and sunny beaches provide a warm welcome to visitors.
The SH Hotel & Resorts management company (affiliate of the Starwood Capital Group) opened 1 Hotel South Beach in March 2015, which became the flagship of the 1 Hotels brand. From 1 Hotel South Beach, guests experience astonishing views of the Atlantic Ocean, Biscayne Bay and the skyline at Downtown Miami.
The 425-room facility built on an entire bock on Collins Avenue was awarded #1 in Conde Nast Traveler’s top 10 Hotels in Miami, and it’s not hard to find out about the attributes contributing to earning such an accolade for 1 Hotel South Beach, whose blend of nature and comfort in an environmentally-friendly atmosphere becomes the perfect setting for an ultimate vacation experience in Miami. 1 Hotel South Beach also earned the LEED Silver certification under the New Construction standards, which is also the starting point for the hotel’s maintenance and operations.
The driftwood furnishings, a 600 feet long beach and the sound of the ocean bring a very special connection to the area’s natural habitat
“Guests continue to choose the hotel because our team provides an unprecedented level of service matched with understated luxury. The hotel celebrates nature and sustainability,” Xavier Moulin commented.
Xavier Moulin is the general manager for 1 Hotel South Beach. He’s gathered more than 25 years of successful experience after graduating in International Hospitality Management from the Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne (Switzerland). Previous experience for SH Hotels & Resorts after joining the company include his tenure as Managing Director of the 1 Hotel & Homes Cabo development (Cabo San Lucas, Mexico) and also neighboring sister property Hacienda Beach Club & Residences; his outstanding work for the 1 Homes Preview and the upcoming 1 Hotel Cabo received coverage in Travel+Leisure magazine and the Robb Report during 2019.
Moulin’s experience has also spread through the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, French Riviera, Germany, Switzerland and the United States in places such as The St. Regis (Los Angeles), Raffles (Beverly Hills), Société des Bains de Mer (Monte Carlo), in AMAN Resorts, sbe properties, SLS hotels and Starwood Hotel & Resorts, among others, earning awards from Conde Nast Traveler, Travel+Leisure magazine; “Best Guest Experience Index”, “Top Regional Production” and “Best HR Practices” among Starwood Hotels and the “Outstanding GM Leader” award by Hotel Management Magazine in November of 2013.
The kind of habitat that makes it hard to leave
1 Hotel South Beach offers different kinds of accommodation according to the number of guests in each group. Room categories at 1 Hotel South Beach include rooms & suites, homes & penthouses and the Retreat Collection, which can be personalized according to required services.
Aside from all the furnishings a high-end lodging facility is expected to meet in every room, the whole concept bringing every accommodation together is the blend of nature accents within a comfortable ambiance, where you may come across wooden flooring and bookcases, rattan seats, hemp-blend mattresses by Keetsa, oak platforms and other elements bringing an organic feel.
Captivating surroundings
While in Miami staying at 1 Hotel South Beach, guests must make sure to take time to visit the many attractions the city and its vicinity have to offer, since amenities at the hotel can make it hard to leave after experiencing all that 1 Hotel has to offer.
Four swimming pools -including a rooftop pool-, seven different[1] food & beverage outlets and a 18,000 sq.ft. wellness center -host to the award-winning Bamford Wellness Spa[2] and Anatomy gym are some of the building’s different places to enjoy anyone’s stay. And the 600 feet long unsullied beachfront -which is also a serviced area- is enhanced by the Atlantic Ocean.
“It’s the best natural amenity. We have four pools that face the ocean. So whether guests want to relax in the sea or pool, they can enjoy endless ocean views from all,” the general manager pointed out.
To enhance the beachfront’s appeal, 1 Hotel South Beach offers the Beach Club exclusive memberships, allowing members to indulge all of the amenities offered by the hotel. Younger guests 4 to 10 years old can take part of the Seedlings program, which offers fun and learning activities and shows.
Enjoying more than a meal
1 Hotel South Beach offers seven [3] different options for food and beverages. WATR at the Rooftop offers full menu service while sharing unique sights with the pool; WATR has earned OpenTable Diner’s Choice Awards for Best Sushi, Best Scenic View and Best Late Night Find. Habitat, on its behalf, serves Mexican dishes for breakfast and dinner offering both indoor seating and an outdoor patio featuring live music four nights a week. PInthouse offers snacks and other healthy options in a plant-decorated terrace, while Neighbors also offers ready-to-go healthy dishes. Drift serves the best cocktails surrounded occasionally by live music. And Wave at 1 Beach Club offers a an outdoor sea-to-table dining experience.
The main trait shared by all of these options is offering fresh, seasonal, local ingredients in every dish.
Timely resolutions to surpass COVID-19
Beyond local ordinance to close facilities at the beginning of the quarantine as consequence of the global pandemic, the 1 Hotel South Beach ramped up a strategy that began with the creation of the Director of Environmental Health & Safety position, which implemented different measures once hotels were allowed to reopen on June 1st, 2020:
• Hotel personnel have been involved in regular COVID-19 testing and new health and safety training sessions and screened for temperature as they begin their shift.
• Property entrances are equipped with temperature scanners, public areas are equipped with hand sanitizing stations and proper signage has been placed for social distancing and other measures.
• Elevators are being sanitized and their capacity is limited and monitored.
• In-room air filtration systems have been enhanced.
• Guests are encouraged to download the 1 Hotel App for contactless communication.
“1 Hotel South Beach was one of the first in the market to reopen and welcome guests incorporating procedures to ensure both guests’ and team members’ safety,” Moulin declared.
Transcendental purposes beyond business goals
As organic and nature accents along most of the hotel furnishings and decorations display, there is an attitude encompassing the purpose of 1 Hotel South Beach, which is its aim toward sustainability, having earned the property the LEED Silver certification.
The hotel’s construction took place in a previously developed site with a number of nearby attractions and high interconnectivity with public transportation. The property features vegetated wide open spaces and features several living plant walls.
Electric vehicles have plenty of charging stations at 1 Hotel South Beach. Other elements, including energy-related systems reduce heat and energy consumption. Finishes such as painting, ceiling, flooring and adhesive products with low-emissions were used to avoid air contamination. Intelligent toilets and sinks along with a highly-efficient irrigation system reduce water use and recycling policies are implemented for elements such as cardboard, paper, plastic, glass and metals.
The hotel is accessible to guests with special mobility requirements.
Company culture
The atmosphere among the staff at SH Hotels & Resorts and 1 Hotel South Beach is one where love, inclusion, respect, and trust are shared values. Growth and development are not unforeseen factors and the COVID pandemic has only enhanced the entire personnel’s skills through cross training.
“At 1 Hotels, we consider ourselves a family of like-minded individuals,” the executive said.
Pipeline: enhancing the experience and new locations
In every 1 Hotel location, listening to guests’ and members’ feedback is a top priority. The recently opened 1 Beach Club is a result of tapping into guests’ inquiries and suggestions. Plans to enhance the experience at 1 Hotels are being developed.
“We know what they want and they like. We took that feedback to create our newest outdoor venue, 1 Beach Club. We created a food & beverage program with their likes in mind all while staying true to the 1 Hotel brand standards,” Moulin declared.
Also, new locations are set to open in the United States and abroad in cities such as London, Nashville, Toronto and San Francisco, to name a few.
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