15 SoFla resorts on Conde Nast list

Eau Palm Beach is No. 1 on state’s East Coast for 2nd year

The results are in for Condé Nast Traveler’s 2016 Readers’ Choice Awards, and several South Florida hotels and resorts made the cut.

This year, more than 300,000 readers of the upscale travel magazine — nearly double that of last year — cast votes in the 29th annual survey that ranks the best hotels, resorts, cities, islands, airlines and cruise lines in the world. The recipients will appear in its November issue available on newsstands nationwide Oct. 25, Condé Nast Traveler said.

In all, 15 South Florida properties ranked among the top 20 resorts along Florida’s Atlantic coast, with Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa in Manalapan scoring the No. 1 spot for the second consecutive year.

“Earning the top spot among Florida’s East Coast resorts in the Condé Nast awards — for the second year in a row — is an incredible honor,” said Michael King, chief operating officer, in a statement. “The Eau Palm Beach brand is not quite 4 years old, so we are extremely proud of our dedicated hoteliers, who strive each and every day to ensure our guests experience those ‘Eau moments’ — unique experiences and personal service that make them return time and again.”

In addition to the Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa, other Palm Beach County hotels honored include Tideline Ocean Resort & Spa in Palm Beach (No. 4); Jupiter Beach Resort & Spa (No. 8); Boca Beach Club (No. 13); The Breakers Palm Beach (No. 14); Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach (No. 18); and Boca Raton Resort & Club (No. 19).

Broward County hotels on this list include Fort Lauderdale’s Lago Mar Beach Resort & Club (No. 7) and Pelican Grand Beach Resort (No. 11), and Hollywood’s Diplomat Resort & Spa (No. 20).

For the 204-room Lago Mar resort along Fort Lauderdale beach, this was the first time snagging the Condé Nast Readers’ Choice Award, said President Walter Banks, whose family has owned and operated the property for decades.

“It’s a great honor,” Banks said. “It means we have a good relationship with our guests, and

we’re thrilled our guests overwhelmingly wanted us on this list.”

Among Lago Mar’s top selling points were its location, customer service and long tenure of employees, Banks said. The resort’s 500 feet of private beach and oversized outdoor chessboard are also popular draws.

The Condé Nast survey also named the top 20 hotels in Florida overall. In this category, The Pillars Hotel in Fort Lauderdale ranked the highest from South Florida, at No 2.

From Broward, there was also the Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale (No. 15) and W Fort Lauderdale (No. 16).

From Palm Beach County, there was also The Chesterfield Palm Beach (No. 9) while The Brazilian Court Hotel in Palm Beach (No. 13).

“We’re thrilled that so many of our properties in the Palm Beaches were recognized,” said Rich Basen, senior vice president of marketing and leisure sales for Discover The Palm Beaches, the county’s official tourism marketer, said in a statement. “This area has some of the world’s best resorts and hotels, because we offer unique, best-in-class experiences for travelers seeking the ultimate in luxury.”

In Miami-Dade County, the Ritz-Carlton, Key Biscayne made the top Florida hotel ranking at No. 18.

Five Miami-Dade resorts were among the top 20 Florida East Coast properties: St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort (No. 2); Acqualina Resort & Spa on the Beach in Sunny Isles Beach (No. 3); Trump National Doral Miami (No. 6); Trump International Beach Resort Miami in Sunny Isles Beach (No. 15) and Turnberry Isle Miami (No.16).

Miami was given its own “Top 20” rankings, starting with the 52-story Epic hotel at No. 1.

For the full list of Readers’ Choice winners, visit CNTraveler.com/rca.