Travelers who regularly stay at the Inn on Fifth in Naples may not recognize the popular hotel on their next visit following a $2 million renovation that took three months to complete.
While the exterior facade remains much the same as it was in 1948 when it was built to house a bank, the upgrade transformed the interior from a Mediterranean décor to a modern lifestyle appearance.
and interior common areas.
Later this month, the Inn on Fifth will add 32 new luxury suites with the completion of construction on a new building directly across the street. A Chase Bank branch and a women’s clothing store will occupy retail space on the ground floor of the new building, but upper levels will house two Presidential suites — each with two rooms, two bathrooms and large balconies; six rooms with queen-size beds and 24 rooms with kingsize accommodations. The new suites offer varying views, but all have balconies.
Nick Fallon, the Inn on Fifth’s assistant director of sales, said the reconstruction of the interior of the old hotel was no small task, and it remained open for business during the entire process.
“Every room was gutted and reduced to bare concrete,” Fallon said. “And we put in new bathrooms with new plumbing, new carpeting, new furniture, everything. All 87 hotel rooms were completely renovated and refurnished, along with the lobby, to give us a whole new brand. Before we were a Mediterranean-inspired property, and now we are modern-lifestyle boutique hotel.”
Fallon said the owner of the property determined that the hotel industry was evolving and the decision was made that the Inn on Fifth had to adapt.
“It was getting to the point where we needed a change,” he said. “The way the market is going right now, the boutique hotels are going from being the old type of hotel to being modern, clean and sleek looking, and that’s what we have achieved.”
The Inn’s new design showcases an elegant contemporary décor featuring warm grays, creamy whites and crisp black with bold splashes of red. The renovation added custom-made furniture, carpet and artwork, fresh paint, crown molding and new draperies in the guest rooms. The ballroom and meeting spaces also were updated to reflect the new look and feel of the property, and the lobby and common areas were transformed with new paint, bold wall coverings, new furniture, custom artwork and decorative LED color changing lighting.
Fallon said the popular Terrace Suites located on the front of the hotel that overlook busy Fifth Avenue were given a complete makeover. Each has 550 square feet of luxurious space, with a separate living area and sleeping quarters, as well as a Jacuzzi tub in the bathroom.
“They definitely are the favorite rooms in the hotel,” Fallon said. “We do have nine other suites in the hotel, but the views vary.”
The Inn on Fifth, 699 Fifth Ave. South, located in the heart of Naples and just a few blocks from the beaches of the Gulf of Mexico, also has a beautiful rooftop swimming pool with an on-deck hot tub, and there are nine rooms adjacent to the pool deck, so guests may step out of their room into a sunny chaise lounge at poolside.
“These rooms are also very popular with our guests,” Fallon said, “particularly in the summer months.”The Inn on Fifth also houses an awardwinning, full-service spa, a fitness center open 24-hours a day and ample meeting space. Two restaurants are located on the premises — McCabe’s Irish Pub & Grill, one of Naples’ favorite watering holes, and Truluck’s Seafood Steak and Crab House.
The Inn on Fifth also provides complimentary WiFi and valet parking.
In season, November-December, room rates range from $380 to $600; the starting price falls to $239 in May, then from June to October the rate is $179 a night.
For more information and reservations, call 1-888-403-8778 or go to www.innonfifth.com
