Last year, more than 10.5 million people visited Greater Miami and the Beaches -- with more than 80 percent of them opting to spend a night in a hotel, motel, guest house or spa. The variety of accommodation available -- is as diverse and exciting as Miami itself. Small and boutique hotels, an industry niche that has grown to serve discerning travelers seeking more personalized hotel experiences, have blossomed throughout Miami, especially on South Beach, which houses the largest collection of Art Deco buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Sizzling South Beach's Art Deco District has become a worldwide symbol for Miami with its striking architecture, fabled nightlife and glorious beaches. Here, boutique hotels are the rule instead of the exception; the historically preserved Art Deco architecture serving as the perfect vehicle for smaller-scaled, one-of-a-kind properties geared toward savvy travelers. Formerly the province of those in the know, more and more overnight visitors to Greater Miami are becoming hip to the charms of these chic little hotels. Luxurious amenities, warm, personalized service, interesting design and great central locations all add up to make boutique hotels a perfect starting point for exploring Miami's charms.

HIP HOSPITALITY

Radiating with personality, Miami's boutique hotels each have their own allure -- with imaginative in-room perks ranging from mini bars with retro snacks to state of the art shower heads; and special services from VIP passes to the hottest night clubs to in-room and oceanside yoga instruction. Some hotels keep frequent guests' favorite breakfast cereals on hand, while others provide complimentary fruit baskets, trendy fashion magazines and chocolate chip cookies to their guests.

Numerous boutique properties, many vacant for years, are slated to open in the coming year, while others continue to upgrade. Open March 2003 after a $12 million renovation, the Art Deco Clinton Hotel raises the bar for luxurious accommodation on South Beach. The 88 room property blends historic restoration with eye-popping contemporary design; culminating in an urban oasis that pairs serene guest quarters (huge suites feature private Jacuzzis) with see-and-be-seen public spaces including Pao, a glass-enclosed Chinese restaurant serving indoors and at poolside cabanas. An anticipated project in the pipeline, the $48 million Victor Hotel has been ten years in the making. Located next to the former Versace mansion on Ocean Drive, the historic 1937 property's renovation and expansion will bring its room total to 91 and place it at the upper end of the boutique luxury market when it opens later in 2003.

A strong player in that market, the historic oceanfront Sagamore Hotel re-opened its doors on Collins Avenue in 2001 after a $20 million renovation. The 93-room all-suite hotel features a breathtaking contemporary art collection, with provocative pieces spread throughout the hotel's public spaces and guestrooms. Luxurious suites boast fabulous views of both city and sea, and feature mini-kitchenettes, Modernist furniture and oversized whirlpool tubs.

The Sagamore's high-profile neighbors among them the Shore Club, Delano, National, and Andre Balazs� current renovation of the Raleigh are some of South Beach's most distinctive hotel properties, setting the standard for style. Upon opening, the trendsetting Delano quickly established itself as the epicenter of cool, internationally renowned for its cutting edge design, acclaimed Blue Door restaurant, rooftop spa, and celebrity scene. Guests and gawkers also flock to The Shore Club, opened in 2000 and now under the management umbrella of Ian Schrager Hotels. Deceptively hidden away, oozing with exclusivity and Zen-like calm that is reflected in its clean, striking architecture, it is home to Nobu restaurant. The National and the Raleigh Hotels, a couple of grand old hotels, boast two of South Florida's most historic and beautiful swimming pools.

The vibe is more Hamptons than Miami at Rubell Hotels' Beach House Bal Harbour, located near the famous designer Bal Harbour Shops. With its Ralph Lauren-designed interiors and laid-back atmosphere, Beach House, like its sister properties, the Albion and Greenview hotels, puts the emphasis on interesting architecture and striking interior design, combined with warm, personalized service. Cutting edge design is a common theme in Greater Miami's boutique properties with small, beautiful standouts like the Royal Hotel South Beach, Hotel Astor, Crest, St. Augustine, and Abbey hotels all warranting attention as great examples of modern takes on a classic theme.

A South Beach success story unfolded in 1998. Urban developer and preservationist Tony Goldman, whose historic Park Central was one of the first Art Deco hotels to spark Miami's 1980s renaissance, joined forces with innovative fashion designer Todd Oldham to create one of South Beach's most beautiful boutique properties, The Hotel formerly The Tiffany Hotel. Consistent with Oldham's love of handmade details and lush color sense, the decor at The Hotel is a cozy mix of rich, cool colors and artisan detailing. It is home to an award-winning restaurant, Wish, a rooftop pool with panoramic views and a boutique that sells many of the Oldham-designed products (dinnerware, textiles, robes) used throughout the hotel. Equally elegant, the nearby Hotel Nash is a sleek, European-feeling small hotel with a redesign inspired by the French Riviera, hotel highlights include one of Miami's best restaurants in Mark's South Beach, as well as three separate pools filled with freshwater, saltwater, and mineral water.

