After many years of being under the management of a string of hotel brands, the Bonaventure Resort & Spa in Weston, FL, has gained its independence and is undergoing a multimillion dollar renovation starting this summer.
The sprawling resort, most recently under the Hyatt flag, is situated on 23 acres near Fort Lauderdale and the Everglades, offering travelers something different from a typical Florida resort, says Michelle Shulman, the property’s marketing director, noting how the 501-room hotel is comprised of multiple low-rise buildings where guests can drive up, park, and walk right into their room.
With the renovations, the AAA four-diamond resort, now part of Benchmark Hospitality International’s portfolio, will finally have a more unified look, with changes to the 60,000-sq.-ft. conference center, public spaces, lobby and expansion of the main restaurant. Meanwhile, the rooms—which range from guestrooms to suites 900 to 1,400 sq. ft. in size—will get a refresh, with new linens, floors and the replacement of certain pieces of furniture. The resort, Shulman says, is a great place to bring families, since rooms, which feature a living area with kitchenette, can open up to form a suite. While touring the property, Shulman also pointed out other small changes that will take place, such as new outdoor furniture at the pool complex giving the resort a fresher look.
Since the Bonaventure Resort is set on a large piece of land in South Florida, it’s not surprising that it is surrounded by nature, but it’s the way the resort incorporates nature into the property that makes it idyllic: from the nature path strung with indigenous flowers and birds and turtles along the water, to the pond at the front of the resort—between the lobby and the spa—filled with koi fish and the resort’s resident swan.
Even the spa boasts a zen garden in front, leading the way to the 48,000-sq.-ft. aLaya Spa, formerly an Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa. The spa is also getting a makeover, with small touches like a new color palette. Stepping into the spa through the zen garden almost feels like you’ve left the resort, but guests still get perks, like complimentary access to the 24-hour fitness center, which spans 2,400 sq. ft. inside the spa. The spa itself can seem a bit like a maze, with 30 treatment rooms, a sauna and steam room in both the men’s and women’s lounge, and a private outdoor pool, all of which are complimentary for guests booking treatments. We had the chance to experience the 50-minute signature massage ($130) that included a touch of aromatherapy and was everything we could expect from one of the largest full-service destination spas in South Florida.
In addition, the spa hosts daily fitness classes like spinning and aqua fitness, as well as large-scale events, such as Yoga on the Green, which will be held once per quarter. The 90-minute yoga event takes place on the renovated 18-hole championship East Course at the adjacent Bonaventure Country Club.
The resort hosts a variety of onsite activities, in addition to offering amenities such as four swimming pools, two PGA championship golf courses, and four restaurants and bars, including the AAA four-diamond Ireland’s Steakhouse.
Call for rates. For more information, visit bonaventureresortandspa.com.
