
The Barbary Beach House Key West recently underwent an $18 million renovation aimed at creating a resort atmosphere at the beachfront property. Now it’s getting another $3 million investment to convert it into the Margaritaville Beach House Key West.
The renamed resort will open with its new look in the fall, bringing Margaritaville food and beverage concepts, an expanded retail area, and family-friendly amenities to the property.
“We are excited to announce a new affiliation with Margaritaville at our Key West resort,” Mark Brugger, president and chief executive officer of DiamondRock Hospitality Company, said in a statement. “Margaritaville is synonymous with Key West and as a leading hotel brand will drive more demand to the resort.”
The recent renovations at the resort included a tropical pool upgrade, a new lobby, revamped landscaping, and a complete makeover of all 186 suites.
Located on Smathers Beach, the largest beach in Key West, the hotel will continue to be operated and managed by Ocean Properties Hotels & Resorts.
“The location already offers guests direct access to the oasis that is Key West’s largest and most beautiful stretch of beach, and yet is close to the famous Duval Street historic district with its distinctive shops, bustling restaurants, and colorful nightlife,” Brugger said.
Some of the changes coming with the Margaritaville name include poolside entertainment, daily refreshments, a 24-hour fitness center, lawn games, lounging hammocks throughout the grounds, paddleboards, and kayaks.
The hotel will also coordinate and offer beachfront weddings.
“For those heading to Key West for vacation, the Margaritaville Beach House Key West is the exact experience they are looking for,” Brugger said. “The company will continue to look for ways to expand the relationship with other value-creation acquisitions and create more Margaritaville-branded hotels throughout the Florida Keys.”
Margaritaville Hotels & Resorts is in the midst of a major expansion. It already has 24 locations and is in the process of adding about a dozen more properties. Its international properties include locations in Mexico, the Bahamas, and Costa Rica, and the Margaritaville family is in the process of adding Belize and the Dominican Republic to its roster. Its next opening is coming next month (June 2021) in New York’s Times Square.
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