North America's Largest Luxury Gay Resort Opens in Fort Lauderdale

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - Contemporary Euro style meets tropical splendor at the new Royal Palms, a stunning reinvention that's poised to change the face of the city's hotel market. The longtime gay favorite unveils its expansion to 62 rooms this month - courtesy of two additional buildings that underwent head-to-toe renovations. The makeover also added two heated swimming pools (one clothing-optional), a bar/grill, spa and fitness center, all just one block from Fort Lauderdale Beach.

The Royal Palms team took their design cues from the up-and coming North Beach village neighborhood and added a modern slant. Visitors will find crisp white exteriors, grey tumbled marble pavers, and contemporary lush tropical foliage with splashes of bougainvillea blooms accenting the palm studded outdoor spaces.

Guestrooms vibrate with pops of color against a white backdrop; rain showers spill onto pebbled floors; and original artworks from photographer Dennis Dean hit a sensual note. All rooms come with 42-inch flat-screen TVs, and the RP's signature orchid blossoms still accompany each stay-along with complimentary WiFi throughout the property, and access to iPad 2s, mobile phones, white bicycles and the ultimate guest amenity: a sleek 54` private luxury yacht, available for guest excursions, celebrations and commitment ceremonies.

"It was time to take gay accommodations to the next level," says Richard Gray who founded the Royal Palms in 1991. "While many boutique hotels have begun catering to the gay market, our new hotel uniquely combines world-class luxury with the sexy, social vibe that will never be found at mainstream or "straight-friendly" hotels," says Gray, who was instrumental in putting Fort Lauderdale on the gay destination map when he opened the RP in 1991.

"The new Royal Palms showcases a sleek, modern boutique design with a European sensibility," says Gray. "It's the first Fort Lauderdale gay property to incorporate the full range of services and amenities that travelers expect from a mainstream hotel."

GG's Bar and Grill is the open-air showpiece of the front building, with ruby-red glass tiles, misters, and a polished concrete bar overlooking one of the pools. Steel, grey and black patio furniture and stylish poolside cabanas add to the scene.

A spa with wet room and massage rooms for single or double use and a fitness center (with Dennis Dean photo gallery for inspiration) ensure guests can get appropriately relaxed or pumped before exploring the city's gay nightlife. Day passes will also allow non-guests to savor the Royal Palms experience.

"It's going to be a must-stay for gay visitors from around the globe, and a fresh alternative for Floridians," says Nicki Grossman, President/CEO of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau. "We have boutique hotels and gay guesthouses, but nothing that brings the two together in this kind of hip, urban way."

Rates for standard rooms start at $159, making the hotel an affordable oasis of style.

For more information, please visit www.royalpalms.com and www.facebook.com/royalpalmsresort