First off, if management or staff tells you that the tower was damaged and thus shut down by hurricane Wilma, they are lying.

Out of 300 rooms in this tower, only 10-15 actually sustained damage from the hurricane, which was window blowouts and other light damage.

What Marriott decided to do after the hurricane is start an extensive remodeling project that COMPLETELY shut down the tower.

We were there a week after the hurricane and had friends staying in another hotel which had sustained damage, much like the Marriott did and they quickly repaired and re-opened their building and kept the damaged rooms closed.

We too were TOLD THE DAY BEFORE OUR ARRIVAL that we'd have a tower room, when we got there we had a carpet soaked room down in the harbour which was gloomy and equivalent to a Motel 6. Staff seemed not to care, only created more lies and excuses.

Hopefully the sale to the LXR Group will rejuvinate this hotel because it certainly has the location!

We stayed here on Jan 27th 2006 for one night prior to a cruise. The lobby was very nice. Starbucks was in the lobby with limited hours and a gift shop with a small business center to check e-mails. The front desk told us that none of the rooms in the main tower from the 3rd to the 14th floor were open due to hurricane damage.
Our room was on the east wing 2nd floor with a harbour view. The room rate was $355.00 a night. It was worth about $100.00. We had ants, a toilet that never quit running, the thermostat kept making a buzzing sound and would luminate every 2 minutes all night long, we had to hang a shirt over it so we could sleep.
We did eat at the restaurant, and it was great. The pool area looked nice.We did take advantage of the free shuttle ride to the pier we left on sat morn at 10:50am.I believe the hotel is changing names soon. I can see why this is not a normal Marriott room. It was more like a Fairfield Inn quality.

We had booked a tower suite, but when we arrived we found out that Hurricane Whilma had wiped out most of their tower rooms so we were downgraded to a poolside room. I would have liked to have been told that before we arrived. They discounted the room price, but I would have preferred to stay somewhere nicer. Aside from a lack of access to rooms the rest of the hotel appears to be okay. We were supposed to stay another night, but after I spoke with the front desk about assuring us a tower room for the next night and was met with a somewhat abrupt attendant...I changed our reservations and went to stay at the Marriott Harbor Beach.

I was grateful to receive a room beginning of December knowing that 300 room were destroyed by the hurricane. This location is great for conventions at the Fort Lauderdale Convention Center. Complimentary water with lemon in the lobby during the afternoons was an excellent touch and a welcome refreshment. I was able to get a later check out time so they were very accommodating at the front desk. Bartenders at the inside bar were great and very hard-working. We had a very friendly waitress for one breakfast. Loved the Bath and Body Works shampoo, lotion, etc.. amenities in the bathroom. Finally, loved the comfortable pillowtop bed and terrific showerhead. I do not work for Marriott. haha Just very pleased with the hotel and felt with the negative reviews that I should post this review.