For as long as I’ve been part of Cruise Planners, my friends, colleagues, and I have stayed at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina. This hotel appears fine on the surface. Located on the Intracoastal Waterway and opposite the city’s convention center and Port Everglades cruise port, it offers one of the best locations in the area. But it’s a tired place that’s had a few renovations, and where there have been any, it’s not in the places that guests care about the most – namely their rooms.

So, when my friend (who’s now my “boss,” since I’m working in her franchise as an associate) asked me if I wanted to attend CP’s Luxury Forum this week, I first asked her where it was going to be. Once I found out we would stay at the new Omni Fort Lauderdale, which we had seen in its construction phases, I jumped at the chance. This luxury property is literally steps from the cruise terminal and convention center – in fact, there’s an entryway connecting the hotel with the latter. And of course, it’s new, so I can’t complain about worn carpets or peeling paint.

I don’t stay at hotels like this too often, so when I do, I appreciate the little things that make a more elevated stay special. There was a slight issue with the rooms when I checked in. Initially, I got a king-bed room, but we needed a two-queen one. I was able to change it without a problem. But the Omni still needs to work out a few things to make it exceptional.

Accommodations

The rooms at the Omni are mostly standard size. There aren’t any large presidential-style suites, which may be because it’s mostly designed for convention attendees. All room types have one king bed or two queen beds and range from deluxe rooms to premier executive rooms, from 383 to 553 square feet. Mine was the baseline, but it afforded a fantastic view of the Intracoastal Waterway, Port Everglades and the Atlantic coastline. The décor is a soothing mix of beach-inspired colors, with blue and tan dominating. I also loved the floor-to-ceiling picture windows that let in plenty of natural light.

I appreciated the soft-medium-firm bed, which helped me sleep well during my stay. That’s saying something because I normally don’t in hotels. The bathroom was a combined shower/tub with a marble base that was too high and half a glass partition, which made it somewhat difficult to run a bath and test the water temperature. Another thing lacking was having only way to hang towels with just one hook. Other features include a Keurig coffeemaker, a mini-fridge and room safe in a shelf in the closet. Perhaps the only other complaint about my room was the selection of TV channels, which didn’t list MSNow. Nearly every hotel I stay at will have certain networks, but when they don’t, it makes me wonder why.

Amenities 

Most hotels don’t have much variation in what they offer guests. I think what makes the Omni unique is its location. The complex is right next to the Broward County Convention Center and the Port Everglades cruise terminal, which means ultimate convenience for guests, and other Fort Lauderdale attractions are nearby. My Cruise Planners friends and I only had to walk outside in the heavy Florida heat for about 30 seconds to get from the hotel to the convention. A second-floor walkway also keeps you from the outside humidity.

Other than that, the Omni has some awesome spaces that inspire relaxation and leisurely moments. An expansive infinity pool on the tenth floor has plenty of chaise lounges and a bar. The fitness center has a wide variety of cardio and weight equipment, and wellness classes run during the week (they temporarily pause them for part of the summer). Although the convention center is adjacent, the hotel also has meeting facilities on three floors between the lobby and the guest room levels.

Dining

Like I’ve done increasingly often when I stay at hotels with overpriced food, I only had one meal at the Omni. That was on the first night of my stay and only did that because I was reluctant to walk too far into the humid evening. I ordered a mojito mocktail and a Cubano with fries from the poolside bar. The sandwich was done well with savory pork and ham, Swiss cheese, mustard and pickles on toasted, soft bread. The service was friendly but a bit slow, even with a few guests around.

I didn't have any other food at the Omni since we ate at the conference center, thanks to Cruise Planners, and my friend and I only had dinner out one night at a great seafood place, Kelly's Landing. But I'm not sure if I would have gotten meals at the hotel. It's hard to justify the overinflated food prices, especially when it's just adequate or not even that good. I'll have to see if the Omni improves its culinary offerings in the future.