Loews springs for $35 million upgrade

The Loews Miami Beach Hotel has completed a massive renovation to its 790 rooms, as well as its retail space and a large lobby aquarium, the company announced. Loews Hotel CEO Jonathan Tisch said that although the hotel has been open for only 11 years, the market is so competitive that it needs to maintain a competitive edge. Revenues have dipped about 20 percent from a year ago, he said, though he expects a low double-digit revenue pickup in 2010. [Sun Sentinel]