TROPICAL NIGHTS

VIPs Hob Nob
BY DAISY OLIVERA

HIS EXCELLENCE

Some titles are given, some are inherited and some are earned. Michael Capponi, one of South Beach's most visible nightlife promoters has been appointed to the posh job of ''Social Ambassador'' -- a first in the famed hotel's history -- at the recently opened Ritz-Carlton in Miami Beach, which is a complete restoration of a Morris Lapidus hotel built in 1953.

And he earned it. Capponi is already throwing his trademark bashes at the hotel, starting with invitation-only private parties for groups of his close friends and business associates in the sleek, wood-paneled Lapidus Lounge (named for Miami Beach's pioneer architect, who designed the Fontainebleau and the Eden Roc and whose luxury high-rise hotels defined American resorts in the 1950s).

But this is just the warm-up to get the social set acquainted with the new hotel and to tease them for events to come. With Capponi's South Beach savvy, the five-star luxury hotel will be able to successfully navigate the treacherous waters of a fickle nightlife crowd with the attention span of a sand fly. Venues that succeed elsewhere may not thrive here with the same formula. The elegant, multilingual Capponi will oversee nightlife activities and no doubt will create a success as he has done with clubs like B.E.D. and Privé.

The Belgian-born Capponi grew up in Miami and began his promoting career as a teenager, passing out fliers on his skateboard for the Palace Grill. The turnout for this Friday fte was heavy with Miami and beach society and the business community -- the open bar was donated by Bacardi and Turi Vodka.

The crowd of more than 250 spilled out onto the poolside terrace and they included philanthropists Dr. Sanford and Dolores Ziff; marketing specialist Melina Ledakis; jewelry designer Ani Lagos; developer Juan González; Dr. Silvio García and wife Odalys; Dr. Peter Martínez-Noda and wife Zurami Pascual; Anthony and Alina Shriver; attorney Genilde Guerra. A bubbly Mari Alarcón -- after a much publicized, lengthy divorce from husband and radio mogul Raul Alarcón -- was celebrating the final divorce papers received earlier that day.