When Expectations Are High, Partnership Matters

Originally opened in 1965 and reimagined through a $1 billion redevelopment, Pier Sixty-Six has returned as a landmark waterfront destination in Fort Lauderdale. But as the property prepared to deliver a luxury guest experience across its expansive resort environment, leadership knew that the experience would ultimately be defined by something more important than the physical surroundings.

For Kevin Ives, General Manager of Pier Sixty-Six, the people delivering hospitality are what make the property stand out.

“The resounding feedback from our guests is that things feel different here than they do in other places. The people in our building who deliver that service experience are really the defining quality of Pier Sixty-Six.”
- Kevin Ives | General Manager, Pier Sixty-Six

That belief shaped the property's expectations not only for guest service, but for the programs and partners supporting the teams responsible for delivering it every day.

Supporting a Complex Hospitality Environment

Luxury hospitality requires consistency across countless guest interactions.

At Pier Sixty-Six, that responsibility extends across a large resort environment that includes multiple dining venues, banquet operations, guest-facing departments and support functions. Teams represent the property in a wide range of roles, each contributing to the guest experience in different ways.

For the leadership team, success meant more than maintaining appearance standards. It meant creating an experience that consistently reflected the property's hospitality philosophy.

As Kevin Ives explained:

“A hospitality experience has to go beyond checking the boxes for luxury. You can deliver a technically perfect experience and still not make somebody feel good.”

Meeting that standard required more than apparel alone. It required a collaborative approach capable of supporting the property's broader vision for hospitality.

A Program Built Around Partnership

To help bring that vision to life, Pier Sixty-Six worked with Cintas on a blended program that included Purchase Apparel, Rental Apparel and Uniform Room — helping support a variety of team and operational needs across the property.

As the newly redeveloped property continued to evolve, flexibility became an important part of the relationship.

The team's willingness to adapt and respond to changing needs played a significant role in the program's success.

“We had unrealistic expectations for how the process would go at times, and the answer was always, ‘Yes, we'll figure out a way to make it happen.’”
- Kevin Ives | General Manager, Pier Sixty-Six

That responsiveness helped establish a partnership focused on solving challenges, supporting teams and helping the property maintain the presentation standards expected at a premier hospitality destination.

A Successful Program and a Trusted Relationship

As part of the broader relationship, Design Collective by Cintas developed a Purchase Apparel Program inspired by the property's waterfront identity, South Florida setting and guest-facing environments. The wardrobe later earned a 2026 NAUMD Image of the Year Award in the Lodging category, providing independent recognition of the apparel program's design excellence.

The program has also attracted attention from hospitality professionals visiting the property.

“I tour people from other properties who want to see what we’re doing. They’ll say, ‘I love your front desk uniforms. Who designed them?’
I tell them, ‘Cintas. Give them a shot.’”
- Kevin Ives | General Manager, Pier Sixty-Six

For Pier Sixty-Six, success was not defined by a single collection or implementation milestone. It was defined by having a partner willing to collaborate, adapt and support the property's vision as the guest experience continued to evolve.

By combining ongoing support, collaborative problem-solving and apparel solutions tailored to the property's needs, Cintas helped Pier Sixty-Six create a program that supports both team presentation and the hospitality experience guests expect from one of South Florida's most recognizable waterfront destinations.

“It's been a wildly successful program for us. I would absolutely recommend it or take it to the next property in a heartbeat.”
- Kevin Ives | General Manager, Pier Sixty-Six

Explore how Cintas helps hospitality leaders support their people, strengthen presentation and simplify apparel programs across complex operations.