Valeria Fuenmayor, Area Hotel Manager, AC by Marriott & Element Brickell
Invest: spoke with Valeria Fuenmayor, area hotel manager at AC by Marriott & Element Brickell, about how the property is adapting to Miami’s evolving hospitality market. Fuenmayor discussed leveraging the hotel’s Brickell location, expanding its appeal to leisure and local guests, and redefining its identity after a major shift in its business mix. “We’re reinventing ourselves this year,” Fuenmayor said.
How does AC Marriott Brickell balance AC Hotels’ European-inspired brand identity with Brickell’s unique energy?
I actually think the two complement each other naturally. AC Hotels are known for their modern European design, sophisticated atmosphere, and curated guest experience. Miami, and Brickell in particular, attracts travelers looking for an elevated experience, whether they’re here for business or leisure. Our location allows us to embrace the energy of the neighborhood while staying true to the AC brand’s refined aesthetic. It’s a balance between sophistication and vibrancy, and that’s exactly what today’s traveler is looking for.
How do spaces such as Rosa Sky, the rooftop pool, and the AC Lounge help attract both hotel guests and residents?
Having Rosa Sky in the same building is certainly an advantage. While it operates independently from the hotel, being under the same roof creates a natural synergy that enhances the guest experience. Visitors have immediate access to one of Brickell’s most recognized rooftop destinations without ever leaving the property.
For many of our guests, particularly cruise travelers staying with us before departure, we’re the beginning of their Miami experience. Whether they choose to relax by the rooftop pool, enjoy cocktails in the AC Lounge, or experience Brickell’s nightlife, they can immerse themselves in the city’s energy from the moment they check in.
What strategies is AC Marriott Brickell using to differentiate itself from neighboring luxury and lifestyle hotels?
One of our biggest strategic shifts this year has been repositioning the hotel. Today, we’re focused on attracting a broader mix of leisure travelers, Marriott Bonvoy members, corporate guests, cruise passengers, and residents. That transition has challenged us to rethink how we position both the AC Hotel and Element Miami Brickell in the marketplace.
Being a dual-branded property gives guests access to amenities across both hotels while offering two distinct experiences under one roof. We’re also investing in programming — from weekend pool activations and live entertainment to refreshed food and beverage offerings — to create reasons for both travelers and locals to choose our property.
Most importantly, we’re focused on building a reputation as a destination in its own right. This year has been about redefining who we are, and that’s been an exciting opportunity for our team.
How has the hotel adapted to meet the needs of today’s bleisure travelers?
Miami naturally lends itself to the growing bleisure trend because business travelers often extend their stay to enjoy everything the city has to offer.
We support that by combining convenience with experience. Our Tesla house car provides complimentary transportation within a two-mile radius, making it easy for guests to attend meetings throughout Brickell without worrying about traffic or parking.
Beyond that, our location, rooftop amenities, wellness programming, and vibrant food and beverage experiences allow guests to seamlessly transition from work to leisure. Today’s traveler isn’t simply booking a room — they’re looking for an experience — and we’ve intentionally designed our offerings around that expectation.
With more than 5,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, what types of events are you focusing on to grow that side of the business?
We’re expanding beyond traditional conferences to pursue a broader mix of business and social events. That includes corporate meetings, executive retreats, networking receptions, incentive groups, holiday celebrations, graduations, and private social functions.
Our meeting space allows us to accommodate events of up to 300 guests while still providing a personalized experience. As Miami continues to attract major conventions and corporate travel, we see significant opportunities to position ourselves as a preferred venue for organizations looking for a centrally located property in Brickell.
How are your food and beverage concepts evolving to reflect Miami’s dining and cocktail trends?
While we operate within Marriott brand standards, our location gives us flexibility to create experiences that reflect Miami’s vibrant lifestyle.
The rooftop pool is where we’re introducing many of those experiences through weekend activations, refreshed cocktail menus, and seasonal programming.
We’re also recognizing Miami’s growing focus on health and wellness by offering rooftop yoga and monthly kickboxing classes through partnerships with neighboring fitness studios.
Ultimately, our goal is to create experiences that encourage both guests and locals to spend more time enjoying the property while reflecting the energy and lifestyle that make Miami unique.
How is AC Marriott Brickell positioning itself to capitalize on major sporting and international events coming to Miami?
Miami’s event calendar continues to expand, from international sporting competitions to cultural festivals and major conventions. These events create tremendous opportunities for the hospitality industry, but they also increase competition as travelers have countless entertainment options throughout the city.
While many visitors choose our hotel because of our central location near Miami’s biggest attractions, our objective is to ensure they also view the hotel itself as part of their overall experience.
