Ennismore, the lifestyle hospitality company and joint venture with Accor (which holds a majority shareholding) and private investment firm Cain International are due to reopen the Delano Miami Beach in November 2025.
Completed in 1947, the Delano Miami Beach is a prime example of Miami’s Art Deco architectural heritage. In the 1990s, a transformative renovation led by hotelier Ian Schrager and designer Philippe Starck reimagined the property, elevating it into a benchmark for relaxed and unstuffy luxury.
Sharan Pasricha, founder and co-CEO of Ennismore, commented: “Thirty years ago, Delano ignited the Miami scene and redefined the urban resort experience. From the Rose Bar to the pool – it was a place to be, a playground for the global jet set looking for the ultimate discretion. Today, together with Cain, we continue the iconic Delano story. We can’t wait for guests, both new and existing, to rediscover Delano Miami Beach.”
Davina Zydower-Cisier, SVP development Europe at Ennismore, added: “Recognised as a trend-setter, obviously there is a lot of weight on the reopening in Miami, to make sure we are iconic and modern. It’s a big return.”
The newly renovated Delano Miami Beach will include four restaurant and bar concepts, retail, a wellness studio, spa, meetings and events spaces, two pools and a beachfront deck.
This reopening is by no means a one-off, but part of a wider trend that underlines the enduring appeal of prestigious hotels with history.
Brands and investors are revitalising a swathe of landmark hotels across major US cities, says a recent IMEX report.
Standout renovations include the Waldorf Astoria New York; Le Méridien Washington, D.C; Salamander Washington, DC; Omni Parker House in Boston; The Bellevue in Philadelphia; and Hotel del Coronado in San Diego.
The trend continues outside the US, with extensively renovated properties like the Hotel Taschenbergpalais Kempinski Dresden; The Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Madrid; the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth; the Sofitel Montréal Golden Mile; and the Fairmont Golden Prague.
Another example is the Fairmont New Orleans which is opening under the brand name but in a completely new location, itself a redevelopment of the former Bank of New Orleans building.
Brand rollout
The reopening of the original Delano hotel in Miami is part of an agreement to expand the brand elsewhere. Zydower-Cisier said this expansion will include 500 branded residence units around the world.
In 2024, Ennismore and Cain entered a strategic partnership in which Cain acquired a minority stake in the Delano brand. To date, the partnership has opened new Delano hotels in Paris and Dubai.
Jonathan Goldstein, CEO of Cain International, commented: “Cain has always believed in the strength of combining distinctive branded offerings with coveted locations across leading gateway cities and hospitality markets. We are thrilled to be joining forces with Ennismore to breathe new life into what we consider to be one of America’s most iconic hotel brands and share its legacy with a new generation of global travellers.”
Maison Delano Paris opened in April 2023 and consists of 56 rooms, including 19 suites, designed by Lázaro Rosa-Violán. The hotel features a new restaurant, Delano Café, in a 200 square metre historic courtyard, as well as a cocktail bar, Delano Bar, styled as a speakeasy.
With funds from Dubai Holding, the diversified investment company owned by the Dubai government, the 251-bedroom Dubai Delano opened in October 2024 on Bluewaters Island to the south of downtown Dubai.
Following the 14-month-long conversion of an existing hotel, two new branded hotels have been created: a Banyan Tree and the Dubai Delano.
Zydower-Cisier said €40m was spent on the renovation: “Not overspending but spending smartly. It was already a nice hotel. We’ve doubled the ADR and the bottom line as well. You don’t need to spend a crazy amount when you already have a good foundation.”
The Delano Dubai is topped off with a five-bedroom penthouse designed as a bookable residence: “It’s been booked for a full year, and we are seeing the ROI in less than 18 months,” she said.
Guests of the Delano Dubai Penthouse have a 24/7 butler service, as well as the options of a private chef and mixologist, while staff accommodation is located within the residence for accompanying personnel.
Ennismore has previous form in transforming individual properties into replicable lifestyle brands. Over the years, it has built and scaled several hotel brands - including The Hoxton and Mondrian - that started out as single hotels.
Cain has a growing luxury lifestyle and leisure portfolio. In 2022, the firm invested US$900m in Aman Group to support the expansion of its luxury hotels and branded residences.
Quotes taken from the ‘Blending spaces: A case study on mixed-use innovation’ session at IHIF EMEA 2025.