Omni Hotels & Resorts has officially opened the Omni Fort Lauderdale Hotel, welcoming its first guests and marking the brand’s return to South Florida for the first time in more than two decades.
The opening, announced in a December 18 press release, positions the new property as Omni’s flagship hotel in the Greater Fort Lauderdale area. The project was developed in partnership with Broward County, Visit Lauderdale, and Matthews Southwest, reflecting a collaborative effort between the private and public sectors to strengthen the region’s hospitality and convention infrastructure.
According to Omni, the broader development is expected to generate more than $450 million in economic impact for the local economy and support over 3,000 full- and part-time jobs, underscoring the hotel’s role as a major economic driver for the area.
Kurt Alexander, president of Omni Hotels & Resorts, said the opening represents a milestone for the brand. He expressed appreciation to the Broward County Board of Commissioners for their leadership, as well as to the construction, design and development partners involved in bringing the project to life. Alexander noted that the hotel marks Omni’s long-anticipated return to South Florida after more than 20 years.
Located along Fort Lauderdale’s Intracoastal Waterway, the waterfront luxury hotel features 801 guest rooms, including 82 suites. Guest amenities include a pool deck with ocean views, a full-service spa, and a fitness centre designed to support both leisure and business travelers.
The hotel offers an extensive food and beverage programme across multiple venues. These include the signature Reef 76 Kitchen & Bar, the Fair Ketch sports bar, the rooftop Ibis Sky Lounge, and the Hidden Key lobby bar. Additional offerings include a market serving coffee and pastries, along with poolside and in-room dining options.
For meetings and events, the property delivers more than 120,000 square feet of flexible space, anchored by the 30,000-square-foot Waterway Ballroom, which Omni says is the largest ballroom in Greater Fort Lauderdale. The hotel’s location places it close to the Broward County Convention Center, nearby beaches, Port Everglades Cruise Terminal, and Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport, positioning it as a key hub for conventions and large-scale events.
The hotel’s architecture and interiors draw heavily from Florida’s natural and cultural heritage. The exterior design was led by Nunzio Marc DeSantis Architects, working alongside design builder Balfour Beatty and architect of record Stantec. Interior spaces were conceived by EoA Group, with inspiration taken from the historic “Barefoot Mailmen,” the 19th-century coastal couriers who once delivered mail along Florida’s shoreline.
The Fort Lauderdale opening follows several major investments across Omni’s portfolio. Earlier this year, the company announced plans to begin construction on the 1,000-room Omni New Orleans, located across from the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and scheduled to open in 2029. In October, Omni completed a $65 million restoration of the 170-year-old Parker House in Boston, following a $150 million renovation of the historic Omni Homestead Resort in Virginia in 2023.
