A Miami Beach hotel featured in the video for the Jonas Brothers song “Cool” has come under fire for attracting criminal activity instead of throngs of the group's curious fans.
“That property has been a real problem for us,” Miami Beach Police Department’s North Beach Neighbourhood Resource Officer Julio Blanco told city commissioners recently, according to Re:MiamiBeach.
In the “Cool” video, the Jonas Brothers perform on the pool deck of the International Inn for a group of seniors.
But, in real life, police are frequently called to the hotel to investigate reports of prostitution, thefts by prostitutes, assaults, trespassing, and disorderly conduct. Blanco said narcotics investigators are very familiar with the hotel.
Police responded to 95 calls at the hotel last year, up from 71 in 2017 (when there was an arrest for human trafficking). There have been 62 calls already this year.
“The numbers for this year are worse than last year, in particular prostitution crimes, and that’s a little concerning,” said Blanco.
Commissioners heard how the hotel, which is not on the beach and doesn’t have a bar or restaurant, is “only going to attract a certain type of clientele.”
The problems at the International Inn were raised after owner Belsa Tsay sought permission to build an eight-storey addition to the hotel, which opened in 1956, and to add a restaurant and lobby bar.
On travel review site TripAdvisor, the hotel currently averages 2.5 stars out of five. Guests have described it as “pleasant” and “funky” to “hideous” and "kind of gross.”
In the 2007 movie Reno 911!: Miami, the International Inn was portrayed as a crime- and insect-infested hotel with a sleazy front desk clerk.