South Florida marinas build more amenities as boating booms

By Brian Bandell

Gone are the days when placing a dock on the water was enough to lure boaters to marinas.

Many South Florida marinas find that adding extra services and features such as restaurants, shops and crew lounges is key to luring – and keeping – customers. The efforts are deemed essential in an area often referred to as one of the yachting capitals of the world.

It’s one of the main reasons more marinas in the tri-county region have recently undergone renovations. Boat owners who spend big dollars on their vessels don’t want to dock at a marina without essentials like strong electric power and a fun atmosphere. Other services, especially restaurants, contribute to that by creating additional revenue sources for marina owners.

Other marinas have built-in hospitality elements. For example, Orlando-based Tavistock Development Co. still operates the marina at the Pier Sixty-Six Hotel & Marina in Fort Lauderdale while the hotel, restaurant and conference center undergo major renovations.

In 2020, Tavistock installed a floating dock that can handle vessels of up to 400 feet. It will start vertical construction of the hotel in the fourth quarter of this year. Within two years, the new restaurants, hotel, residential units, retail, office space and a pool deck facing the marina should be completed.

“Whether arriving by land or sea, the hotel property will include a wide variety of indoor and outdoor dining options and, of course, the famous Pier Top lounge,” Tavistock VP Jessi Blakley said. “We are also planning several waterfront shops and restaurants along the Pier Sixty-Six Marina Promenade, which will be easily accessible for marina guests.”

Read the full South Florida Business Journal story HERE.