Colony Hotel in Palm Beach will remain open for summer, in shift from recent practice

Compared to the past four summers, The Colony Hotel is taking a different tack this time around during the traditionally slower-paced and less-crowded season that generally is in full swing by June.

The blush-hued hotel, known locally as the Pink Paradise, will remain open throughout this summer.

After temporary summer closures since 2020 to complete major property upgrades and enhancements, “we look forward to welcoming guests all summer and providing them with an authentic Palm Beach experience,” Colony president and CEO Sarah Wetenhall told the Daily News last week, noting the 1947 hotel maintains an ongoing commitment to improvements and maintenance.

Florida is becoming “more of a year-round destination,” she said, noting that summer in Palm Beach, when tourism thins and many residents spend time at northern homes, is “a best-kept secret."

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“Personally, I love the casualness of the island during the summer, when everything is just more relaxed and laid-back,” Wetenhall said. “Visitors and locals can really take the time to enjoy everything Palm Beach has to offer and experience island living.”

Prior to 2020, The Colony, a British Colonial-style property with 89 rooms and suites and seven individually designed villas, had been open year-round since the 1970s. The hotel, like other Palm Beach resorts and hotels, will offer guests special rates and packages for the summer. Among them: Celebrate Summer, a package including complimentary parking and breakfast, plus $25 daily credit.

Swifty’s, The Colony’s full-service restaurant and a sister to the former beloved New York City boîte, will remain open with executive chef Tom Whitaker at the helm.

“I’m excited,” Whitaker told the Daily News on Monday. “This time (in summer) will allow us to develop menus, test dishes and focus on our main goal of continuous improvement. We get to keep our team motivated and energized to evolve the kitchens, cuisine and culture."

The Colony’s game nights, popular during high season in winter, also are slated to continue in summer. Whether bingo on Sundays or trivia contests on Mondays, “reservations for these occasions are hard to come by in (high) season, so summer is a great time to experience these events,” Wetenhall said.

Douglas C. Evans, president and CEO of the Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce, told the Daily News on Monday, “Summer is definitely slower here, but tourists are still coming and for locals, it’s still a vibrant time of year in many ways. To have The Colony open for summer on Worth Avenue’s east end is great.”

Last summer, The Colony closed to the public for two months for general maintenance and the renovation of two of the hotel’s villas. The villas originally were created from a 1920s Mediterranean-style manse — the home of The Colony’s founders.

In 2022, an August-through-October closure at The Colony allowed for the redesign of all of the hotel’s rooms and suites. Prior to a 2021 summer closure at The Colony — a five-week hiatus for property-wide cleaning and maintenance as nearby town road-construction work was underway — the hotel was closed throughout the summer of 2020.

In March of 2020, all hotels in Palm Beach County were ordered to temporarily cease check-ins because of the then-coronavirus pandemic. Some hotels reopened weeks later; The Colony, designated a town historic landmark in 2020, remained closed for seven months as it redesigned various villas, outdoor dining areas and its lobby.

“In recent years, it was necessary to close the hotel for a portion of the summer, starting with the COVID-19 pandemic, and then due to a series of capital investments required to maintain the integrity of our 76-year-old operation,” Wetenhall said.

Now, she said, “The Colony is excited to remain open (all summer) to serve our community and loyal guests.”

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Colony Hotel in Palm Beach will remain open for summer months