Conrad Fort Lauderdale

Conrad Fort Lauderdale is a luxury condominium-hotel resort on North Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The property combines hotel accommodation with privately owned residential units and is associated with The Ocean Resort Residences, a separate residential component connected to the hotel by a five-story glass-enclosed structure known as the Jewel Box. The completed development is commonly described as comprising 290 units: 181 condominium-hotel units operated as part of the Conrad property and 109 full-time condominium residences. The site previously contained the Merrimac and Gold Coast hotels, both dating from the 1950s. A condominium-hotel project for the site was approved in 2001. In the mid-2000s, New York developer Roy Stillman and Bayrock Group advanced a substantially redeveloped project with Donald Trump's name attached through a licensing arrangement. It was marketed as Trump International Hotel & Tower Fort Lauderdale and was designed by Michael Graves and Associates in collaboration with Oscar Garcia Architects. Construction began in July 2005, but the project suffered delays, construction accidents, weakening real-estate conditions, financing problems, buyer litigation, and foreclosure proceedings. Trump's name was removed in 2009 after the licensing agreement ended, and the unfinished property was sold at a foreclosure auction in 2012. CFLB Partnership LLC, an affiliate of Orchestra Hotels & Resorts and the owner of the nearby Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort, acquired the unfinished project in December 2013. Hilton Worldwide announced in January 2014 that it would operate the redeveloped property under its Conrad luxury brand. The renovation and completion program expanded from an initially announced enhancement budget of $34 million to approximately $70 million as the owners sought to upgrade the public areas and reposition the development for the high-end Fort Lauderdale market. Work included a rebuilt lobby, new dining and retail-oriented spaces, and the Jewel Box connection between the hotel and residential buildings. The hotel received a certificate of occupancy in June 2016 but did not immediately open. Construction-lien and refinancing issues contributed to further delays. The Heafey Group acquired the remaining unsold units in January 2017, after which the development moved toward completion. Terra Mare opened in September 2017, and the property held a soft opening on September 29 following Hurricane Irma. The official hotel opening took place on October 10, 2017, with a formal grand-opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony held on December 19 of that year. Atlas bar and lounge followed in November 2017. In October 2020, Takato, a Japanese-Korean fusion restaurant led by chef Taek "Taka" Lee, opened in the resort's principal restaurant space overlooking the beach. The property is positioned as a high-end, full-service coastal resort rather than a conventional standalone hotel. Its offer combines suites and condominium-hotel accommodation, resort amenities, restaurants and bars, a beach-oriented setting, residential ownership, and event or meeting facilities. The Conrad affiliation supplies the international luxury-hospitality identity, while the mixed-use ownership structure distinguishes the property from a standard hotel operated entirely with rental rooms.

