Omni Fort Lauderdale opens near Broward County Convention Center
The Omni Fort Lauderdale Hotel has opened as the anchor property of the expanded Broward County Convention Center District marking the luxury brand’s return to South Florida after more than two decades.
A ribbon cutting was held to mark the debut of the hotel, which was opened by Dallas-based Omni Hotels & Resorts, in partnership with Broward County, Visit Lauderdale and developer Matthews Southwest. The hotel was designed by Nunzio Marc DeSantis Architects in collaboration with Balfour Beatty as design builder and Stantec as architect of record with interior design by EoA Group.
“Today’s opening marks an exciting new chapter for Broward County and Omni,” Kurt Alexander, president of Omni Hotels & Resorts, said in a statement. “We are grateful to the Broward County Board of Commissioners and our development, design and construction partners whose collaboration brought this project to life.”
The architectural and interior concepts are designed to draw inspiration from Florida’s coastal landscapes. Located along the Intracoastal Waterway, the property offers direct access to the Broward County Convention Center and is located near Fort Lauderdale beaches, Port Everglades Cruise Terminal and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
The property also encompasses 801 guestrooms, including 82 suites, and includes seven dining venues, a Mokara Spa and fitness center, a large pool deck and more than 120,000 square-feet of meeting and event space.
Meeting and event facilities include 47 total spaces and 27 breakout rooms. The largest venue is the 30,000-square-foot Waterway Ballroom, which includes an outdoor terrace overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway. Additional venues include the 15,000-square-foot Port Everglades Ballroom and multiple outdoor event terraces across three levels.
The hotel’s food and beverage program is led by executive chef Cristian Mosquera and includes six dining concepts: Fair Ketch, a sports bar with a Topgolf Swing Suite; Reef 76 Kitchen & Bar; Ibis Sky Lounge; Hidden Key lobby bar; Tide Coastal Kitchen at the pool deck; and Leeward Market, a café offering coffee and grab-and-go items.
Wellness amenities include the Mokara Spa, which encompasses more than 8,500 square-feet on the 10th floor. The spa features eight treatment rooms, a Hammam, steam room, plunge pool and relaxation lounge. Adjacent to the spa and fitness center, the pool deck offers views of the Intracoastal Waterway, Atlantic Ocean and downtown Fort Lauderdale.