Grand Beginnings at Bal Harbour

Miami Beach was abuzz with the St. Regis signature elegance and glamour March 17 – 18 as connoisseurs spent a warm spring weekend welcoming the stunning St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort to town and to the Starwood family.

“The grand opening of The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort was a great accomplishment for St. Regis Hotels & Resorts,” says Marco Selva, the resort’s general manager.

VIP guests, including actress Diane Kruger, designer Jason Wu and polo icon Nacho Figueras, celebrated in style at the grand opening gala, enjoying oceanfront cocktails and hors d’oeuvres created by internationally renowned St. Regis chefs. Jonathan Batiste, Jazz at Lincoln Center and DJ Felix Castillo set the tone with vibrant musical performances. The celebration was punctuated with a dazzling firework display over the calm Miami shore.

“We were thrilled to have Diane Kruger on hand to celebrate, along with St. Regis connoisseurs Jason Wu and Nacho Figueras,” Selva says. “It was a fashionable and memorable evening for all, and we were excited to have our friends and supporters here to raise a glass to our debut.”

The gala was just one of a long list of exclusive events that the grand opening weekend had in store for guests and locals. On Friday afternoon, a visit to the Museum of Contemporary Art of North Miami was followed by an exclusive tour of the resort and its chic private residences. Guests were then invited to partake in a St. Regis tradition—a midnight supper at the resort’s J&G Grill.

 The oceanfront restaurant served succulent cuts of steak and fish to New York and Miami socialites and executives. Soulful songstress Niia Bertino supplied the evening’s entertainment, offering a selection of songs that perfectly accented J&G’s sleek gray oak environs.Early Saturday afternoon, Wu, Figueras and guests toasted with Champagne before setting sail on a yacht excursion over the turquoise Florida waters in true St. Regis style. After enjoying lunch on board, they prepared for the highly anticipated premiere party with rejuvenating spa and fitness offerings, shopped the top designer names at the nearby Bal Harbour Shops and lounged in the resort’s lavish oceanfront day villas, complete with personal butler service.

The keynote gala was a sparkling success, the first of many to come for The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort.“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to bring this iconic brand to south Florida and look forward to even more great success in the months and years ahead,” Selva says. “The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort promises to be one of the world’s most exclusive and distinguished resort destinations.”

After a Sunday brunch featuring the St. Regis’ classic bloody mary—a recipe unchanged since its concoction at The St. Regis New York’s King Cole Bar in 1934—the weekend drew to a close, having introduced established St. Regis connoisseurs to the resort while inspiring countless new enthusiasts, both local and international.