The Doral-On-The-Ocean opened in 1963 on the famous Millionaire's Row, on Collins Avenue in Miami Beach, Florida. Also known as the Doral Beach Hotel, it was named for its founder and his wife, DORIS and AL Kaskel. It was long considered the most elegant and luxurious hotel in the area. The Doral won several of the coveted Mobil Five Star awards. The hotel hosted the headquarters of George McGovern during the 1972 Democratic National Convention. It was the sister hotel to the Doral Country Club, where the Doral Open was played until 2006. The Doral was home away from home for movie stars and presidents.
Several scenes from the 1972 hit film The Heartbreak Kid were shot on location at the hotel. The movie shows extensive footage of the lobby, room 1704, the pool area and beach. There is also a short clip that was shot in the bar adjacent to the Starlight Roof restaurant on the 18th floor of the hotel.
In the 1990s the Doral changed hands several times. It was first purchased from the original family in the early 1990s by a French company and renamed the Doral Ocean Beach Resort. The French OBR company then sold it to Interstate Hotels in 1997 and it briefly became a Westin. In September 1998 the hotel was purchased by Wyndham and was operated as The Wyndham Miami Beach Resort. In 2006 the Blackstone Group, a large conglomerate, purchased the Wyndham hotel chain. Some of the Wyndham hotels were merged into LXR, another chain owned by Blackstone. Today, the former Doral is The Miami Beach Resort and Spa, an LXR hotel.
The French company OBR retained a portion of the real estate adjacent to the hotel when it was sold to Interstate. Originally, a parking lot, two tennis courts and additional beach access were located on this piece of property. OBR recently built a structure on this adjacent land. The purpose for the new building is not yet public information. However it may be used for a condo/hotel. In addition to the real estate, OBR also retained the rights to the Doral name.
Sources
- ciudad doral newspaper
- Time Magazine July 10, 1972
References
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