The Fontainebleau Hotel has been a crown jewel of Miami Beach (oceanfront in the heart of Millionaire’s Row) since hotelier Ben Novack first purchased it in 1952. By the time the sprawling, opulent personal mansion of tire magnate Harvey Firestone was converted and opened its doors to visitors for the first time two years later, it began its reign as the largest, most historically significant and luxe hotel in South Florida.
Its legend loomed so large, in fact, that the hotel lacked any identifying outdoor signage for nearly 25 years. Elvis Presley, Bob Hope, Judy Garland, and Lucille Ball were counted among the many A-List guests long ago. The hotel has earned its own close-ups in a number of feature films, including Scarface and The Bodyguard, and played host to The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
In 2005, the hotel underwent a billion (yes, with a B), multi-year renovation, and continues to represent the very best in modern Miami luxury. Yet to us the Fontainebleau is more than a living legend; we’ve been proud to call them one of our all-time favorite loyal clients for nearly two decades, and our leadership team has personally overseen every install--that’s over 25 visits! (It’s hard work, but somebody’s gotta do it.)
This timeline is a fun peek behind the scenes at the evolution of this iconic hotel’s ever-evolving, top-flight in-room program, and how we have helped them delight even their most prestigious guests
February 1999
After five long years of calling on this property, The Fontainebleau places their first In-Room Plus order: Banana Moon Petite Pretzels and Banana Moon Honey Roasted Peanuts!
May 1999
They apparently liked our high-quality products and personal service, because just three months later, they expanded their order to include Banana Moon Cranny Banany and Hot Cajun Mix.
May 2005
New ownership takes over from Hilton, as the aforementioned $1 billion dollar renovation and expansion closes the property for 2 and a half years. During this time, they install automatic minibars with 20 snack positions.
January 2008
The hotel rolls out a temporary private bar offering. In-Room Plus packages them in Geo containers with custom white labels featuring their signature bright blue cursive logo "Fontainebleau" across the top.
October 2008
Brand new branding is launched; a private bar redesign is approved.
November 2008
A spectacular grand re-opening features the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. Rubbing elbows with Usher, Mariah Carey, Heidi Klum, and Gwyneth Paltrow wasn’t a bad way to celebrate (after we installed the new product line, of course)!
An incredible private bar redesign featured products packaged in acrylic geo containers with custom designed matte black sleeves and In-Room Plus custom printed pouches. For perspective, an over-the-top co-branded Kiki de Montparnasse couples’ kit cost over $30 per kit just for us to import and package. Refined options also included jetsetter favorites like handmade sea salt turtles, cocktail flavored jelly beans, chocolate covered cherries, toffee pistachios, energy boost granola, chocolate covered almonds, dipped chocolate chip cookies, handmade kettle chips, caramel popcorn, Reese’s products, and roasted salted cashews. It was a night (and a private bar) to remember!
February 2011
We rolled out an amenity line exclusively for VIPs, groups, and available to be ordered online and delivered to friends and family of guests. Each tin (in
multiple product combinations) was finished with the signature "FB" logo before being nestled in the beautiful custom white and silver boutique boxes. Here is a link to one of the offerings still available today. While the next five years brought some product refreshes as each private bar set does, this branding held generally steady for the next five years.
December 2016
Utilizing the inspiration of original hotel architect Morris Lapidus’ emblematic curvilinear building architecture of Chateau, we were commissioned by the hotel to create a cold press foil box line as the center of the new design suite. These beautiful and tasty products were complimented with custom resealable pouches perfect for late night minibar raids with friends.
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The days of Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and Judy Garland walking through the lobby may be memories of the past, but every aspect of the property retains its full opulence. We’re privileged to be a part of helping one of the world’s finest hotel properties maintain its commitment to excellence, style, service, and glamour.
