{"id":88531,"date":"2025-12-18T22:27:15","date_gmt":"2025-12-18T22:27:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/88531\/"},"modified":"2025-12-18T22:27:15","modified_gmt":"2025-12-18T22:27:15","slug":"omni-fort-lauderdale-hotel-finally-opens-its-doors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/88531\/","title":{"rendered":"Omni Fort Lauderdale Hotel finally opens its doors"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis really is a five-star hotel that is projected to bring $450 million annually into the economy,\u201d said Broward County Mayor Mark Bogen, who was on hand for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony. \u201cAnd it went up without us having to use any general revenue dollars.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"One of seven restaurants inside the Omni Fort Lauderdale Hotel...\" class=\"size-article_inline\"   src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/tfl-l-omni-hotel-fort-lauderdale7.jpg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>One of seven restaurants inside the Omni Fort Lauderdale Hotel is seen, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (Carline Jean\/South Florida Sun Sentinel)<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A look inside the Omni Fort Lauderdale Hotel, Thursday, Dec....\" class=\"lazyload size-article_inline\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/tfl-l-omni-hotel-fort-lauderdale4.jpg?w=620\"  bad-src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/tfl-l-omni-hotel-fort-lauderdale4.jpg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>A look inside the Omni Fort Lauderdale Hotel, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (Carline Jean\/South Florida Sun Sentinel)<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The living room space inside the grand penthouse at the...\" class=\"lazyload size-article_inline\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/tfl-l-omni-hotel-fort-lauderdale5.jpg?w=620\"  bad-src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/tfl-l-omni-hotel-fort-lauderdale5.jpg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>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)<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"People attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Omni Fort Lauderdale...\" class=\"lazyload size-article_inline\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/tfl-l-omni-hotel-fort-lauderdale6.jpg?w=620\"  bad-src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/tfl-l-omni-hotel-fort-lauderdale6.jpg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>People attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Omni Fort Lauderdale Hotel, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (Carline Jean\/South Florida Sun Sentinel)<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A view of Port Everglades from the Omni Fort Lauderdale...\" class=\"lazyload size-article_inline\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/tfl-l-omni-hotel-fort-lauderdale2.jpg?w=620\"  bad-src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/tfl-l-omni-hotel-fort-lauderdale2.jpg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>A view of Port Everglades from the Omni Fort Lauderdale Hotel on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (Carline Jean\/South Florida Sun Sentinel)<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A view of the 17th Street Causeway bridge from the...\" class=\"lazyload size-article_inline\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/tfl-l-omni-hotel-fort-lauderdale3.jpg?w=620\"  bad-src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/tfl-l-omni-hotel-fort-lauderdale3.jpg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>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)<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Omni Fort Lauderdale hotel, shown on its opening day...\" class=\"lazyload size-article_inline\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/tfl-l-omni-hotel-fort-lauderdale1.jpg?w=620\"  bad-src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/tfl-l-omni-hotel-fort-lauderdale1.jpg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>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)<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"County officials and dignitaries cut the ribbon for the opening...\" class=\"lazyload size-article_inline\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/tfl-l-omni-hotel-fort-lauderdale.jpg?w=620\"  bad-src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/tfl-l-omni-hotel-fort-lauderdale.jpg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>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)<\/p>\n<p>Show Caption<\/p>\n<p>1 of 8<\/p>\n<p>One of seven restaurants inside the Omni Fort Lauderdale Hotel is seen, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (Carline Jean\/South Florida Sun Sentinel)<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#\" class=\"icon-enlarge mng-gallery-fullscreen-expand\" aria-label=\"Expand fullscreen slideshow\">Expand<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The county\u2019s capital budget, which does not rely on property taxes, contributed to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sun-sentinel.com\/2025\/04\/16\/801-room-omni-hotel-is-among-many-upcoming-projects-being-touted-in-broward\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">expansion of the convention center and the construction of the hotel<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n<p>The convention center\u2019s grand opening was last month, but <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sun-sentinel.com\/2025\/10\/17\/new-801-room-omni-hotel-faces-opening-delay-in-fort-lauderdale-what-to-expect-next\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">the hotel opening took about a month longer than scheduled<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cToday\u2019s opening marks an exciting new chapter for Broward County and Omni,\u201d said Kurt Alexander, president of Omni Hotels &amp; Resorts. \u201cWe 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 \u2014 marking Omni\u2019s proud return to South Florida after more than 20 years.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The hotel is located at <a href=\"http:\/\/1850 SE 17th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316\" rel=\"nofollow\">1850 SE 17th St.<\/a> Guests and visitors will not have to go through Port Everglades security to access it, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sun-sentinel.com\/2025\/10\/20\/shortcut-road-opens-to-ease-traffic-from-the-airport-to-the-beach-in-fort-lauderdale\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">and a shortcut road leading from State Road 84 to the hotel<\/a> recently opened to minimize hotel-bound traffic from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyautosizes lazyload\" alt=\"County officials and dignitaries cut the ceremonial ribbon for the opening of the Omni Fort Lauderdale Hotel, Thursday, on Dec. 18, 2025. (Carline Jean\/South Florida Sun Sentinel)\" width=\"5863\" height=\"301\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1766096835_743_tfl-l-omni-hotel-fort-lauderdale.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"13099677\" \/>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)<\/p>\n<p>Developers said the hotel component of the expansion project was a collaborative effort between Omni Hotels &amp; Resorts, Broward County, Visit Lauderdale, and developer Matthews Southwest.<\/p>\n<p>The Omni is the third-largest hotel in Broward, behind the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino and the Diplomat Hotel on Hollywood beach.<\/p>\n<p>Rafael Olmeda can be reached at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sun-sentinel.com\/2025\/12\/18\/new-801-room-omni-fort-lauderdale-one-of-browards-biggest-hotels-finally-opens-its-doors\/mailto:rolmeda@sunsentinel.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">rolmeda@sunsentinel.com<\/a> or 954-356-4457. Follow him on <a href=\"http:\/\/Threads.net\/@rafael.olmeda\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Threads.net\/@rafael.olmeda<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Omni Fort Lauderdale Hotel, the centerpiece of an expansion of the Broward County Convention Center, officially opened&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":88532,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[506,28,249,251,250,114,266,109],"class_list":{"0":"post-88531","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-fort-lauderdale","8":"tag-broward-county","9":"tag-florida","10":"tag-fort-lauderdale","11":"tag-fort-lauderdale-headlines","12":"tag-fort-lauderdale-news","13":"tag-latest-headlines","14":"tag-local-news","15":"tag-social"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88531","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=88531"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88531\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/88532"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=88531"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=88531"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=88531"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}