Travel News: Kimpton’s EPIC, a downtown Miami luxury lifestyle, waterfront boutique hotel, was recently chosen as a Top 10 Luxury Hotel, a Top 10 Trendiest Hotel, and a Top 25 Hotel in the U.S. by TripAdvisor® in its 2010 Travelers’ Choice® Awards. Now in its eighth year, the annual TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice awards honor the world’s best hotels, earning their distinction from those who know them best – real travelers.

Unlike most other hotel awards programs, TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice winners are based on the millions of real and unbiased hotel reviews and opinions on tripadvisor.com™, and content from across the web. The TripAdvisor community writes over 30 million trusted traveler reviews and opinions that include best and worst vacation descriptions, attraction suggestions and photos.

“Inspired by the millions of trusted traveler reviews and opinions on TripAdvisor.com, the Travelers’ Choice awards have once again highlighted the finest hotels in the world,” said Christine Petersen, chief marketing officer for TripAdvisor. “From remarkable bargains to the trendiest hotels, travelers worldwide are recognizing more than 700 hotels for their outstanding service, value and quality.”

The EPIC is included in the national rankings for its excellence in luxury accommodations, representation of style and trends, and overall customer satisfaction. With 93 percent of all reviewers’ recommendations, the EPIC is named the “best choice in Miami downtown”.

“Given our mission and the efforts of our staff and team to provide an exceptional experience to each guest that stays with us, this ranking is truly gratifying, and inspires us to continue to live up to our name by doing all the big and little things that consistently deliver – as one guest put it – a ‘truly epic’ experience,” said Joseph Schwingler, general manager, EPIC Hotel.

Superior service, inimitable style, and an unmatched overall guest experience define what visitors can expect from EPIC. In fact, the hotel strives to create what it calls the EPIC Lifestyle based on its offerings matched to the personality, expectations and preferences of its guests. Specifically, the EPIC Lifestyle embodies a sensibility and appreciation for sophisticated and artful experiences that touch all the senses.

In addition to the hotel’s contemporary, design-driven look and feel, and top-rated service, the elements of the EPIC Lifestyle include superlative dining provided by Area 31, with its critically acclaimed Mediterranean-inspired menu of fresh, premium seafood, and recent accolades as “One of the Best New Restaurants of 2009” by Esquire magazine as part of their annual Best New Restaurants list. The EPIC Lifestyle also touches the mind, body and spirit with Exhale, a unique spa concept that combines therapeutic services with a host of offerings including proprietary core fusion classes, spa therapies and transformational mind body fitness experiences, and much more. And for those looking to enjoy the vibe and pulse of Miami by night, guests can step into River Lounge, Miami’s lively and newest indoor/outdoor hotspot by the river offering music and cocktails.

Managed by Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, EPIC offers 411 spacious rooms and suites artfully designed with custom furnishings and fine fabrics, and all feature private balconies that provide views of the city and bay. Rooms offer a wide range of amenities to provide a relaxing and indulgent experience, including fine Italian linens with luxurious triple sheeting and throw blankets, LCD flat screen televisions, iPod docking stations, and spa-inspired luxury bath amenities. Other hotel offerings include complimentary WiFi throughout the hotel and in every guest room for Kimpton InTouch Members.