Diplomat Resort & Spa Hollywood Launches New Era

HOLLYWOOD, Fla., Oct. 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The historic Diplomat Resort & Spa Hollywood, along with its 900-plus employees, today joined Curio – A Collection by Hilton.

South Florida's premier beachfront resort and convention center, the Diplomat Resort was acquired last month by Thayer Lodging Group ("Thayer"), a Brookfield Company, and its institutional partners. The resort encompasses 998 rooms and suites, numerous restaurants and a spa, along with more than 200,000 square feet of meeting and convention space. Thayer previously announced the property would undergo a $100 million enhancement initiative to begin later this year.

The transition was marked this morning with a ceremony attended by Diplomat, Thayer, Curio and Hilton Worldwide leaders, along with resort employees, city officials and South Florida influencers.

"For so many, the Diplomat's unique, storied history is a reflection of its authenticity and romanticism," said Thayer Co-Chairman, Lee Pillsbury. "This new phase, complemented by Curio and Hilton Worldwide, and boosted with a major renovation, will significantly enrich an already dynamic destination."

A hand-picked collection featuring one-of-a-kind properties, Curio lends Hilton's renowned reputation and resources to hotels without redefining their independent spirit or the authentic experiences of its guests. "Curio meets the curious traveler's need for local discovery and the properties' desire to maintain their individuality," said Dianna Vaughan, global head, Curio – A Collection by Hilton. "The Diplomat is a great example of the brand's diversity and we look forward to welcoming business and leisure travelers alike, and offering them the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of our award-winning HHonors program."

Opened in 1958, the original Diplomat was a lavish destination for the rich and famous to retreat. Now it's South Florida's largest beachfront resort and convention center. Towering 39 stories tall, the award-winning property has received top honors from Conde Nast Traveler and TripAdvisor, along with being named a top 100 meeting hotel by Cvent.

The hotel has remained open and fully operational during the transition with all existing guest reservations being honored. Much of the Diplomat's management team has remained in place, including General Manager Edward Walls, who has overseen the resort's operations, sales and since October 2011.

More information about Curio may be found at curiocollection.com. Media may access more information by visiting news.curiocollection.com.

About Curio – A Collection by Hilton
Competing at the top end of upper upscale, Curio – A Collection by Hilton (curiocollection.com) is a hand-picked global collection of unique properties embodying the distinct culture and spirit of their local communities, while giving independent minded travelers the peace of mind that comes from the Hilton name and award-winning HHonors program. With no prescriptive build design – by design – the hotels individually selected to join the Curio collection themselves define the brand. Curio meets the needs of passionately curious travelers seeking local discovery and authentic experiences.

Curio joins a portfolio of market-leading brands from Hilton Worldwide, a leading global hospitality company. Access the latest news at news.curiocollection.com or inquire about development opportunities at hiltonworldwide.com/development.

About Hilton Worldwide
Hilton Worldwide (NYSE: HLT) is a leading global hospitality company, spanning the lodging sector from luxury and full-service hotels and resorts to extended-stay suites and focused-service hotels. For 95 years, Hilton Worldwide has been dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences. The company's portfolio of eleven world-class global brands is comprised of more than 4,200 managed, franchised, owned and leased hotels and timeshare properties, with more than 690,000 rooms in 93 countries and territories, including Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Curio - A Collection by Hilton, DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Hotels, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations. The company also manages an award-winning customer loyalty program, Hilton HHonors®. Visit news.hiltonworldwide.com more information and connect with Hilton Worldwide at www.facebook.com/hiltonworldwide, www.twitter.com/hiltonworldwide,  www.youtube.com/hiltonworldwide, www.flickr.com/hiltonworldwide and www.linkedin.com/company/hilton-worldwide.

Thayer Lodging Group
Thayer Lodging Group, based in Annapolis, Md., is a hotel asset management and investment company, acquired in 2014 by Brookfield. Thayer has a lengthy and successful track record that spans multiple investment cycles. Since forming its first private equity fund in 1991, Thayer has completed 41 hotel investments with a total acquisition cost of approximately $2.4 billion.

Thayer's funds currently own a portfolio of 14 hotels and 3,637 guest rooms and, through its investment in Interstate, have ownership interests in 64 hotels with 11,655 guest rooms. Thayer seeks to invest in hotels where the Company's expertise can add value through its time-tested strategies, which include extensive renovation, market repositioning, expense reduction and rebranding as methods of improving net operating incomes. For more information about Thayer, visit the company's web site, www.thayerlodging.com.

CONTACT:
Barbara W. Goldberg/Matt Levinson
For Diplomat Resort & Spa Hollywood
+1 954 964 9098
[email protected] / [email protected]  

Lisa Cole
Hilton Worldwide
+1 305 796 8383
[email protected]

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SOURCE Thayer Lodging Group

Related Links

http://www.thayerlodging.com