Everyone who passes through the portals of The Royal Palms Resort – or crosses the sleek marble threshold into the brand-new boutique hotel – is struck by a perfect-pitch service. It's an enveloping aura of personal care and attention to detail – harmonious as a Japanese tea ceremony yet unobtrusive.

You sense the exquisite standard of service from the moment your smiling host greets you at check-in with a handshake, followed by a personal handwritten welcome note in your luxurious room. It's evident as well in the lavender- and eucalyptus-infused towels on offer by the pool, and the almost obsessive standards of gay housekeeping, insuring that the places you see are as fresh and spotless as the ones that out of sight.

"We reign supreme, always, in customer service," says Royal Palms founder Richard Gray. "I think that's where we're king."

"It's a matter of setting an example," adds the prize-winning innkeeper, whose magnum opus is The Royal Palms' new boutique hotel addition – 50 rooms of sleek, minimalist, luxury opening April 11 and setting a new benchmark in all-male resorts and luxe gay accommodations for South Florida and North America.

From check-in to poolside, from the bar to the spa to the grill, how does impresario Gray keep staff in sync with the single-minded goal of keeping guests happy? "You lead by example," Richard says. "I'm hands-on. You take time and be patient with all your staff, so they know exactly where you are and know exactly what you want. It's about being available for the staff, never being too busy to have a moment for them, as well. So it's a two-way street. That's key to being a good leader."

And with your guests, he adds, "It's all about a smile and being sensitive to their wishes. The focus always is the guest experience. And resolving any issues that may arise."

A far cry from its origins as a gay bed-and-breakfast, the new hotel at The Royal Palms raises the bar to a higher standard of full luxury service.

"My three words that captured the spirit of the guesthouse," says Gray were "luxury, charm, and magic. The mantra for the new hotel is sleek, stylish, and sexy " with a handle on the charm and magic, thus widening its appeal to a younger, edgier gay crowd.

The Royal Palms offers something new: a boutique gay accommodation with the privacy and energy of a hotel – complete with a gay bar, clothing-optional pool, extraordinary dining, a full-service spa and gym, and a new gay bar that's the talk of Ft Lauderdale and closest to the beach. Whichever place to stay you choose, RP guests enjoy access to the lush intimacy of the guesthouse's garden, pool, and Jacuzzi, as well as all the hotel's amenities. Guest rooms vibrate with pops of color against a white backdrop; rain showers spill onto pebbled floors; and original artworks from photographer Dennis Dean hit a sensual note. All rooms come with 42-inch flat-screen TVs, and the RP's signature orchid blossoms still accompany each stay—along with complimentary WiFi throughout the property, and access to iPad 2s, mobile phones, white bicycles, and the ultimate guest amenity: a sleek 54 foot private luxury yacht, available for guest excursions, celebrations and commitment ceremonies.

Looking for sand and sun? The Sebastian Street gay beach, the hottest in South Florida, is a few blocks away. Hankering for gay nightlife? The bars and clubs of Las Olas Boulevard and Wilton Manors are in the neighborhood. And if you want to take a dip into the gay South Beach and Miami scenes, avoid the big-city hassles of a Miami gay hotel and make Fort Lauderdale your home base.

Not that there's any reason to leave RP's cocoon of luxury. A gay vacation at The Royal Palms is a gift box that opens to reveal more gift-wrapped delights within. Tying it all together blue-ribbon service – attentive but never obtrusive. It all conjures a relaxed vibe where anything can happen.

Escaping the chill starts with a click – check it all out at www.royalpalms.com and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/royalpalmsresort.