The Boca Raton Luxury Club & Resort
South Florida’s paradisical private community
Written by Emily Bunn
June 28, 2023
Envision yourself and your loved ones in a vibrant, safe community of like-minded successful individuals. Every day, you wake up to the sound of crashing waves because the golden, private beach is just steps from your home. If your stomach begins to rumble, your favorite world-class dining establishments are almost within reach. And when the day begins to wind down, you and your loved one spend time at the waterfront adults-only yacht club, waited on by your personal butler. Does this daydream sound too good to be true?
The beautiful Boca Raton private club and resort comprise five luxury hotels in sunny South Florida and makes this utopia possible. The exclusive property prioritizes its title as a Club, first and foremost. This means that club members have access to all the amenities of the community – including the golf course, tennis courts, 12 restaurants, pickleball, a mile of private beach, Harborside Pool Club, a private marina, spa, and exclusive dining with special eats and drinks for club members only at one of the property’s eateries every night. With this, the hotel retains its exclusivity – non-members and guests aren’t allowed into the private premises. As the hotel’s guests and club members are of the same demographic, it makes sense why many of the hotel guests arrive intending to stay for two or three nights and never leave.
Compared to other local resort communities, The Boca Raton stands out with its high level of security, which is immediately apparent upon entering the property’s gated, private community. Aiding guests’ seamless experience at The Boca Raton, the property’s guest experience center works to reach out to travelers ten days prior to their arrival. The 26-person team works to arrange all dinner and spa reservations, plan curated experiences, and escort guests around the property. Each Boca Raton member will receive the phone number for their assigned team, who will be briefed on each guest’s preferences and reason for staying at the property.
The Boca Raton community is mainly made up of young, active families who take advantage of what the resort calls “the Florida leisure lifestyle.” This way of living involves finding your social community to enjoy the bevy of activities available within the private community. The property’s CEO, Mr. Daniel Hostettler, says the property has adopted a “cruise ship mentality” when it comes to recreation – every day there are five to ten activities for members and guests.
The community makes it easy to find “your people” by offering niche members-only classes like tai chi, boot camp, barre, and yoga. Between enjoying pickleball at The Racquet Club, playing on the championship-level golf course, and participating in tennis, boating, and beach bumming, there is plenty to do on the property’s pristine premises. With warmer weather ahead, the property is gearing up for a jam-packed summer following its recent transformation.
The Boca Raton was originally founded in 1926 and exists as a 100-room inn. Over the years, the hotel has expanded to include five luxury hotels within one resort. In July 2021, the hotel was de-flagged from the Waldorf Astoria/Hilton brand. Since then, a roughly $250 million renovation totally transformed the now-independent property, which is currently owned by MSD Partners and the Northview Hotel Group.
The project worked to re-envision the property’s five hotels – including the new $65 million renovated Tower – add new dining venues and the new Harborside Pool Club (which includes three pools, a 450-foot lazy river, two water slides, luxury cabanas, a pool bar, and more) and redesign the 50,000 square foot Spa Palmera. Additionally, new pickleball courts were added at the Racquet Club and new technology has been implemented into the Golf Club.
With these changes and additions, The Boca Raton’s portfolio now includes Cloister (which was designed by legendary architect Addison Mizner), the adults-only Yacht Club, the Beach Club, Bungalows, and the Tower. The latter building is the tallest in Palm Beach County, claims the hotel, and offers elevated luxury in 224 spacious suites overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and South Florida coast. From an architectural standpoint, “the idea was to modify the room layout so that all four corners have a one-bedroom suite that then can connect to a double-double or to a junior suite to make a three-bedroom families suite,” says Hostettler. With the pool club positioned next to the Tower and stocked with butlers on every floor, this space is ideal for families with children. A mid-century modern design ethos is echoed through the interior, paying homage to the era in which the building originally opened. Next to the Tower, the resort’s oldest hotel – Cloister – has 249 guestrooms and suites alongside luxury dining, retail destinations, and verdant hidden gardens.
Also flush with greenery is the palm-tree-laden Yacht Club. This waterfront, adults-only hotel offers reimagined luxury suites, exclusive dining at Flybridge with a five-course tasting menu, personal butler service, and exclusive use of Spa Palerma’s pool and The Boca Raton’s Aston Martin house cars.
For those looking to make themselves feel at home at The Boca Raton, the Bungalows provide the ideal getaway for extended stays. Each premium unit comes with a washer and dryer, so long-term visits are no problem. Positioned on a private golf course with only 58 keys, all the two bedrooms and suites are supremely private. In fact, the building has its own concierge team, fitness center, and 1960s-era swimming pool. Like the Tower, the Bungalows retains a mid-century design theme that “looks historic from the outside, then you come in, and it’s decidedly contemporary,” says Hostettler. He refers to the Bungalow’s look as being “very Mizner,” referring to famed architect Addison Mizner, who originally designed the building.
Alternatively, the Beach Club offers a wider selection of 212 one-to-three-bedroom suites and rooms with lake, ocean, and pool views. Furthermore, the Beach Club beckons guests with two Colin Cowie venues and an ultra-private beach.
No matter where you stay, each hotel provides full resort access. Additionally, access to private amenities – such as the Beach Club, Pool Club, and complimentary minibar – is afforded to all suites. Providing an elevated level of service, the Tower and the Yacht Club feature a butler on every floor.
Aiding guests’ seamless experience at The Boca Raton, the property’s guest experience center works to reach out to travelers ten days prior to their arrival. The team works to arrange all dinner and spa reservations, plan curated experiences, and escort guests around the property. Each Boca Raton member will receive the phone number for their assigned team, who will be briefed on each guest’s preferences and reason for staying at the property.
One of the resort’s most notable amenities is its impressive selection of restaurants. There are fourteen eateries total, with four of the eateries established in partnership with Mario Carbone’s Major Food Group, which Hostettler calls “the hottest thing in New York and Miami at the moment.” This powerhouse restaurant group has over thirty highly acclaimed restaurants globally, including The Boca Raton’s glam mid-century chophouse The Flamingo Grill, acclaimed bagel and brunch-spot Sadelle’s, the whimsical Japanese Bocce Club, and the Lake-Como-inspired Principessa Ristorante. The Boca Raton also collaborated with Colin Cowie on their Mediterranean Marisol restaurant and the beach club lobby lounge.
However, the job isn’t finished yet. Additional renovations will be made in the coming years during the second and third stages of The Boca Raton’s transformation. These additional phases will target the continued renovation of the resort, including building a larger fitness center and working on the golf course. Additionally, the hotel has recently hired a consulting firm to conduct a deep dive into the property and identify additional ways to operate the property more sustainably. In addition to the hotel’s already-established water bottle and kitchen oil recycling programs, Hostettler is considering an innovative machine that crushes wine bottles into beach sand.
Looking toward the future, the hotel anticipates its three-day La Fête du Champagne weekend – a ripe opportunity for guests and members to interact with the owners and winemakers from the top champagne houses in France. Later this year, The Boca Raton will be throwing a Ferrari event and hosting the opening evening for the Palm Beach Wine and Food Festival. Certainly, the temperature isn’t the only hot thing in South Florida – The Boca Raton is not one to miss!
