MY HOTEL LIFE: Forget the heat. Here's Miami's coolest place to chill.

My arrival in a yellow mini van taxi from the Miami airport was not exactly the grand entrance I had planned upon seeing all the Bentley's and Ferrari's lined up in the motor lobby of the hotel. Bienvendo a Miami! On this night, the Miami Heat was hosting its opening party with the same circus of reporters and photographers during LeBron

James' Cleveland exodus announcement. But for me, my excitement revolved around the opening of the first JW Marriott Marquis Miami.

The JW Marriott Marquis Miami is the first of its kind. The epitome of the JW Marriott brand, the Marquis symbolizes the best of what the brand has to offer. From it's two gigantic JW Griffins in the motor lobby, to the 60-inch flat screens in each room, to the NBA regulation basketball court on the 19th floor of the hotel. In fact, the building itself is home to not just the Marquis, but also the 44-room Hotel Beaux Arts, the Marquis' boutique counterpart which sits atop the building. I was in Miami for a JW Marriott brand meeting, attend the hotel opening and also here to lend my support to the hotel general manager, Florencia Tabeni, who was one of the first general managers to reach out to me when I first joined the team. The glitz and glamour aside, opening a hotel is quite a feat and Ms. Tabeni's team has done a fabulous job of living up to the hype.

I whisked myself through the crowd of stargazers and hotel associates in tan suits and was graciously greeted by the front desk supervisor. Despite the fanfare, it has been a long day of airport layover's and transfers and I was ready for a little nap and shower before dinner. My AHA moment came immediately after I opened the door to my room. There I was, inside one of the most well appointed guest rooms I have ever encountered. Plush bedding, 60-inch flat screen and a bathroom worthy of a spread in Architectural Digest. Luxury is about the experience and the rooms at the JW Marriott Marquis Miami add an exclamation point to that statement.

Here’s the skinny on the room amenities. An illy Francis Francis Metodo Iperespresso machine that looks like an Apple iTV in a red box. A Samsung 60-inch built in TV screen so big that leaving my bed to go to dinner very difficult. A computer on the desk is a business traveler’s champagne and strawberries. And the bathroom, A one-piece slab of Italian marble for the vanity, a deep tub with all the trimmings, a glass enclosed shower, and a pristine Duravit "cubist" toilet. And the bed, it’s a JW and a good night’s sleep is guaranteed with the plush pillow top and cornucopia of pillows.

Chef Daniel Boulud's db Bistro Moderne highlights the food and beverage offerings at the hotel. There is also the ThreeFortyFive restaurant, the MET Cafe & Bar and the illy Intermezzo cafe. A swanky wine store, cigar shop and gift shop complete the menu of amenities on the second floor. The 19th floor houses the stainless steel pool and deck, the basketball court, golf school, billiards room and the virtual bowling alley. The 20th floor is home to the the RikRak Spa and ultra modern 24-hour fitness center with stunning views of the city below.

The Marquis gives me a very good reason to come back to Miami. And the best part is, if the Marquis is full, there is another JW Marriott hotel a few blocks down the road.

THE ARRIVAL