Hotel Haya Named USA Today's Top 10 New Hotels In Country

TAMPA, FL — Just four months after making its Tampa debut, Hotel Haya at 1412 E. 7th Ave. in Ybor City has been named one of the top 10 Best New Hotels 2020 by USA Today.

USA Today made the announcement Monday. A panel of experts partnered with USA Today's 10Best editors to pick the initial nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote.

Hotel Haya came in No. 2 on the list behind Grand Hyatt Nashville in Tennessee.

The top 10 winners in the category Best New Hotel are as follows:

1. Grand Hyatt Nashville - Nashville
2. Hotel Haya - Tampa
3. The Abbey Inn & Spa - Peekskill, New York
4. The Joseph - Nashville
5. The Roxbury at Stratton Falls - Roxbury, New York
6. Brenton Hotel - Newport, Rhode Island
7. Graduate Tucson - Tucson, Arizona
8. Higgins Hotel - New Orleans
9. Lotte Hotel Seattle - Seattle
10. Surety Hotel - Des Moines, Iowa

Hotel Haya earned extra points for its style and amenities including art by Tampa artists, the outdoor pool and pool bar, the 24-hour fitness center, two on-site restaurant and easy access to the vibrant shopping and nightlife along 7th Avenue in Ybor City.

Hotel Haya, which officially opens on Sept. 24, is the latest hotel to be unveiled by Kevin Robinson and Mario Tricoci of Aparium Hotel Group, whose award-winning properties include Kansas City's Crossroads Hotel, Detroit Foundation Hotel and Minneapolis' Hewing Hotel, to name a few.

Aparium's Hotel Haya is inspired by its namesake, Ignacio Haya, a pioneer in the cigar industry who was known as the city's hero for his philanthropic efforts in Tampa.

To create the hotel, Aparium fused fuses two historic buildings and integrated new construction. One building is the ornate Las Novedades building, Tampa's oldest restaurant, built in 1890. The other is the Warren Building where Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders are rumored to have hung out before heading to Cuba.

The new hotel is designed to combine the Cuban, Italian and Spanish culture, traditions and cuisine of the neighborhood's multicultural history.

"This hotel captures the unique spirit of Ybor City and its people," said Pablo Molinari, general manager of Hotel Haya. "It is a reflection of the community for the community."

The largest property in the Aparium Hotel Group portfolio, Hotel Haya has 178 guest rooms —most of which feature balconies overlooking 7th Avenue.

Ybor City's Alfonso Architects Inc., founded by Cuban-born brothers Albert and Carlos Alfonso, is responsible for the hotel's distinct design, which immerses guests in mid-century Cuban decor featuring period fabrics and palettes of blue, red, brown and gold.

Hotel Haya features exposed brick walls, a repurposed corner "HAYA" sign and contemporary and classic art, including four massive Francisco Goya reproductions, one of the most influential Spanish artists of the 18th and 19th centuries.

"There was a lot to draw from — Ybor City is a melting pot of people, food and music," said Albert Alfonso, founding principal and president of Alfonso Architects. "We wanted a timeless, stylish sensibility that was chic but also inviting for both visitors and local people to come and gather."

They also incorporated the works of contemporary Tampa artists, famed Ybor City-based artist Theo Wujcik (1936-2014) and Chihuly-style glass-blown globes from artisans at the Morean Art Center in St. Pete to mimic the streetlamps of Ybor City.

Hotel Haya's secluded courtyard pool features lush greenery offset by Italian white tile.

At the helm of Hotel Haya's two restaurants is Executive Chef Douglas Rodriguez, recipient of the coveted James Beard Foundation's Rising Star Chef of the Year Award. Flor Fina is an upscale Latin-inspired restaurant featuring wood-grilled coastal cuisine and Café Quiquiriqui is the on-site charming Cuban cafe that will serve as a neighborhood gathering spot.

For more information, visit the website or call 813-568-1200.

See related stories:

• 2 Historic Ybor City Buildings Make Up Soon-To-Open Hotel Haya
• Tampa's Hotel Haya Nominated For USA Today's 10 Best New Hotels