The property occupies a prominent oceanfront site on North Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard that was previously home to the Merrimac and Gold Coast hotels, built in the 1950s. A condominium-hotel concept was approved for the site in 2001. Donald Trump became involved in the proposed redevelopment in the early 2000s, and by 2005 the project had been renamed Trump International Hotel & Tower Fort Lauderdale. Roy Stillman and Bayrock Group were the principal development partners, operating through Stillman Bayrock Merrimac LLC, while Trump participated as an equity investor and licensed his name to the project. The redesigned 24-story tower was created by Michael Graves and Associates with Oscar Garcia Architects. Its form was intended to evoke a luxury cruise liner, and the revised plan contained 298 units. Fort Lauderdale's city commission approved the project unanimously on February 15, 2005. Construction began in July 2005, with Stiles Construction Company serving as general contractor. The development experienced serious delays and two reported construction accidents: a worker died after a scaffolding collapse in June 2006, and a flagman was injured when a cement truck ran over his legs in January 2007. Corus Bankshares provided a $139 million construction loan in December 2006. The collapse of the real-estate market undermined the project's sales and financing. Although many units had deposits, numerous buyers later sought to withdraw. In 2009, buyers were pressed to complete purchases even though the project remained unfinished and zoning rules prevented occupancy until the hotel opened. Lawsuits alleged misleading marketing, breach of contract, and confusion about the extent of Trump's role. Trump removed his name from the project in 2009 after the licensing agreement was not maintained. The development defaulted on its construction loan, and Corus Construction Venture, associated with Starwood Capital Group and later known as ST Residential, filed foreclosure proceedings in March 2010. A foreclosure auction in March 2012 resulted in the lender taking control after no competing bidder offered the substantial asking amount. Litigation continued for years. Buyers claimed that promotional material had led them to believe Trump was the project's developer, while Trump argued that the sales documentation disclosed his ability to end the licensing arrangement. A 2014 jury found for Trump in the first buyer case, and a Florida appeals court affirmed the result in 2016. Other buyer claims were reportedly settled confidentially. Trump also sued Stillman in 2015, alleging contractual harm, legal costs, and reputational damage. These disputes formed a significant part of the development's pre-Conrad history. CFLB Partnership LLC purchased the unfinished project for $115 million in December 2013. Hilton Worldwide agreed in January 2014 to manage it as a Conrad property. The redevelopment was planned as a mixed-use resort with 181 condominium-hotel units and 109 residences under The Ocean Resort Residences name. A renovation initially announced at $34 million later grew to about $70 million and included a rebuilt lobby, upgraded common areas, a lounge, a gourmet market, and the Jewel Box connection. The project encountered additional delays, including a construction lien filed by Moss & Associates in 2016 and the need to refinance its construction loan. The Heafey Group acquired the remaining 232 unsold units in January 2017. Terra Mare began operating in September, but Hurricane Irma affected the planned opening schedule. The resort conducted a soft opening on September 29 and officially opened as Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach on October 10, 2017. Atlas bar and lounge opened the next month, and the formal grand opening took place on December 19. In 2020, Takato replaced the earlier principal restaurant concept, bringing Japanese-Korean fusion cuisine to the ocean-facing dining program. The completed resort remains a Conrad-branded luxury property with an integrated condominium and hotel model.

• 2020

  Takato launches

  [1]Conrad Fort Lauderdaleen.wikipedia.org

  Takato opened as the resort's Japanese-Korean fusion restaurant.

• 2017

  Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach opens

  [1]Conrad Fort Lauderdaleen.wikipedia.org

  The resort soft-opened in September and officially opened in October, followed by a formal ceremony in December.

• 2016

  Certificate of occupancy issued

  [1]Conrad Fort Lauderdaleen.wikipedia.org

  The project received a certificate of occupancy in June but remained closed while financing, lien, and completion issues continued.

• 2015

  Jewel Box topped out

  [1]Conrad Fort Lauderdaleen.wikipedia.org

  The five-story glass-enclosed connector linking the hotel and residential components was topped out in March.

• 2014

  Hilton operating agreement announced

  [1]Conrad Fort Lauderdaleen.wikipedia.org

  Hilton Worldwide agreed to operate the property under its Conrad luxury-hotel brand.

• 2013

  CFLB Partnership acquires the project

  [1]Conrad Fort Lauderdaleen.wikipedia.org

  CFLB Partnership LLC bought the unfinished development and prepared it for conversion into a Conrad-branded resort.

• 2012

  Foreclosure auction transfers control

  [1]Conrad Fort Lauderdaleen.wikipedia.org

  The lender acquired the project at a March foreclosure auction after the development's financing default.

• 2009

  Trump name removed

  [1]Conrad Fort Lauderdaleen.wikipedia.org

  Trump ended his association with the unfinished project after the name-licensing arrangement was defaulted upon.

• 2005

  Trump International project approved

  [1]Conrad Fort Lauderdaleen.wikipedia.org

  The project was redesigned as Trump International Hotel & Tower Fort Lauderdale and received unanimous city commission approval in February.

• 2005

  Construction begins

  [1]Conrad Fort Lauderdaleen.wikipedia.org

  Construction on the oceanfront tower began in July.

• 2001

  Condominium-hotel project approved

  [1]Conrad Fort Lauderdaleen.wikipedia.org

  Fort Lauderdale approved a condominium-hotel development concept for the site formerly occupied by the Merrimac and Gold Coast hotels.

