How Faena Became the #1 Hotel in the U.S. (According to Conde Nast Traveler’s Readers)

Faena Hotel Miami Beach was recently name Conde Nast Traveler’s Readers Choice best hotel in the United States. This is no doubt a tall order for a hotel which just opened in 2015. There are over 50,000 hotels in the United States and 68 luxury hotels alone in Miami Beach.

So how do you become number 1? This is how Faena did it:

1. Have a larger than life founder. Alan Faena is the stuff of living hotelier legends. He has what you might call the cult of personality. With an air of mystery and dressed in an unmissable all white ensemble, the Argentine founder has an eye and flair for the dramatic which is embodied in his hotel. But where did he come from and how did he end up in Miami Beach? The Argentine founder comes from a hotel background- his family started the famous Faena Hotel in Argentina, and he has worked both in fashion and as a successful real estate developer in the past.
2. Hire a legendary Hollywood movie director. Alan Faena enlisted Baz Luhrman, director of noted films such as Romeo + Juliet and Moulin Rouge, alongside Catherine Martin as Faena’s artistic director. He is responsible for the decorating the hotel’s 169 rooms and overall hotel design. He has certainly brought the theatricality of his films to life with this Miami Beach hotel.
3. Exhibit incredible works of art. Faena boasts a giant gazillion dollar gold Damien Hirst piece in the courtyard area. Who else could pull this off? They also have the Faena Forum which is a type of art center and exhibit space.
4. Bring the entertainment. Faena Hotel has its own theater and is the home of a live show – the Faena Cabaret. They do it in Vegas, so why not Miami? They have different cabaret performances such as C’est Rouge and Sensatia running on an ongoing basis.
5. Know how to make an entrance. As far as statement-making hotel entrances go, Faena is up there with Miami Beach legends like The Delano. Though decidedly different than Phillipe Stark designs and other more modern beach styles other Miami Beach hotels are known for, the imposing gold beams and rococo tapestries lining the walls make it the stuff Instagram dreams are made of.
6. Leopard Print. And Lots of It. Faena hotel has a Leopard lounge, which is exactly what you think it is. Leopard sofas, leopard pillows, leopard everywhere. It’s iconic! More is more!
7. Prime Real Estate. To be a #1 hotel you need a #1 location, and when on Miami Beach that means oceanfront real estate. Basically, you need to be on the beach and have direct beach access (which it does). Faena is also located in the mid beach area of Miami Beach and sits between other fashionable and trendy hotels like 1 Hotels, Edition, and The Fontainebleau (pretty good company if you ask me).
8. Be a five-star hotel. Believe it or not, before Faena, The Setai was Miami Beach’s only 5-star hotel! Exceptional customer service and world class amenities certainly help.

And there you have it. How Faena become the #1 hotel in the United States, in a nutshell. I have no doubt that it took an incredibly long process between idea to reality, but it was worth it.

Also, I have to caveat and say that there are 2 areas which for me I have not heard too much about so I’m not sure if they are extraordinary: one is the restaurant, of which there are probably better ones around, and two the spa! I have to check it out to see if it lives up to the rest of the hotel.

The bottom line is: Faena=Art.

Learn more about Faena Hotel at faena.com.