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The Conservatory on the original terrazzo ground floor in the new Art Deco Wing starts the day with continental breakfast: homemade muffins, croissants, Danish, coffee (complimentary when booked on thebetsyhotel.com). Their $30 resort fee generously includes: WiFi, newspapers, beach chairs, towels, umbrellas, yoga, and a glass of Prosecco at check-in. A quick stroll reveals: the new 300-guest atrium for special events flanked by bougainvillea- draped balcony suites; first floor gym with enhanced Peloton biking via live stream video; third floor library (meetings, private dining); and the spectacular rooftop lap pool straddling two new buildings with a nearby patio offering wicker couches and awnings for ocean sunrise and mainland sunsets. The Betsy – South Beach owes much of its distinction from affluent, urbane travelers and locals based on the family's belief that philanthropy and business are complementary. Both Jonathan and his sister Deborah Plutzik-Briggs sponsor and encourage the hotel's creative community programming called PACE (Philanthropy, Art, Culture and Education). It features poetry readings, opera and piano performances, literary salons, and a live (mostly) jazz music series nearly every Wednesday + Thursday. In homage to Plutzik patriarch Hyam, a poet, English professor, and three-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, his children set up a writers-in-residence program with over 500 live-in artists to date. Past residents include poet Billy Collins, flutist Eugenia Zuckerman, and playwright John Guare, Six Degrees of Separation. Events include: International Women's Month (March), National Poetry Month (April), and community partners like the Dranoff International 2 Piano Foundation and Florida Grand Opera. "We create a space where you can find commonality and build community," says Plutzik-Briggs. Much of the resort's succes is based on the consistency and excellence of their kitchen. Chef Tourondel possesses an imaginative eye for detail and avoids trendy dishes. His Cuban molletes – English muffin, black beans, Swiss cheese, ham, fried eggs, pickled mojo sauce, mashed sweet plantain – are a great breakfast alternative to the usual eggs benedict. Dinners always begin with very addictive Gruyère popovers. In addition to the excellent USDA prime, wagyu and certified Black Angus beef, other standouts include LT Steak & Seafood's sushi, crunchy curried lump crab, foie gras empanada, black garlic charred short ribs, steamed Chinese garlic eggplant, and warm chocolate cake. Opening soon, Poeti will offer light dishes like Tuscan salad (artichoke, fava beans, fennel, pecorino), pizza, salami, cavolo nero (dark kale), and gelato at a reasonable price point. In a clear sign of confidence, Chef Tourondel notes, "I cook what I like."