High-end luxury oceanfront condominium-hotel resort

• Luxury hotel · 2017

  Conrad Fort Lauderdale hotel accommodation

  The core hospitality product consists of luxury condominium-hotel units operated under the Conrad Hotels & Resorts brand. The resort combines guest accommodation with oceanfront common areas, dining, lounges, and resort services, positioning the property as a full-service coastal destination rather than a limited-service hotel.

• Private condominium residences · 2017

  The Ocean Resort Residences

  The Ocean Resort Residences is the development's separate full-time residential component. It contains privately owned condominium units and is physically integrated with the hotel through the Jewel Box connector, allowing the overall project to function as a mixed-use resort and residential development.

• Restaurant · 2017

  Terra Mare

  Terra Mare was the first reported restaurant to open at the completed resort. It formed part of the property's oceanfront dining offer and helped establish the hospitality operation during its 2017 opening period.

• Bar and lounge · 2017

  Atlas

  Atlas is a bar and lounge associated with the resort's opening program. It expanded the property's food-and-beverage offer beyond its principal restaurant and opened shortly after the hotel began operations.

• Japanese-Korean fusion restaurant · 2020

  Takato

  Takato is a Japanese-Korean fusion restaurant opened in 2020 in the resort's primary restaurant space overlooking Fort Lauderdale Beach. Its kitchen is led by chef Taek "Taka" Lee, identified in reference material as a former executive sushi chef at several South Florida restaurants.

• 2012

  Foreclosure and buyer-deposit disputes

  The project entered foreclosure after defaulting on construction financing. Dozens of buyers pursued claims involving undelivered units and deposits, creating a substantial litigation burden around the unfinished property.

  Source

• 2009

  Buyer litigation over Trump branding and delayed completion

  Condominium buyers filed lawsuits alleging that marketing materials overstated Donald Trump's role in the project and that the development failed to meet contractual completion expectations. Trump removed his name after the licensing arrangement ended. A later jury ruled for Trump in the first case, and an appeals court upheld that outcome, while other claims were settled or remained subject to separate proceedings.

  Source

Read more

• 2020

  Launch Takato restaurantProduct launch

  Background

  The resort's principal restaurant space was redeveloped to support a new signature dining concept.

  Action taken

  Takato, a Japanese-Korean fusion restaurant led by chef Taek "Taka" Lee, opened overlooking Fort Lauderdale Beach.

  Aftermath

  The restaurant became a prominent component of the resort's food-and-beverage offering.

  Source

• 2017

  Open Conrad Fort Lauderdale BeachProduct launch

  Background

  The development had experienced ownership changes, foreclosure, lawsuits, construction delays, a contractor lien, and hurricane-related disruption.

  Action taken

  The resort conducted a soft opening on September 29 and officially opened on October 10, followed by a formal grand-opening ceremony in December.

  Aftermath

  The property entered operation as a Conrad-branded luxury condominium-hotel resort.

  Source

• 2014

  Reposition the unfinished development as a Conrad resortStrategy

  Background

  After foreclosure and a change in ownership, the project required a new hospitality identity and a substantial completion program.

  Action taken

  CFLB Partnership LLC entered an operating agreement with Hilton Worldwide and adopted the Conrad brand for the hotel component.

  Aftermath

  The development was redesigned as a mixed-use luxury resort with hotel units and separate Ocean Resort Residences.

  Source

• 2014

  Expand the renovation and enhancement programStrategy

  Background

  Design revisions and the competitive Fort Lauderdale luxury-resort market led the owner to increase the scope of the redevelopment.

  Action taken

  The planned enhancement budget grew from $34 million to approximately $70 million, supporting upgrades to the lobby, public areas, lounge, gourmet market, and connecting architecture.

  Aftermath

  The enlarged program contributed to a more extensive repositioning, although opening was delayed beyond the original 2015 target.

  Renovation and completion budget. $34 million → $70 million (2014)

  Source

1. 1Conrad Fort Lauderdaleen.wikipedia.org