Rumors regarding LagoMar resort

I have read a few reviews of LagoMar that suggest it has been or will be sold to the Ritz Carlton. Any truth to this?We have enjoyed this hotel owned and run by the Banks family, so we are concerned about the hotel losing its uniqueness.

Rumors regarding LagoMar resort

I don%26#39;t know if the Banks are going to sell to someone, keep a percent or keep the whole place.

Remember, Ritz Carton is a management company that manages hotels ( Its owned by Marriott International....another MOSTLY management company...not an owner of hotels)

I read (and don%26#39;t know how true but maybe Lulu or Pat (or Media or Awfulcat) can confirm......

If Ritz Carlton takes over management, the Bank family or whoever is the owner will need to upgrade a lot of stuff.

And....remember, both the Marriott Harbor Beach and the Lago Mar are also private beach clubs for the Ft Laud (or anywhere, I guess) residents who are allowed to use the facilities (except rooms) anytime they want...( ie, locker rooms, beach, pools, sauntas, gyms. %26amp; so on...) I would expect that to stay the same,,,I think it was written into the original deeds with the city. (But I don%26#39;t think the city ever thought to put a price on the yearly membership.)

I don%26#39;t know if the Clipper has a similiar %26#39;club%26#39;.

Rumors regarding LagoMar resort

I haven%26#39;t heard anything else about it since January.

Here is an article about it

hotel-online.com/News/鈥an07_LagoMar.html

I guess it is in the negotiation stages, but it sure looks like Marriot is very interested in taking over the hotel. The site alone sells itself.

And you%26#39;re absolutely right, upgrading in a big way would be a given if it is going to be a Ritz Carlton...could be for the best...Thanks for the response..

HEre is an article from Miami Hearld dated late Aug. 07. The quote from Mr Banks isn%26#39;t so positive:

hotel-online.com/News/鈥.MIT.1188318839.html

I think the family realizes that with Hilton and St. Regis having arrived and Trump and W ,among others. almost done and God knows what else on the way, that they have to do something to compete- if for no other reason than the wider reservations exposure. And I guess they want to make the facility more upscale-

There was an intersting post not long ago when someone inquired if LM had a hot tub and a local ( who might well be associated with the hotel) responded that there was none ';on the advice of doctors who said they were unhealthy'; or some such drivel.

I really think it would have been more honest to say it would have taken a major overhaul of their pool area ( which is certainly lovely even without a hot tub) and that perhaps they just didn%26#39;t want to undertake it.

As it is some folks who go there express disappointment that it is not a ';glittzier '; property for the price. I guess at that price point some expect lots of glamour, not the sort of ';old Florida%26#39; cushiness that I think they , Breakers , Don Caesar, etc got away with for years . It seems to be a different market. I personally can%26#39;t stand the ';South Beachification'; of the area, but I guess it will happen without my permission ( LOL).

I think Lago Mar feels they need that affiliation to compete- so while I am not sure if the rumours are true or, if they are , how imminent, I tend to think something like that is in the cards- as it seems to be for Ireland%26#39;s Inn. These places that are ';on the sand'; certainly must be tempted to try and attract the monied set.

I wonder if the plans to expand Port Everglades will increase the desire for more upscale accomodations.

It seems, at least here on TA, that most travelers are looking for moderate to cheap lodgings pre and or post cruise.

Change can sometimes be good. Just hope it doesn%26#39;t ruin what we all like best about Fort Lauderdale.

I don%26#39;t think the very rich ( and I can%26#39;t define a personality for it.....Warren Buffett still lives in his house he bought in 1958 for $30,000....says he doesn%26#39;t need more) do not need to read the TA reviews...

Or, if they do, they may be big property owners, developers, or managers in the RE %26amp; hospitality industry.....and want to get a feel of the overall population....the middle class thinking of what they would like, not to find a place that might be decent for the price they can pay.

I don%26#39;t even know the ability of the average world traveler (or the US traveler) to meet the pricing of many areas.

When we can go on a decent cruise at some of the prices seen, why would many average wage earners see the value in staying in a high end resort ( even with golf) for five times as much without an AI?)

How much can the average to just above average wage (or dividend) earner want to pay before its just too much for what is received?

My cousin was married in the St Regis in NYC a few years ago. I can%26#39;t begin to tell everyone how beautiful everything was .....full orchestra ( I didn%26#39;t even know they still HAD full orchestras at weddings (or anywhere except a concert hall), violin player at the entrance %26amp; exits of the elevators, snack truck at weddings exit point to distribute the NY Times, 4 bagles, cream cheese packets, Krispy Cremes, soda %26amp; coffee....distributed to the guests after the wedding....and the place is still beautiful no matter if it still looks a bit over done....it works....

Could be easy to get used to.....but I don%26#39;t think most of use could (or would) be able to spend that much.....it seemed like a %26#39;show%26#39; ....which I really think is necessary for the officers in big companies.

I guess they earn (?) it... Yesterday we received the P %26amp; G voting stuff.

Inside was the area where you vote for the directors.....the folks who sit on the P %26amp; G board....they meet approx 4 times year maybe a bit more, maybe via telephone, as well.

So, these non-employees who meet %26amp; agree with the CEO %26amp; CFO....they get a retainer, right? Most just about hit $240,000 a year for being on the board. And they are running other companies, and are on other companies boards as well.

So.....maybe there are enough earning big(er) bucks that we will every see. Maybe they aren%26#39;t bothered by the high pricing the average %26amp; just above average see......but those up there....they wouldn%26#39;t be caught dead on a beach that might even be near public access.

Are there enough to keep the places full? I%26#39;m inviting Warren Buffett to SE Fl next winter. He can stay in the LR of our one bed 2 bath condo, still without a pool %26amp; with Wilma damage. I don%26#39;t think he would even be bothered, as long as his ability to communicate with his staff isn%26#39;t hampered.

Oh yes...wonderful Mrs Lori Parrish needs more revenue....getting taxed right out.....

Thank you so much for the info. I was planning to stay at the LagoMar next October 2008 before a cruise. Can you keep us updated if hear any more news. I am concerned now that if the owner dicides to make the changes that the resort may be under construction by next October. Any more info in the future would be much appreciated. Thank you.

Ken K , enjoyed your comments and am wondering if anyone knows of any articles that report on the demographics of people

who are paying four hundred or more for hotel rooms in SOBE

and soon if not now Fort Lauderdale, not to mention five

hundred or more for all those rooms in NY. I am wondering what

will happen when the dollar becomes strong again to all

these hotels or when the stock holders get more aggressive

about the overpayments to ';directors'; and Ceos. Maybe

Travelzoo will have lots of listings in FLL.

J-me: We will try to post info as it develops but you should also look at sun-sentinel.com occasionally for any current news.