The repositioning of the historic Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood, Florida, has started, and the property’s new executive team is ready to keep the hotel rolling while it reflags to Hilton’s Signa brand.
The 1,000-room resort first opened in 1958 and underwent a $90 million renovation in 2018 when it was owned by Brookfield Asset Management. Trinity Investments and Credit Suisse Management bought the Diplomat through a joint venture for $835 million in February 2023. Trinity later refinanced the debt through a $575 million floating-rate loan to help pay down some debt and a portion of the multimillion-dollar renovation.
Hilton regained management of the Diplomat after Trinity and Credit Suisse acquired it. The hotel is led by a new executive team, which includes general manager Dean Lane and hotel manager Ayesha Dogar. Lane joined the property in February 2023 after working as an area general manager for Hilton in South Chicago. Dogar was previous the director of rooms at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront.
The new executive committee pulled talent from all across the U.S., Lane said.
“It was important for us to have the right team in place to help us on the next chapter of the Diplomat,” he said. “We're truly excited to have this group assembled, and they're focused on the successful transition during the enhancement phase and repositioning of the resort.”
The other members of the executive committee include: Colby Cook, director of revenue management; Max Schroeder, director of engineering; Autumn Mullen, director of sales; Heather Hagelberger, director of marketing; Rachel Kapelner, director of food and beverage; Alexandra Biddle, director of human resources; Jamie Greenslade, director of finance; and Miguel Santiago, culinary director.
The Diplomat is currently in phase one of its repositioning, Lane said. That comprises the front entrance, including the lobby and new lobby bar, as well as an infinity pool that will have an outdoor bar and private beach club. The first phase is scheduled to conclude in late December.
The full renovation will include refinished interiors, updated furnishings and elevated banquet and catering services. The resort will have more than 200,000 square feet of flexible event space, including grand ballrooms, beachfront terraces and a new Club Signia with priority services, exclusive privileges and private access.
It will have an oceanfront event terrace that will have paved and turf flooring, shade structures and infrastructure to allow for year-round events. There will also be a VIP pool deck for smaller outings near the outdoor patio at its Point Royal restaurant.
The reimagined property will have four grand ballrooms, a 50,000-square-foot great hall with an open-air terrace, 39 breakout rooms and other flexible meeting venues.
The grand atrium and lobby will turn into a multi-story conservatory with exotic plants and arrangements of naturally inspired furnishings. The bar will focus on Mediterranean-inspired small bites, and the bar opens to a reimagined pool deck with multiple pools that lead down to a nearly a quarter mile of beach.
The new Club Signia will be located on the resort’s 33rd floor with 6,660 square feet of terrace and indoor space. It will feature floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the Atlantic Ocean.
The renovations include investments in the Diplomat’s six dining venues and its in-room dining programs. Oceanfront bar and grill Playa offers beachfront views with a new menu that features the region’s ties to Latin culture.
Diplomat Prime will also receive an update with new food-and-beverage concepts inspired by the resort’s new tropical interior design and terraced outdoor spaces.
The hotel is open while the renovation goes on, and so far there hasn’t been too much disruption for guests. The staff is focused on the guests’ experiences and well-being, Dogar said.
“We’re still able to provide all the resort amenities,” she said, adding that also includes its dining outlets, spa and beach and pool access. Families are still able to take part in the resort’s recreational activities.
As the lobby is currently under renovation, the Diplomat team created a temporary lobby out of a former dining outlet, Lane said. It’s now a lobby bar and lounge, and guest feedback has been positive. The hotel has posted post-renovation renderings of the Diplomat, helping build excitement with guests for the finished look.
“I would tell you, based on the history of this iconic resort, there are so many stakeholders and individuals that live nearby that have visited the Diplomat in prior years that want to see it evolve to the next level,” he said.
Among the hotel’s renovation projects, Lane said he’s excited about the outdoor space. There will be a new infinity pool, and the cabanas are currently under construction.
Inside, the lobby will have a wide variety of different tropical flora as well as native plants, he said.
“Everything’s going to be very lush, lush green,” Dogar said. “It’s all live plants that we’re going to have in our new lobby.”