Downtown San Diego
- The Hard Rock Hotel San Diego (619.702.3000; www.hardrockhotelsd.com) opened in November in the Gaslamp Quarter. The property features 420 guest rooms with “floating” cantilevered furniture, home theater entertainment centers with LCD televisions and halo-illuminated beds. The 12-story hotel has 40,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor banquet and meeting space, along with a hip lounge and sky bar, a spa, a fitness center, a state-of-the-art screening room, a pool deck with private cabanas, a 7,000-square-foot music venue, and a NOBU signature restaurant by Japanese celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa.
- The Ivy Hotel (619.814.1000; www.ivyhotel.com) recently debuted adjacent to the Gaslamp Quarter. The 159-room boutique property features 10,000 square feet of meeting space; a rooftop deck; and Envy, a four-level nightclub.
- The former Pickwick Hotel reopened last year as the Sofia Hotel (619.234.9200; www.thesofiahotel.com) following a $16 million renovation. Built in 1926, the 212-room hotel retains its Gothic architecture and offers amenities such as a business center with conference space for up to 88 people and a 24-hour fitness center with an on-call personal trainer and yoga studio.
- The Wyndham San Diego was reflagged the Westin San Diego Emerald Plaza (619.239.4500; www.westin.com) in April 2007. The property recently completed a $10 million renovation of its 436 guest rooms and 22,000 square feet of meeting space.
- The 1,190-room Hilton San Diego Convention Center Hotel (800.HILTONS; www.hilton.com) is scheduled to open in late 2008. Located next to the San Diego Convention Center and across from PETCO Park, the $335 million property will have 165,000 square feet of meeting space; a 7,300-square-foot health club and spa; 3,000 square feet of retail space; and a 2,400-square-foot business center.
- Setai San Diego (619.702.6666; www.setaisandiego.com), a luxury condo-hotel, is slated to open early this year. The property’s 185 guest rooms and suites will range in size from 400 square feet to 2,700 square feet and will utilize marble and exotic woods and feature 10-foot ceilings and balconies overlooking the Gaslamp Quarter. The 22-story hotel will also feature a restaurant, a 5,000-square-foot spa, a ballroom, seven meeting rooms, a 30-seat screening room, a recording studio, a fitness center, and a pool deck with private cabanas.
Mission Bay
- The 357-room Hilton San Diego (619.276.4010; www.sandiegohilton.com) recently completed the first phase of a $13 million renovation, including the refurbishment of guest rooms and the addition of a 7,500-square-foot spa. The resort pool will be closed until March 8 for renovations.
- The Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa and Marina (619.224.1234; www.missionbay.hyatt.com) unveiled a $60 million transformation in January. The project included renovations to guest rooms and the grounds of the hotel, as well as several new amenities, such as a luxury eco-spa, a signature waterfront restaurant, a poolside bar and lounge, and three pools with waterslides. The property’s 30,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor function space also received upgrades, including new executive meeting rooms with built-in audiovisual equipment and high-speed Internet access.
Mission Valley
- Town and Country Resort & Convention Center (619.291.7131; www.towncountry.com) recently began construction on a two-phase renovation that includes remodeling the pool, whirlpool and existing pool decks, adding water features and a large signature fountain, completely remodeling the Terrace Pavilion with an upscale tropical feel, re-landscaping the Rose Garden, and adding a stage for outdoor performances and events. Last year, Town and Country also unveiled the 41,000-square-foot Grand Exhibit Hall and completed a renovation of its 1,000 guest rooms and suites. The new exhibit hall brings the property’s total square footage of meeting space to 230,000.
- The former Red Lion Hanalei became the Crowne Plaza San Diego (619.297.1101; www.crowneplaza.com) in May 2007 following a $7 million renovation that included the conversion of the 4,000-square-foot Peacock Restaurant into meeting space. The 416-room hotel is planning to open a new 8,000-square-foot ballroom this year.
Coronado
- The Hotel del Coronado (619.435.6611; www.hoteldel.com) recently completed an expansion that included the Beach Village, encompassing 78 beachfront suites offering two to three bedrooms along with living rooms, gourmet kitchens, fireplaces, spa tubs, flat-screen TVs, and balconies, some of which have private hot tubs. The hotel also recently opened a new spa with 21 treatment rooms and a private terrace with an infinity-edge swimming pool.
- Loews Coronado Bay Resort and Spa (619.424.4000; www.loewshotels.com) recently finished a $7 million renovation of its 440 guest rooms, suites and bayside villas.
La Jolla
- La Jolla’s Grande Colonial Hotel (858.454.2181; www.thegrandecolonial.com) recently completed a $4 million historical restoration project on the adjacent Little Hotel by the Sea and Garden Terraces. The two properties retain their original names but are now part of The Grand Colonial. The restoration added 18 new suites to the hotel, each with full kitchens or kitchenettes.
- The former Radisson Hotel La Jolla was reflagged the Sheraton La Jolla (858.453.5500; www.sheraton/lajolla.com) last year. The 252-room property underwent a $5.5 million renovation that included upgrades to guest rooms, public areas and meeting space.
Chula Vista
- Pending local approvals, Gaylord Entertainment (615.316.6000; www.gaylordentertainment.com) is hoping to break ground in 2009 on a 1,500- to 2,000-room waterfront hotel with up to 500,000 square feet of meeting space.
San Diego North
- The Grand Del Mar (858.350.7600; www.thegranddelmar.com) opened in October next to Del Mar’s Los Penasquitos Canyon Reserve. The luxury property offers 249 guest rooms and suites, a Tom Fazio-designed golf course, a 21,000-square-foot, full-service spa, and 20,000 square feet of meeting space that includes a 10,000-square-foot grand ballroom.
- The Rancho Bernardo Inn (858.675.8500; www.ranchobernardoinn.com) incorporated suggestions from a panel of meeting planners in the resort’s $25 million renovation, completed in July 2007. Facilities include a new 27,000-square-foot conference center with a 15,000-square-foot ballroom, a totally remodeled spa with outdoor fireplaces, a new 2,500-square-foot pool and hot tub, and completely refurbished guest rooms with enlarged work spaces and complimentary Wi-Fi.
- La Costa Resort and Spa (760.438.9111; www.lacosta.com) in Carlsbad unveiled the Executive Learning Center last year. Accommodating up to 84 people, the center was designed to meet criteria set by the IACC.
- The Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa (760.827.2400; www.sheratoncarlsbad.com) is scheduled to open Feb. 7. The property will offer 129 guest rooms and panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean. The resort will expand to 250 guest rooms by summer. Amenities will include a 4,600-square-foot spa and more than 25,000 square feet of flexible indoor and outdoor meeting space.
- L’Auberge Del Mar Resort & Spa (858.259.1515; www.laubergedelmar.com) is slated to reopen in June following the completion of a $25 million renovation. The project includes the transformation of more than 10,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space. Other amenities will include a new restaurant and wine bar, a white pearl-bottomed pool and a luxury spa.