First phase of $5M Sawgrass Grand renovation done

The owner of the Sawgrass Grand Hotel & Suites in Sunrise finished the initial phase of a $5 million renovation of the 291-room hotel.

The initial phase of the renovation includes a newly designed lobby, an upgraded pool deck, and a new coffee and snack bar.

Carmichael Hospitality Partners, the owner of the hotel, expects to complete a conversion of the hotel’s biggest restaurant, Delilah’s, to a sports bar by summer.

Carmichael Hospitality expects upgrades to guest rooms to be done by fall. The company also is improving the 7,400 square feet of meeting space at the hotel, formerly known as the Holiday Inn & Suites Sawgrass Mills.

The Sawgrass Grand property includes soccer and rugby fields that help the hotel attract group business from sports teams.

Carmichael Hospitality bought the hotel at 3003 North University Drive in December 2014 for $10.5 million. [Sun-Sentinel] – Mike Seemuth