The Ritz-Carlton, Key Biscayne, set on 12 acres of waterfront, prides itself on its atmosphere of casual elegance and its signature restaurant, Cioppino. The resort echoes its tropical surroundings with Floridian-style decor and formal but comfortable public spaces. Guests are an international mix of business travelers and vacationers, including families.

During the week, guests are primarily business travelers. On weekends, vacationers take advantage of the hotel's proximity to Coconut Grove's nightlife and its easy access to downtown Miami, Coral Gables, and Miami Beach. The hotel's Italian Renaissance style is inspired by nearby Villa Vizcaya, a lavish mansion built in the early 1900s and surrounded by formal gardens.

Set in the financial district and opening onto the famed shopping/dining street called Miracle Mile, the hotel attracts business travelers and shoppers. The hotel dates from 1991, but it incorporates--and honors in design--the historic, 60-foot-high, Neoclassical-style Rotunda that developer George Merrick used as a real-estate sales office when he founded Coral Gables in 1926. The lobby is on the second floor above ground-floor shops and restaurants.

A polished, white, automated piano maintains an up-tempo beat in the expansive atrium lobby, which has discreet seating areas with leather sofas and chairs and abundant artwork, including a giant sculpture by Yaacov Agam that nearly touches the ceiling. The hotel draws a mix of business and leisure travelers and often hosts the headliners performing at the adjoining James L. Knight Center.

Bombay fans gently whir overhead, towering columns grace the comfortable seating area, palm trees dot the landscape, and terra cotta floors add casualness to the spacious lobby. A boardwalk at the back of the property overlooks the hotel’s exquisite gardens and ocean. Business and leisure guests enjoy cocktails on the outdoor veranda overlooking the beach.

Exquisitely landscaped grounds and gardens flank the winding path to the 650-acre resort's three-story clubhouse, where arriving leisure travelers check in. The comfortable, wood-accented lobby houses Doral's Hall of Champions and features portraits of the last 40 years of PGA winners.

The 13-story National Hotel was built in 1939, and the lobby contains original period antiques and richly designed wood furnishings. The concierge desk is a precise replica of the original from 1939. In the heart of South Beach, the hotel caters to an upscale mix of corporate and leisure travelers.

Two bubbling fountains border the entry to the 17-story Alexander Oceanfront Resort, which primarily hosts leisure travelers. A soaring, curved wooden staircase delivers guests to the mezzanine level and the resort's shops and restaurants. Large, wood-framed French doors bring in natural light and warmth to the lobby.