Happenings

• The Monterey Plaza Hotel and Spa (831.646.1700; www.woodsidehotels.com/monterey), located on the city’s famed Cannery Row, completed a $3 million renovation of its meeting facilities in February. In addition, plans are in the works for a lobby upgrade to begin this month and finish by August. The 290-room property features more than 17,000 square feet of meeting space.
  
  
• The Portola Plaza Hotel (831.649.4511; www.portolaplazahotel.com) wrapped up a renovation of several of its guest rooms in March and plans to expand its spa and renovate its courtyard area by early next year. The 379-room hotel is connected to the Monterey Conference Center and houses 20,000 square feet of meeting space.
  
  
• The Hyatt Regency Monterey (831.372.1234; www.monterey.hyatt.com) is in the midst of a $45 million renovation. The first phase of the project was completed in February and included upgrades to the hotel’s lobby, bar and restaurant. The second phase, which began in May and is scheduled for completion in April 2008, will include enhancements to the property’s guest rooms. The third phase will start and end next year and include the addition of an 8,000-square-foot spa. The 575-room hotel touts 40,000 square feet of meeting space.
  
  
• Carmel-by-the-Sea’s La Playa Hotel (831.624.6476; www.laplayahotel.com) expects to finish a renovation of its five guest cottages, located one block from the resort, this month. The resort offers groups 75 guest rooms in its main lodge and more than 4,900 square feet of gathering space.
  
  
• Construction began last year on the new Cannery Row Hotel (650.347.8260; www.phmhotels.com). The $70 million oceanfront property will be located along Monterey’s Cannery Row and is slated to open by summer 2008 with 208 guest rooms, 8,900 square feet of indoor meeting space and a 3,200-square-foot outdoor courtyard for group gatherings.

• After finishing a $6 million guest room renovation last May, Chaminade (831.475.5600; www.chaminade.com) plans to begin another upgrade focused on its main building and restaurant in November and finish the project early next year. The 156-room resort offers 12,000 square feet of meeting space.

• Construction is under way on the new Inn at Harbor Village (650.726.4402; www.sanmateocountycvb.com), situated in Princeton Harbor. The hotel is slated to open in August with 96 guest rooms, three meeting rooms and a ballroom.

1br> Marin County

• The Lodge at Tiburon (415.435.3133; www.thelodgeattiburon.com), located a block away from San Francisco Bay, finished a $6 million facility-wide renovation last year. The project included the reconstruction of the hotel’s lobby, guest rooms, restaurant, sky deck, and meeting space. The 102-room hotel offers 4,000 square feet of indoor meeting space and several outdoor configurations for group events.

• Mendocino Hotel and Garden Suites (707.937.0511; www.mendocinohotel.com) completed a guest room renovation last year. The 51-room hotel offers several space configurations for meetings, from a conference room, dining area and garden room to an outdoor area for tented events.
  
  
• The Stevenswood Resort and Spa (707.937.1237; www.stevenswood.com) opened a new spa and exercise room last year. The country inn-style property, located about three miles south of Mendocino in Littleriver, houses 10 suites and space for groups to gather in its banquet room, Forest View Veranda and outdoor deck.