Nina catches the ocean breeze on
her terrace |
Just North Of
Miami Beach
You’ll Step Into The Future
 E
HAVE seen the future. It is called Sunny Isles Beach, located just
north of Miami Beach. Of course, Donald Trump wasted no time
in stamping his imprimatur on this prime vacation location.
Until recently this sleepy
strip of oceanside land, east of the main artery of Collins Avenue,
was dotted with a row of rundown two-story motels. The residential
community west of Collins was in sleep mode.
Trump International Sonesta
Beach Resort |
Developers with vision
discovered it and rushed to reinvent the place as the City of Sunny
Isles Beach. The seedy motels were demolished and in their place
began to appear high-rise condos and tower hotels, which has now
become the lifeblood of the community.
Entrepreneurs Michael
Dezer and son Gil are putting up a three-building complex
on ten acres of beachfront property at Collins Avenue and 180th
Street to be called the Trump Grande Ocean Resort & Residences.
The $600 million project
makes this the tallest oceanfront property in Miami. The Dezers and
others like them are enthusiastically welcomed. Their ambitious
development translates into an expansion of the tax base, pouring
new revenue into the city coffers for civic improvements.
Two residential buildings
are under construction, the Trump Royale to open in winter of 2005
and the Trump Palace to open in winter 2006. The condos are selling
at the pre-construction prices of $425,000 to $11 million.
Interested? Call 305 932-1000 or visit www.trumpgrande.com.
General manager
Alan Sonnabend |
Nina and I spent a
weekend at the newly completed first phase, the hotel. It opened in
May as the Trump International Sonesta Beach Resort. We were duly
impressed.
We found it an overwhelming
experience in ultramodern facilities, state-of-the-art
accommodations, generous amenities and extra-friendly staff. What
more could you ask for?
Anticipating long-staying
guests, each of the 398 luxury rooms (including 76 suites) has a
washer/dryer and microwave oven. Studios contain two queen beds;
junior suites have king beds. Oceanfront suites come with outdoor
Jacuzzis.
“We are creating a
high-scale destination,” said Alan Sonnabend, vice president and
general manager.
“In winter we appeal to
northerners who flock down here. In summer we get Europeans and the
locals.”
Trump pool adjacent to the beach |
Rates from December to
April range $325 to $1200. Summer prices are $195 to $500. For
reservations call 305 692-5200 or www.trumpsonesta.com.
Sonnabend anticipates heavy
convention business. The hotel has attractive meeting rooms and a
gorgeous ballroom.
Built and owned by the
Dezers, the hotel is deftly managed by the Sonesta hotel chain.
Sonesta is named for its founders, Alan’s grandparents, Sonny
and Esther. Alan’s father, Roger Sonnabend, is
chairman of the board.
The luxurious Aquanox Spa
has sauna, steam room and private rooms offering an
extensive list of massages, facials, body treatments with
waxing, eyelash and eyebrow treatments and mud therapy, all under
the direction of spa director Angee Smithee.
Executive Chef
Philippe Boutinet |
Go all out and pamper
yourself with a Grande Day, consisting of Aromatherapy Massage,
Lavender extract Sea Peel, spa lunch, and Sea Champagne Facial. It
will set you back $349. That includes gratuity and a personalized
take-home gift.
I opted for the AromaOcean
Therapy, a 50-minute massage for $110. After that I felt like a new
man.
The hotel’s signature
restaurant, Neomi’s Grill, offers an extensive menu at breakfast,
lunch and dinner. If you are on any diet, the talented chef will
meet your needs.
Entrees include grilled
salmon, $13.25; capellini pasta, $12; vegetable stir fry, $13.50,
and many more selections.
Executive chef is Philippe
Boutinet who came to the United States 15 years ago from Cognac,
France. His father, a cognac maker, wanted his son to follow in the
trade, but Philippe had other thoughts.
“I couldn’t stand
working on the farm with the mud, the winter,” he said. “It’s
not for me. I always wanted to be a cook.”
He’s a happy man in the
kitchen. “Sonesta is the best company I ever worked for,” he
said.
Philippe is looking forward
to catering the wedding of Gil Dezer this fall. The outdoor swimming
pool will be covered with a glass top, and the bride will walk over
water to join her husband under the chupah.
So does he cook at home
too?
“Absolutely not! My wife
Rosi does the cooking.”
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