Changes have been made to the key Biscayne Luxury Resort, with hundreds of South Florida workers temporarily losing their jobs for at least six months.
Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, Miami, will close in May for what is called a major renovation. Approximately 425 hotel employees will be fired. The hotel revealed these plans in a letter to Florida officials. This is necessary as part of the Worker Coordination and Retraining Notification Act, a federal law known as warnings.
“Temporary layoffs are expected to begin between May 1, 2025 and May 14, 2025, possibly at closing on May 1, 2025,” Sandra Lopez, human resources market director for Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, wrote to local and state officials on February 24. WARN requires businesses with more than 100 employees to provide public notice prior to large layoffs or closure of employment sites.
“We expect the renovation project to take at least six months, but it could last a long time,” the letter said. “The hotel will be closed during renovations,” Lopez explained.
A spokesman for another hotel told the Miami Herald on March 4th that the closure would continue until December 15th.
About the Ritz-Carlton at Key Biscayne
Gencom, a US investment company based in Coconut Grove and the original developer of the resort in 2000, led the $100 million upgrade. This is the same group redeveloping the sites of the Hyatt Regency and James L. Night Center in downtown Miami, and owns the Ritz-Carlton Coconut Groves in Miami.
The Key Biscayne Luxury Hotel, located on 455 Grand Bay Drive on Barrier Island, five miles off Miami, has long been popular with tourists and locals. The 13-storey resort features 291 rooms and includes 1,000-foot beach access, several swimming pools, a cliff Dorisdale tennis centre, and a spa and fitness centre.
Seafood restaurant Light Keeper is popular for weekend brunch and mimosas, and Ocean Front Tables are available at Cantina Beach, a Mexican restaurant.
Key Biscayne has been in the spotlight for decades. In the 1950s, the Mackle brothers used the benefits of the GI bill to build clear and simple houses purchased by World War II veterans. But Key Biscayne attracted attention when President Richard Nixon kept the house there.
Then the condo came. And in the 1980s, taller bridges were built, making development and operation easier.
Ritz-Carlton developer Gencom declined to provide comments or details about the hotel’s renovation plans, including what will happen to the facility’s condo.
However, when Gencom bought the resort back in 2024 after selling two-thirds a decade ago, the company said it would upgrade its rooms, restaurants, bars, public spaces and guest amenities. The hotel opened in 2001.
“As Miami’s international epicenter continues to expand, we look forward to achieving the full potential of the real estate by embarking on renovations,” said Gencom founder Karim Alibhai at the time. “We are excited to revive our assets management for long-term holdings.”
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However, what will happen to employees in the long run is uncertain.
A spokesman for Key Biscayne for Ritz-Carlton said “the resort continues to inform staff throughout the planning process,” and workers are back when the hotel is ready.
The resort and warning letter provided no information on whether layoff workers would receive financial support during the hotel closure and renovation.
