By Kellie Speed Apr. 14th, 2011

Last weekend, I was lucky enough to check out the grand opening celebration of the brand new B Ocean Fort Lauderdale.

Special guests Mayor Jack Seiler, Chris Tompkins, corporate vice president, brand marketing for B Hotels & Resorts and celebrity chef Holli Ugalde, along with several other attendees, were greeted by a unique blue carpet event where guests were given the chance to "B a VIP" and "B Treated?" to an evening of indoor and outdoor experiences throughout the hotel's public spaces.

Located on Fort Lauderdale Beach at the corner of Sunrise Boulevard and AIA, the beautiful hotel offered a South Beach flair with an all-white lobby with changing colored backgrounds. Inside, the hotel hosts a signature sushi restaurant, SAIA, along with B'stro on the Beach where guests can either sit down for breakfast, lunch or dinner, or enjoy some food to go at the adjacent café.

The upscale property's celebration included B'licious cocktails paired with a sampling of signature menu items from the hotel's restaurants, SAIA and B'stro on the Beach as well as live performance models, synchronized swimmers in the outdoor infinity edge pool along with Palm City's The Bob Gaffney Orchestra.

Over the weekend, we had the chance to meet the hotel's celebrity signature chef Holli Ugalde, winner of Hell's Kitchen Season Seven, who offered a variety of interactive cooking classes throughout our stay. Chef Holli also hosted a wine and cheese reception where guests could sample one of 24 wines from around the world.


Don't miss the Quench Pool & Bar for some light fare (salads and sandwiches) served up poolside (be sure to indulge in a frozen creamy pina colada to cool you off in the sun).

The property itself features 240 all-white guestrooms (think white beds, desks and chairs) as well as panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows with amazing views of Fort Lauderdale Beach located directly across the street. The hotel also offers complimentary wireless Internet throughout all guestrooms and public areas. One of the coolest features about the property is its complimentary offering of iPads for guest use during their stay.

When staying here, don't miss a water taxi tour of the area where you can see some of the most exquisite homes in the region. We saw the cruise ships at Port Everglades and some mansions with mega-yachts docked outside. You can buy a day pass and get on and off at your leisure or simply stay on and get a good view of the area complete with boardwalks, shopping centers and dining destinations.

If you want to 'b' here for the weekend, the hotel offers the following during your stay: B Ambiance (a custom sound, lighting and scent program); B Social (incorporating communal seating and gathering spaces); B in Touch (with complimentary Internet access throughout all public spaces and guestrooms ); B Active (a fitness center where guests can exercise and re-energize); B Indulged (a Spa Suite featuring a variety of treatments); B Adventurous (applying the cruise industry's model, this key element lets travelers explore and discover the destination); and B Sensitive (initiatives that encourages and supports green programs).

If you are looking to book a meeting, wedding or other event, the penthouse floor, better known as B on Top features 8,000 square feet of flexible meeting space and you can access this level by an express elevator from the ground floor.

Whether you come to the B Ocean Fort Lauderdale for a quick getaway or a weeklong vacation, you will surely 'b' glad you did.

B Ocean Fort Lauderdale
999 North Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
954.564.1000
www.boceanfortlauderdale.com