As the world embarks on a new era of travel, The Palm Beaches in Southeast Florida – comprised of 39 cities and towns from Boca Raton and Delray Beach to Palm Beach and Jupiter – welcomes a diverse list of new offerings throughout 2021 in America’s First Resort Destination. Highly-anticipated updates include eight new or reimagined hotels, ranging from wellness-centered retreats to revamped luxury landmarks; 19 fresh restaurant concepts involving everything from all-day cafes and waterfront eateries to scratch kitchens and sustainable seafood; plus intriguing experiences and attractions. With the industry’s highest safety standards in place at Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) and throughout the destination – thanks to The Palm Beaches Pledge and Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) STAR™ accreditation – visitors traveling from near or far can rest assured that Discover The Palm Beaches, the official tourism marketing corporation for Palm Beach County, is committed to providing a stress-free travel experience from the moment of arrival. Whether a die-hard scuba diver, wine connoisseur, wellness retreat aficionado or simply a beach-lover, there is something new and exciting for everyone in The Original, The One, The Only: The Palm Beaches. Newsworthy developments for 2021 include:
New ACCOMODATIONS
Recently opened on Nov. 4, 2020, Nantucket’s iconic White Elephant Resort welcomed its boutique sister property in historic Palm Beach. The new property, which has been completely reimagined by Boston-based architecture firm Elkus Manfredi, represents the total renovation of the Bradley Park Hotel, which dates back to the 1920s and was one of the first hotels in the area. Listed with the Landmark Preservation Commission, the team worked tirelessly with the Town of Palm Beach to create a new hotel that embraces the history of the existing building while incorporating a contemporary interpretation of Mediterranean Revival architecture. The 32-room and suite property maintains the welcoming feel of a private residence, and each accommodation offers a private outdoor space. The interior and exterior displays a natural color palate, in contrast with the pinks and greens synonymous with Palm Beach. The Mizner-style facade is painted a light, creamy-white color with classic black-and-white striped awnings, charcoal-gray roof tiles and black trim to bring a fresh, sophisticated look to the classic structure. Of note is also the original fireplace located in the hotel’s lobby, which has been restored to the grandeur of the Golden Age. Among the amenities are an art collection exceeding 100 works, personally curated by the owners. Guests have complimentary use of Priority Bicycles and BMW vehicles, as well as exclusive access to Barton & Gray yachts.
ReIMAGINED Properties
The pinkest hotel in Palm Beach, The Colony Hotel, recently unveiled a complete renovation to the hotel’s welcoming lobby, renamed the Living Room. Representing an enhanced atmosphere for guests seeking a communal place to relax and people watch, the iconic Palm Beach hotel announced a partnership with famed hand-painted wallpaper brand de Gournay, whose custom wallpaper adorns each wall for an immersive Palm Beach experience. Designed in collaboration with The Colony owner Sarah Wetenhall, the de Gournay design was inspired by the original mid-century mural that adorned the lobby when the hotel first opened in 1947. The wallpaper features flora and fauna indigenous to South Florida, painstakingly hand-painted on a custom pink Edo Xuan Paper. Alligators creep from shallow pools, and panthers wear diamond necklaces – all while The Colony’s mascot, Johnny Brown, sits high in a palm tree waving the hotel’s pennant flag. With décor designed by Kemble Interiors, the Living Room better reflects The Colony’s ethos of intimate, personalized hospitality and features small vignettes of soft seating, cocktail tables and conversational furniture, making arrival at The Colony feel as though you are welcomed into a private home. A palate of soft pink velvet, bamboo lattice and hand-watercolor gray linen accents the hotel’s original black terrazzo floors, which underwent total restoration. Brass palm tree accent tables and palm frond wall sconces amp up the Palm Beach glam factor, while the focal point of The Living Room is Kemble Interiors’ jaw dropping 10-foot-tall pagoda rising above the fireplace. New this season, the Living Room features all-day beverage, cocktail and light-bite service, making it a chic and centralized locale for visitors to meet, work and socialize at a comfortable distance. To that end, guest check-in will go wireless for a more a personalized and seamless arrival experience, as well as eliminating the shared touch points of check-in desks to allow for social distancing.
