In 1954, Fontainebleau Miami Beach made its global debut, forever changing the landscape of luxury hospitality in south Florida and beyond. Having acquired the prime beachfront location in 1952, visionary hotelier Ben Novack enlisted the renowned architect Morris Lapidus to design the entire hotel, from the sweeping curves of its exterior to the lavish interiors that would redefine hospitality. The eleven-story structure housed 554 rooms, elegant shops, an ice skating rink, a cat-shaped pool, and lavish dining spaces – all aimed at attracting the affluent and high-profile guests Novack envisioned. The hotel quickly became a symbol of opulence and innovation. The  grand opening on December 20, 1954, featured a $50 per plate dinner dance for 1,600 guests, including 110 pounds of caviar. Liberace performed at the piano, and Groucho Marx proclaimed Fontainebleau Miami Beach “The Eighth Wonder of the World.” The resort’s opening solidified Miami Beach’s status as a premier destination for the rich and famous, with its distinctive design and extravagant amenities attracting celebrities and dignitaries from around the world.

The iconic Versailles Tower, a significant addition to Fontainebleau Miami Beach, opened its doors in 1959. This elegant structure quickly became a symbol of luxury and sophistication, offering guests breathtaking ocean views and a lavish experience that perfectly complemented the resort’s renowned reputation for glamour and style. The Versailles Tower was also a source of cheeky scandal and intrigue, having been built by Novack to effectively block the sun from the newest resort that opened next door, the Eden Roc. The tower infamously became known as The Spite Wall.

In the years following its grand opening, Fontainebleau Miami Beach became the place to be, and hosted the who’s who in entertainment, including Bob Hope, Lucille Ball, Jackie Gleason, Judy Garland, Milton Berle, Marlene Dietrich, Princess Grace of Monaco and many others, laying the foundation for the resort’s famed BleauLive entertainment series. In 1960, Fontainebleau Miami Beach was a setting for Jerry Lewis’s comedy film “The Bellboy.” That same year, Frank Sinatra filmed his ABC television special “The Frank Sinatra Timex Show: Welcome Home Elvis” at the hotel, which became the top-rated show of the year.

Fontainebleau Miami Beach was famously featured in the iconic 1964 James Bond film “Goldfinger,” where it was immortalized in the opening credits and a dramatic scene involving the villain Oddjob. Sean Connery’s James Bond famously declares Fontainebleau “the best hotel in Miami Beach.” These appearances and more cemented Fontainebleau Miami Beach’s reputation as a glamorous backdrop for entertainment, attracting film and television productions and further enhancing its legendary status.

In 1978, real estate developer Stephen Muss purchased Fontainebleau Miami Beach for $27 million, marking a pivotal moment in the property’s history. Recognizing its potential as a premier resort destination, Muss immediately began a significant investment, injecting an additional $100 million into the property for extensive renovations and upgrades. This acquisition not only secured the hotel’s future but also set the stage for its transformation into an iconic symbol of luxury and entertainment in Miami Beach.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Fontainebleau Miami Beach continued to be an iconic filming location for Hollywood, including a memorable scene in Al Pacino’s Scarface.  When The Bodyguard, starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner, debuted in 1992, the resort was featured in a pivotal scene where Houston performs the hit song “I Will Always Love You” from a stage inside Fontainebleau Miami Beach.

In 2002, Fontainebleau Miami Beach embarked on a comprehensive renovation and expansion project led by architect John Nichols. This initiative included the addition of a 36-story condominium-hotel (Tresor Tower) and a second 18-story tower (Sorrento Tower), all integrated into the original hotel premises. Throughout the renovation, great care was taken to preserve the exuberant aesthetic and stylistic choices originally designed by Morris Lapidus. These updates modernized guest rooms, dining areas, and recreational facilities, ensuring that Fontainebleau Miami Beach continued to captivate visitors with its blend of historic charm and contemporary luxury.

In 2005, Jeffrey Soffer, a prominent American real estate developer and Chairman and CEO of Fontainebleau Development, acquired Fontainebleau Miami Beach, signaling a new chapter in the hotel’s storied history. Soffer’s extensive background in real estate and his vision for luxury hospitality drove his decision to invest in the property, and under his ownership, Fontainebleau Miami Beach underwent further renovations and strategic upgrades, culminating in a monumental $1 billion transformation project. Throughout the renovation, special care was taken to preserve numerous original design elements, including the iconic “Staircase to Nowhere” designed by Morris Lapidus. Soffer’s stewardship continued to shape the hotel’s legacy, preserving its iconic status on Miami Beach’s famed Collins Avenue.

Fontainebleau Miami Beach’s grand re-opening on November 18, 2008, marked the culmination of the transformation project. The re-opening festivities were nothing short of spectacular, highlighted by hosting the prestigious annual Victoria’s Secret fashion show, with performances by Usher and Mariah Carey, bringing glamour and international attention to the newly revitalized hotel.

On December 22, 2008, Fontainebleau Miami Beach was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This prestigious recognition underscored the hotel’s architectural significance and historical importance in Miami Beach. The designation highlighted the preservation of Morris Lapidus’s iconic design elements, which continue to charm guests with their timeless elegance and Hollywood glamour.

Fontainebleau Las Vegas made its global debut on December 13, 2023, marking the first expansion west for Fontainebleau Development, in partnership with Koch Real Estate Investments. The highly anticipated project brought a vertically-integrated 67-story hotel and entertainment complex, featuring 3,644 luxury hotel rooms, 550,000 square feet of convention space, and a diverse array of dining, shopping, nightlife, and wellness amenities to the Las Vegas Strip. The star-studded opening night celebration was marked by live performances by Paul Anka, Justin Timberlake, Keith Urban, and more. The grand opening marked a new era of luxury hospitality on the Las Vegas Strip, showcasing Fontainebleau’s commitment to sophisticated glamour and unparalleled service in its nearly 70-year legacy.

Fontainebleau Miami Beach opens the all-new Coastal Convention Center. Spanning five stories and 45,000 square feet, the state-of-the-art facility caters to both business and leisure events. Conceived by Fontainebleau Development and designed by Miami-based Nichols Architects and Jeffrey Beers International, the Coastal Convention Center integrates elegance with contemporary functionality, honoring the resort’s legacy and the architectural vision of Morris Lapidus. Connected to Fontainebleau Miami Beach by a unique pedestrian bridge over Collins Avenue, the center features divisible ballrooms, innovative meeting spaces, and a rooftop terrace with panoramic ocean views, promising an unmatched venue for business and leisure events alike.