The Lowenstein business story began in 1966, with the purchase of their first hotel, which was in Miami Beach. The investment in White House Hotel proved a great success, so much so that two other significant acquisitions followed in the form of the DiLido Hotel (1971), designed by architect Morris Lapidus, and the Seville Beach Hotel (1974). Despite the instable economic and social situation in Southern Florida during the Seventies and Eighties, the family continued to grow its hospitality, residential and commercial real estate portfolio via Lionstone Development and its affiliates.
Investments were not limited to Florida. For example, in the late Eighties, the company was behind the construction of restaurants and buildings in their home town of Buenos Aires, including the city’s largest mall complex. Then, as South Beach experienced a surge in popularity in the Nineties, Lionstone Development was part of the growth, contributing to the area’s return to favour with investments in elite properties such as the Ritz-Carlton South Beach, the Ritz-Carlton Bal-Harbour and the EPIC Residences & Hotel in Miami.
The latter won a host of awards, including being named the best hotel in Miami by Condé Nast Traveler in 2016. “With its beachfront location, EPIC challenged the fickle, everchanging Miami lifestyle and instead offered a minimal-chic design style that was completely different from anything else in the city. It offers impeccable service and its Zuma restaurant has been at the top of the city’s eating scene since the day it opened.” – Diego Lowenstein.
The Lowenstein family has amassed experience and expertise over five decades in the acquisition, development, leasing and management of residential and hospitality properties not only in South Florida, but also the Caribbean, with projects such as the Hilton and Floris Suite hotels in Curaçao, and the Holiday Inn in Aruba. There is no resting on laurels, however. The family’s long-term goal is that Lionstone Development continues to develop and manage a diversified portfolio through identifying residential and hospitality initiatives in sought-after locations, including by means of teaming up with high-end global real estate partners in the construction and hotel sector.
Lionstone’s current portfolio consists of around 2000 hotel rooms and 7800 square metres of real estate designated for shopping and leisure.
The company is committed to delivering premium deigns, innovative technology and outstanding professionalism in every phase of a project. “When you manage to express a sensation of luxury in an elegant but comfortable and natural setting, you’ve hit the bullseye” is how Alfredo Lowenstein explained the concept to son Diego. Every activity the Lionstone group undertakes is based on three core principles shared by the entire family:
To facilitate management and development of investments in Europe, the Lowenstein family created the Marzocco Investment & Development real estate company. Based in Italy, it specialises in safeguarding, enhancing and repurposing properties that are of significant cultural, historical, scenic or architectural interest, and transforming them into prestigious hospitality or tourist-oriented venues.