Fun-loving travelers seeking oceanfront accommodation in the center of all the action can check out the Diesel-owned Pelican Hotel located on world famous Ocean Drive. A hit with the fashion, music, and publishing set since opening in 1994, each of the quirky hotel's 30 individually designed rooms offers its own theme --from "Psychedelic" to "Executive Fifties," with vintage furniture in perfect complement to high tech amenities that reflect the Italian clothing company's offbeat aesthetic. In contrast, just up the road, the elegant Tides Hotel, the stately flagship of Chris Blackwell's Island Outpost Hotel Group, features 45 seriously elegant and luxurious rooms and suites, each with an incredible view of the ocean. Guests who stay here are misted with Fiji water at the hotel pool, offered the hotel's signature tropical fresh fruit popsicles and given free daily passes to Bikram's Yoga or Crunch Fitness.

Away from South Beach, in tony Coral Gables, the European style 27- room Hotel St. Michel is the essence of Old World elegance. Close to Miami's newest upscale shopping mecca, the elegant Village of Merrick Park, with its haute couture fashion and home d�cor shops and boutiques, and gourmet restaurants, the small charming hotel features rooms furnished with carefully chosen antiques, turn down service with imported chocolates and a warm and attentive staff.

CHEAP CHIC: HOSTELS AND GUESTHOUSES

For those willing to trade amenities for budget and the opportunity to meet fellow travelers from around the world, hostels are a terrific, inexpensive lodging option on Miami Beach. With single and double occupancy rooms as well as dormitory style accommodations starting as low as $13 a night, the roster of friendly hostels is impressive. One of the longest operating, the internationally-acclaimed Hosteling International-Miami Beach at the Clay Hotel is a seven-building complex on artsy Espanola Way, in the heart of the Art Deco District. Further north its camaraderie central when you relax poolside at The Creek Hotel, one block from the beach, while backpackers are also welcome at the Miami Beach International Travelers Hostel or the Tropics Hotel and Hostel.

Guest houses such as South Beach Villas, Lorraine Hotel, Chesterfield Hotel and Lily Guest House, offer affordable Miami Beach accommodation with a dash of relaxed European ambiance; some guests become so enamored with the laid-back lifestyle they become long-term residents.

ROMANTIC INNS AND COZY B&Bs

Many visitors opt for a stay with character, stepping off the beaten path to enjoy a quiet sojourn at an historic inn or one of the cozy bed and breakfasts that inhabit the back roads. Miami offers a variety of options for those whose dream vacation includes a cozy corner to read in and relaxing over a home-cooked breakfast.

Brimming with history, the Miami River Inn, listed on the National Register of Historic Places is a true hideaway that sings with the spirit of old Miami. Built in 1908, the renovated property consists of four wooden cottages, converted into 40 individually decorated rooms. Complete with pool and modern amenities the Inn is situated directly on the Miami River, with great vantages for watching river commerce float by, and only minutes from downtown Miami shopping, dining and cultural attractions.

The Brigham Gardens Guesthouse, a delightful home away from home, lies nestled in a secret garden oasis in the heart of South Beach. This serene bed and breakfast offers a lush courtyard filled with 80 species of plants and the sounds of tropical birds and fountains, is ideal for quiet reflection just half a block from the beach.

For those who want to get away from it all without venturing too far from civilization, Homestead and the Redland, the center of Miami's agricultural breadbasket is only forty minutes from downtown. Here, horses munch on front lawns, and backyards are filled with avocado trees. Those who long to repose among the lush, tropical landscaping or Biscayne Bay's soothing waters, and enjoy close proximity to attractions like Everglades or Biscayne National Parks, can spend time at Katy's Place and Ten Oaks; two private homes that offer B&B accommodations. Alternately, the historic Redland Hotel offers accommodation in downtown Homestead.

If the lure of the great outdoors is too strong to resist, Flamingo Lodge Marina & Outpost Resort offers the only lodging and dining in Everglades National Park with a motel, cottages, campground, visitor center, restaurant and gas station/convenience store. Bicycle, canoe, kayak and skiff rentals are all available onsite. Naturalists offer a variety of cruises through the mangrove forests and into Florida Bay to explore the botanical diversity and wildlife of the Everglades.

For information on the above or other small hotel options, visit www.MiamiBoutiqueHotels.com, the new website sponsored by the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau. The site offers details on properties, and provides an opportunity to make reservations online.

The Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau is a non-profit sales and marketing organization whose mission is to attract visitors to Greater Miami and the Beaches for leisure, business and conventions. For a vacation guide, visit our website or call toll-free at 888-76-MIAMI (US/Canada only) or call 305-447-7777. To contact the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau offices call 305-539-3000.

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Media Contact: Michelle Revuelta +1 305 539 311 michelle@gmcvb.com