Siesta Keys Palms Hotel Opens In Sarasota

SARASOTA, Fla. - July 20, 2016 - PRLog -- By Maggie Menderski


Henry Rodriguez has taken motel more than a half century old at the gateway to Siesta Key and spun it into a luxury, boutique resort.

The Elephant Ear Suites just east of the bridge to Siesta Key, has gotten a complete facelift since Rodriguez bought the 21-unit property.

The three-building, two-pool complex now known as the Siesta Key Palms Resort has been splashed with bright, welcoming colors, hammocks and lounge chairs reminiscent of boutique resorts in Key West, Miami Beach and even Tahiti.

"They're boutique resorts, because they don't sell hotel rooms, they're creating experiences," Rodriguez said. "So what we did, we said, 'How can we create an experience where they feel like they went back in time?' "

And it's not just a new coat of paint. It's an investment of more than an $800,000.

His team gutted the bathrooms, pulled up the floors, tore down the old wallpaper and installed new air conditioners, plumbing and electrical work. Rodriguez has brought in new Tommy Bahama furniture and given each unit a kitchenette.

Rodriguez also has decked out the roughly 1.7-acre site with tropical landscaping and redeveloped the old parking lot into private, courtyard-style patios. These units have their own sets of outdoor furniture, a fountain and are garnished with tropical plants.

A welcome addition

The Siesta Key Palms Resort is bright and welcoming in itself, but it's also encouraging to see developers preserving what already is available in the area.

The property will operate with a five-star attitude, Rodriguez said. Once it's up in running in its entirety, the courtyard rooms and a two-bedroom suites in season will go for about $400 and $600 a night, respectively.

The resort had its soft opening the first week of July and opened 13 of the rooms to the public. The remaining eight are expected to open Friday, and bookings are already strong, he said.

He's picked out plants that can grow tall enough to block out the nearby neighbors, and he's designated one of the pools for private swim parties or as a 21-and-older swimming area. The pool deck and hotel grounds have pockets of the sugary, white Siesta Key-style sand to give it a beachy feel.

Making memories

Rodriguez, 53, has a long history in commercial development, but this project isn't so much about building as it is about creating an experience.

"I'm at an age right now where I want to do what I'm passionate about versus what makes money," Rodriguez said. "When I was in my 30s, I was about building, and what I'm doing now is living out passion, and I want to make memories for people."

http://www.siestakeypalmshotel.com/