AC Hotels brand brings Spanish heritage and continental style to Miami Beach

Although the AC Hotels brand is part of the Marriott group, it is the creation of Spaniard Antonio Catalan and bases much of its appeal on a European cachet that goes over so darned well in the United States. AC Hotels has picked the perfect place to connect its Spanish heritage with a modern American audience in Miami, where it has just launched its flagship venue in Mid Beach.

Local firm Kobi Karp Architecture takes the credit for the seven-storey, 150-room venue of classic Miami whitewashed walls and seemingly endless sunlight-flooded windows. If the guest rooms’ ocean view balconies are a little too peaceful, the place to be is the rooftop pool and bar. Designed as a focal point for the whole hotel, the venue combines those unbeatable panoramic vistas with people watching over a cocktail. Art and design play a major role at AC Miami Beach. Footwear brand United Nude held a pop-up event at the hotel launch including the debut of a 3D-printed high heel designed by Zaha Hadid. There is also currently a selection of work by artist Chuck Ramirez on show, which is to become part of the permanent collection of the city’s PAMM museum, and the hotel also has its own permanent collection composed of local artists including Michelle Weinberg.