The Omni Fort Lauderdale Hotel, the centerpiece of an expansion of the Broward County Convention Center, officially opened its doors to the public Thursday as the third-largest hotel in the county.
“This really is a five-star hotel that is projected to bring $450 million annually into the economy,” said Broward County Mayor Mark Bogen, who was on hand for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony. “And it went up without us having to use any general revenue dollars.”
One of seven restaurants inside the Omni Fort Lauderdale Hotel is seen, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
A look inside the Omni Fort Lauderdale Hotel, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
The living room space inside the grand penthouse at the Omni Fort Lauderdale hotel is shown Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
People attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Omni Fort Lauderdale Hotel, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
A view of Port Everglades from the Omni Fort Lauderdale Hotel on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
A view of the 17th Street Causeway bridge from the Omni Fort Lauderdale Hotel on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
The Omni Fort Lauderdale hotel, shown on its opening day Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, features 801 guest rooms, including 82 suites. The property also offers seven restaurants, a pool deck overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway, and 120,000 square feet of meeting and event space. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
County officials and dignitaries cut the ribbon for the opening of the Omni Fort Lauderdale Hotel, Thursday, on Dec. 18, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
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One of seven restaurants inside the Omni Fort Lauderdale Hotel is seen, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
The county’s capital budget, which does not rely on property taxes, contributed to the expansion of the convention center and the construction of the hotel, a project that began in earnest six years ago. In all, the expansion is projected to bring 3,000 new full and part-time jobs to the county.
The convention center’s grand opening was last month, but the hotel opening took about a month longer than scheduled.
“Today’s opening marks an exciting new chapter for Broward County and Omni,” said Kurt Alexander, president of Omni Hotels & Resorts. “We are deeply grateful to the Broward County Board of Commissioners for their vision and leadership, as well as to our construction, design, and development partners whose collaboration brought this hotel to life — marking Omni’s proud return to South Florida after more than 20 years.”
The hotel is located at 1850 SE 17th St. Guests and visitors will not have to go through Port Everglades security to access it, and a shortcut road leading from State Road 84 to the hotel recently opened to minimize hotel-bound traffic from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
The 801 guest rooms include 82 suites, and the property features seven restaurants, a pool deck overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway, and 120,000 square feet of meeting and event space.
Shuttles also will also take people from the hotel to Fort Lauderdale beach and the airport in another effort to minimize the impact on local traffic.
County officials and dignitaries cut the ribbon for the opening of the Omni Fort Lauderdale Hotel, Thursday, on Dec. 18, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Developers said the hotel component of the expansion project was a collaborative effort between Omni Hotels & Resorts, Broward County, Visit Lauderdale, and developer Matthews Southwest.
The Omni is the third-largest hotel in Broward, behind the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino and the Diplomat Hotel on Hollywood beach.
Rafael Olmeda can be reached at rolmeda@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4457. Follow him on Threads.net/@rafael.olmeda.