Leading hotel management company, Desires Hotels, announces the upcoming opening of The Betsy in South Beach, the latest addition in their collection of ten modern boutique hotels.

The Betsy is destined to be to be one of the freshest faces in South Beach and is located on prime beach front real estate at the northern tip of Ocean Drive. Slated to open its doors in January of 2009, the 63 room hotel puts a new twist on tropical colonial luxury with a distinct style of understated elegance. The multi-million dollar renewal is destined to set the stage for a new level of pampering and sophistication, with a design that speaks more about timeless style than the latest trend.

"As Miami is our corporate home, we are thrilled to have this architectural gem as a member of the Desires family," says Raul Leal, President and Partner of Desires Hotels. "South Beach stands as a distinctive destination around the globe, and does not need the state moniker to define where it is. The city of Miami has considerable new developments and with the beautiful beaches, exciting nightlife, and the burgeoning art and design district, it has something to offer everyone."

The hotel was originally designed in 1942 and has a distinct Florida Georgian facade with an expansive four column front porch and rows of shuttered framed windows. The tropical colonial design will carry through the 63 rooms and suites. The rooftop will be a key social focus for the hotel and will include a spa and zen garden setting for pre- and post-treatments and a relaxing rooftop solarium. Complete with an intimate outdoor swimming pool and just a few steps from beach on Ocean Drive, the location is ideal.

The reception area, bar and lounge, cleverly integrate BLT Steak restaurant to create a dynamic lobby environment. Named "Restaurateur of the Year" in 2007 by Bon Appetite, Tourondel takes the steakhouse concept to a new level by artfully combining the highest quality ingredients with the precision of exacting French technique. Acclaimed by Esquire magazine in 2004 as one of "the best new restaurants in America," BLT Steak has redefined the American steakhouse, satisfying the epicure and neighborhood diner alike.

Desires Hotels is a collection of independently created modern boutique hotels founded in 2005 as the boutique division of Tecton Hospitality. The cornerstone of The Desires brand is the company's ability to create hotels which are made in the vision of the owner/developer. Desires provides individual strategies focused on driving profits through sophisticated marketing techniques, including the "Your Desires" loyalty program, an innovative website, strong relationships with the travel trade, and strategic marketing partnerships. Desires branding success delivers profits by using a successful model of operational synergies, finance, sales and marketing, and human resource management. Desires Hotels offers a complete and comprehensive hotel management tailored to the needs to each property.