The Crowne Plaza Ft. Myers (Fla.) Gulf Coast has completed a $7 million renovation. The project added design details that evoke Southwest Florida’s ties to Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. The 169 guestrooms and the meeting and conference spaces were renovated while the lobby got a new 24-hour marketplace.
The project was coordinated to have minimal impact to guests. The lobby and restaurant remained open during construction.
The renovation retained the Crowne Plaza’s original footprint while adding more space for an expanded Oasis Restaurant & Bar, larger fitness and business centers and a new collaborative workspace called The Studio. The two-year project also introduced a new modern interior design aesthetic, evident in the midcentury-modern furnishings, the gold rings of the lobby’s 260-pound chandelier and quartz reception desks with waterfall edges and custom-designed illuminated gold acrylic panels.
The project also created a new business center opening to the lobby. The old fitness center was converted into the Boardroom with ergonomic chairs and a lake view. Ballrooms and nine meeting rooms now span 10,000 square feet, accommodating up to 300 guests for conferences and social events.
The building’s exterior was also updated with a white façade and gray accents. Inside, the color palette was updated with soft navy blue, raw woods and metallic accents complemented by brushed gold, emerald green, splashes of cognac and hand-carved carpeting in the lobby. Gold continues into The Studio and the chairs at the Oasis’ community table.
“We are thrilled with the redesign and extensive renovations and more importantly so are our regular guests and new customers,” Brian Holly, managing director of Crowne Plaza Ft. Myers Gulf Coast, said in a statement. “The team really captured the Crowne Plaza brand’s vision of elevated elegance balancing leisure and business for modern travelers.”
“It’s a night and day difference,” said Zach DeBoy, owner and CEO of Atlanta-based Dasis, a general contracting firm which led the transformation. “I’d hear guests commenting that it looked like a new hotel.”
A New Look
Lisa Robinson, president and owner of Atlanta-based Luxe Hospitality Design, was the original interior designer when Holly and co-owner Jim Field built the hotel in 2008. Her design introduces the references to Edison and Ford through abstract artwork featuring lightbulbs, headlights, Model Ts and banyan trees. Additional artwork conveys the essence of water and waves. A signature mixed-media piece by a local artist is behind the lobby desks.
“Jim and Brian wanted to elevate the property to the next level, and they didn’t want a lot of references to the ocean or the beach,” Robinson said. “They wanted something unique travelers might not know about. There are flashes of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford everywhere. There’s an old-fashioned typewriter, a microscope in The Studio and test tubes as vases.
“One of the ways we elevated space in the common areas was by using real leather, not faux,” Robinson continued. “All fabrics are luxuriously soft to the touch. Guests will remember how they felt.”
Public Spaces
The Oasis Restaurant & Bar has indoor and outdoor dining. The renovation added wrapped walls, metal screens, additional banquettes and tables, all with lake views.
“We wanted to bring in an elevated look and more privacy,” Robinson said of the space. “Some spaces are really open; others are cozy for families.”
Expanded to 800 square feet, the fitness center has Precor equipment including treadmills and elliptical trainers as well as Peloton, an Assault Fitness rower and free weights. The Studio has a relaxed ambience with clean-lined furniture and bright gold and aqua.
Back of House
The team member entrance got new landscaping while the break area has a gallery of staff event photos.
“The team member area is so well-manicured and landscaped, it should be in the front of the building,” DeBoy said. “You can tell Brian and Jim think highly of their staff, take care of their people and realize every team member is their greatest asset. Our superintendent felt like he was part of the family. The hotel had a send-off party for our crew when we were done.”
Located at I-75 exit 128 and Alico Road, Crowne Plaza Ft. Myers Gulf Coast is close to entertainment, dining and shopping at Gulf Coast Town Center as well as Florida Gulf Coast University and Southwest Florida International Airport.