Floridan Palace Hotel

Construction on the hotel began in 1926 by Francis J. Kennard & Son, Architects and the Floridan Hotel officially opened in 1927 with 19 floors and 316 rooms, at a cost of $1.9 million to build. At the time the Floridan was the tallest building in Tampa and would remain the tallest building in until 1966 when the Franklin Exchange Building was completed.

The hotel's bar, the Sapphire Room, was a popular nightspot during World War II for servicemen who were training at nearby Drew Field to fly B-17s over Europe. Many of the service men at that time were housed in makeshift barracks located underneath the bleachers at the old Florida State Fairgrounds racetrack a few blocks away. The bar's wild reputation at the time earned it the nickname "The Surefire Room".^[4]

The hotel began to decline in patronage in the early 1960s as more modern "motels" were built along the highways that skirted the city. In 1966, the hotel closed to commercial and tourist guests and remained open to long term renters only. By the 1980s, the once grand and luxurious hotel had become a residence for transients renting rooms by the week or month. The Floridan Hotel finally closed its doors in 1989 after the new ownership failed to bring the building up to new firecodes. After seven years of restoration, the hotel opened again to the public on July 30, 2012, as the Floridan Palace Hotel.

The historic Tampa hotel, soon to be named “Hotel Flor” is one of the newest additions to the Tapestry Collection by Hilton Hotels & Resorts – a portfolio of over 110 original hotels that offer guests unique style and vibrant personality, encouraging them to connect to their destination and enjoy authentic, off-the-beaten-path experiences. The nearly century-old Floridan Palace has already made improvements to their guest rooms and suites, Floridan Ballroom, the legendary Crystal Dining Room, the Lobby Bar, and the on-property restaurant renamed The Dan.

The hotel had bounced through several ownership groups from 1987 until 2005. Most prominent among these was Akio Ogawa and Sity International Inc. who purchased the Hotel at foreclosure in 1989. This purchase is noteworthy because it was the work of Ogawa that had the building added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 12, 1996. He would sell the hotel in 1997 to Capital LLC.

The Hotel was purchased in April 2005 by hotelier and real-estate investor Tony Markopoulos for $6 million.^[5] An extensive cleaning and restoration of the building's interior and exterior began in August 2005^[6] and ended July 2012. A grand opening ceremony was held on July 28 of that year and opened to the public on July 30.

The Floridan's original sign, which was found in a rooftop storage room during the cleaning of the building in 2005, and had adorned the buildings roof for decades, was restored and placed on the hotel's rooftop once more in late summer 2008.^[7][8]

The historic Tampa hotel located in the booming North Downtown neighborhood, known for its iconic Hotel Floridan sign, visible for miles, has now reopened as Hotel Flor Tampa Downtown, Tapestry Collection by Hilton. It’s no secret the Floridan Palace Hotel has been in renovation mode, all while launching two new brands, The Dan and Cass Street Coffee Company, in downtown Tampa’s NoDo district.

The 210-room property, with over 14,000 square feet of meeting space, is nearing the end of a comprehensive $25 million renovation and is positioned as one of downtown Tampa’s most upscale hotels. Located at 905 N. Florida Avenue in the booming North Downtown neighborhood locally known as NoDo, the 19-story hotel opened in 1926 as the tallest building in Tampa.

The current hotel maintains many original features of the hotel. The hotel had 400 small rooms during the 1940s. The rooms were expanded during the renovations into 213 larger rooms including 15 suites and 3 penthouse suites.^[9]

The recent guest room facelift at the Hotel Flor Tampa Downtown, Tapestry Collection by Hilton includes modern updates to the bedroom furniture, including new bedding, dressers, side tables, coffee tables and lounge seating. High-end touches can be found throughout the suites with elegant light fixtures and premium flooring and tiles while keeping a nostalgic essence with thoughtfully curated decor pieces.

The famous Crystal Dining Room has been restored and expanded across the west side of the lobby, connecting into the lobby bar, which was originally a ladies' lounge. Included in the remodel are the original hotel’s renown Crystal Dining Room, a 1,800-square-foot event space that has served patrons since 1926, and the Floridan Ballroom which serves as the hotel’s grand event space with nearly 10,000 square feet available for receptions, banquets and celebrations. The hotel anticipates fully activating the spaces, such as the Florida Bridal & Event Expo partnership with Marry Me Tampa Bay. Florida Bridal & Event Expo is a wedding planning show taking place on Sunday, 6/30/24, 11am - 3pm.

The Sapphire Lounge on the first floor has likewise been restored, and a ballroom, housed in the former post office immediately adjacent to the Floridan, has been added, with plans to add a pool and spa in the future.^[2] Hotel Floridan’s original Sapphire Lounge received a new look as The Dan, becoming Tampa Bay’s newest restaurant with a modern take on old-school speakeasies. Inspired by the spirit of the Roaring Twenties, guests can feast on Gulf Coast cuisine as jazz music and a sophisticated ambiance transport them back in time. Also located on the property is the grab-and-go Cass Street Coffee, open for breakfast and lunch.

•   Hotels portal

• Official Floridan Palace website
• Hillsborough County listings at National Register of Historic Places
• Florida's Office of Cultural and Historical Programs
  • Hillsborough County listings
  • Floridan Hotel
• Brad Massey, "The Rise, Fall and Rebirth of a Modern Florida Landmark: A History of Tampa's Floridan Hotel," Tampa Bay History, Volume 23, 2009: pgs. 1-29