Opened 1948 | ||
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Similar Clinton Hotel Miami Be, Ritz Plaza Hotel, Ocean Spray Hotel, Faena Arts Center, Flagler Monument Island | ||
The Saxony Hotel is a hotel at 3201 Collins Avenue Miami Beach. It was built and owned by George D. Sax. Designed by architect Roy F. France, it was completed in 1948 as one of the first luxury resorts on Miami Beach. Following the success of the Saxony, other hotels emerged on the opulent beach front.
Currently it is owned by The Faena Group which is extensively renovating to be part of the New Saxony Hotel & Residences.
George Sax was perhaps best known as the president and chairman of Chicago's Exchange International Corporation and Exchange National Bank. He was also president of Sax Enterprises, Inc. Today, Sax is recognized for his contributions to the banking industry, being credited with the innovation of drive-through banking and instant loans.
The Saxony was famous for its luxurious rooms, complimentary meals, restaurants and exceptional views of South Beach. It was the first air-conditioned hotel on Miami Beach, and was considered the most expensive and lavish resort of the time. When the hotel first opened, each room was estimated to have cost approximately $21,000, which at the time was thought to be the largest sum of money ever paid for such a project. The rooms featured decks that could accommodate large groups. It was nicknamed the "Ivory Tower" after the nightclub on its top floor.
Features of the hotel included decks that could accommodate large groups, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a 600-foot private beach, and two all-weather tennis courts.
The Saxony hotel is now known as the Faena Hotel, celebrating its grand opening in December 2015.