Richard Gray Adds 53 Rooms to Property

(Photo: Richard Gray at the Royal Palms Resort)

By Bob Kecskemety

When Richard Gray opened the original Royal Palms Resort in 1991, the property set a new standard for gay guest houses in our area. Now, with Gray back at the helm, he plans to combine a couple of neighboring properties adding 53 new rooms to his current 12 making a total of 60 rooms and it becoming the largest gay resort in Fort Lauderdale.

“There are some very exciting changes going to be happening here at the Royal Palms,” said Gray, “changes that will definitely make an impact on the property and the entire destination.”

After a two-year absence from The Royal Palms, Gray’s goal is to start rebranding and renovating The Royal Palms. The rooms, current and new, are going to be more “contemporary, more stylish, more European,” said Gray. “I think the rooms are lovely now but they’re a little bit stodgy. People like edgy.

Young people like edgy and more and more younger people are coming to Fort Lauderdale. I think edgy is the way to go.” The last time The Royal Palms was remodeled was in 2001. Changes will begin within the next few weeks.

All three buildings will be totally remodeled and with the addition of the two additional properties and rooms, other new amenities will include a spa, gym, ocean-view sundeck, full liquor bar and indoor/outdoor café. Gray is also looking forward to landscaping the new properties. “Our new hotel will embrace the tropical setting while showcasing a clean, boutique design and a European sensibility. It will be gay but definitely heterofriendly.”

“I like to be one step ahead of the curve,” said Gray. So I’m hoping that with this next chapter I will be right there.”

However, as usual, Gray looks beyond his own property to see the impact the new Royal Palms will have assisting to keep Fort Lauderdale a world-class gay destination. Gray sits on board of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Visitors and Convention Bureau.

“It’s all about branding,” said Gray, “and it’s very competitive out there. Gay travel is not a shoe anymore. You’ve got tweak and tweak your marketing tools and come up with different hooks. We’re not just competing with other Florida destinations; we’re competing with other European cities. We’re competing with Mexico and we’re competing with every place else.

It’s all about reinventing yourself and value.”