Business
In the last five years, Miami Beach has transformed from Spring Break hot spot to highly sought-after luxury travel destination. How did this happen? Where is demand coming from? And what does the future hold for this all important industry sector. We went poolside to W South Beach – the iconic hotel and celebrity magnet – for a conversation with general manager Rick Ueno to answer these questions. Enjoy the show! About Rick: With more than 30 years of luxury hospitality experience in major metropolitan markets such as Chicago, Hawaii, Dallas and San Antonio, Rick Ueno, the General Manager of W South Beach has led the property into a record-breaking year. Ueno oversees all operations for the luxury hotel, which has garnered international attention since opening oceanside on bustling Collins Avenue. Through his superior leadership and direction, W South Beach has become one of the highest-performing W hotels in North America, and has turned the W Insiders Whatever/Whenever service into a fully integrated program with nine Insiders and counting. Prior to W South Beach, Ueno was General Manager for The Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers where he was awarded Starwood’s 2006 Sales Experience Engineer Award. Since opening in 2009, W South Beach has become a permanent fixture in the luxury market synonymous with glamour and style worldwide, winning several prestigious industry awards and landing spots in coveted travel lists along the way.