Fist-pumping fun

LINDA VILLAFANE, Loews Miami Beach Hotel & Loews Coral Gables Hotel

WORK • Thursday Routine

LINDA VILLAFANE • area director of public relations • Loews Miami Beach Hotel & Loews Coral Gables Hotel
City you live in: Fort Lauderdale

It’s Thursday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
I oversee all PR initiatives, strategic communications, and social media efforts for the Loews Miami Beach Hotel and the Loews Coral Gables Hotel. I’m an early riser and love to hop on my Peloton to set intentions and dial in for the day. I begin the work day by reading, scanning local and national headlines in the travel and hospitality space and travel trades. I check our media monitoring system for new press placements, and send an email out hotelwide to each property with the latest coverage. When I’m at the hotels, I like to walk the properties and say hello to our team, and see who our guests are on that particular day.

What’s on the agenda for today?
It’s season in Miami, which means events to plan and news to share. I’m in the middle of coordinating a photoshoot at the Gables hotel and finalizing our Loews Miami Beach Art Basel partnerships with SCOPE Art Show and Jonathan Carver Moore — our first ever Gallerist in Residence, who’ll bring his San Francisco gallery to life in our lobby.

Any bar or restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
To kick off the weekend, my husband will make old fashioneds as part of our Old Fashioned Friday tradition. I bought him a tabletop smoker for his birthday, so he’s enjoying smoking cocktails. My hometown bestie will be visiting and we’re taking her to dinner at Martorano’s for maximum, fist-pumping Italian fun. It’s my favorite Italian spot in South Florida — a completely different experience, with the legendary Steve Martorano DJing on the weekends, classic mob movies playing, and an excellent menu of homemade Philly Italian dishes. If the weather behaves, we’ll head to Coconuts for cocktails and oysters. If it doesn’t, we’ll early bird it at Runway 84 for cocktails and apps. 

When in Miami, you can find me at Macchialina for dinner, Hillstone for lunch, or Aba for cocktails. 

How about a little leisure or culture?
I’m a live-music lover and an old school R&B, hip hop, and Latin music devotee. I spend a lot of time going to shows. This year I’ve seen Dru Hill, Ginuwine, Shai, Bobby Valentino, Bad Bunny, Drake, Lil Wayne, Justin Timberlake and most recently Bush. 

Any weekend getaways? 
I just returned from an epic stay at the Banyan Tree Mayakoba in Playa del Carmen. We shared a beautiful three-bedroom, oceanfront villa with two other couples and we had a private section of beach and a pool. It was a first-class experience. Orlando is another favorite weekend escape to get our theme park fix every year. I love staying at one of Loews Hotels & Co's eight hotels (soon to be 11) properties at Universal Orlando Resort.

What was your last great vacation?
We own a home down the Jersey Shore on Long Beach Island, where my husband grew up. I love rooftop drinks at Hotel LBI, jet skiing across the bay for lunch at The Boatyard, eating clam pizza at Bird & Betty’s, and sipping frozen espresso martinis with fresh local oysters at Triton. Chef Vola’s in Atlantic City (just 30 mins from LBI) is also a must. It’s an institution and very hard to get a reservation, since everything is still done via phone and call back (if you’re lucky). Once you’re there, though, you can expect a phenomenal Italian-American, comfort food experience. 

What store or service do you always recommend?
The Fish Peddler East is the only place I buy fresh seafood.