Five-Star Makeover at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples

The Ritz-Carlton, Naples is back after an ambitious design overhaul

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For fans of The Ritz-Carlton, Naples, the hotel’s two-year closing for an extensive lobby-to-pool-deck renovation was 24 months, 104 weeks, and 730 days too long of a wait. But none of the property’s long-time fans and regular visitors are complaining now that Vanderbilt Beach Road’s grand dame has revealed the results of its large-scale reinvention. By all accounts, the Gulf Coast landmark’s new look and additions were worth the interlude.

Spearheaded by Atlanta’s Cooper Carry Global Architecture and Design and Boston’s Parker-Torres Design, the resort’s new elegant, contemporary look is obvious upon entry at the lobby, a double-height space activated by a champagne bar crowned with a massive custom chandelier by Studio AT that celebrates the grandeur of the room.

“The design aesthetic chosen touches on three key insights: the historical, the physical, and the social,” says Kristen Emory, senior designer at Parker-Torres. “The idea was for guests to feel a sense of place upon entering the hotel through a deliberate effort to integrate local flora and fauna [motifs] while paying homage to the history of the location and its adjacency to the Gulf Coast.”

Addition-wise, the most extensive part of the hotel’s restoration was the construction of the Vanderbilt Tower, a wing with a lounge for member-level guests and 70 new guestrooms. These newer accommodations, as well as the existing others, all reflect what Emory calls “effortlessly layered luxury with materials such as the woven rattan on the headboards, which offer a soft and textural backdrop while accents of sky and coral infuse vibrancy.”

Also extensively revamped is the property’s poolside experience, which now includes a resort pool for families, an adults-only pool, a lap pool, a hot tub, and 10 new enclosed bungalows with vibrant pops of blue and green shades, and natural textures that beg to be touched.

Completing the resort are three new dining establishments: Sofra, with a menu and decor inspired by the Mediterranean; Nolita, an Italian dining concept with a vibe that recalls the Manhattan area after which it’s named; and Moka, a breezy café for all-day dining. “The design at each of the new eateries celebrates location and the food being served,” says Emory. “The look of each still connects to our three original insights.”

Judging by the looks of 280 Vanderbilt Beach Road, it seems that old adage is true: Good things do come to those who wait.

Story Credits:

ritzcarlton.com/naples

Photos courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton, Naples

Text by Christopher Day

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