Standing on the site of the old Del Monte Cannery, the new InterContinental The Clement Monterey is both a testament to Cannery Row’s storied past while also a forward-looking part of its vibrant present.
The 208-room property, which opened in May and sits smack-dab next to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, is the first new hotel to be built in Monterey since the late 1980s and took some 20 years to work its way through the development process.
A clapboard structure marked by architectural elements such as corrugated metal and used brick, the InterContinental looks right at home in its surroundings. A central courtyard with fire pits faces right out onto Monterey Bay, so close to the water that the possibility of spotting otters or a pod of dolphins could easily be an occurrence as attendees sip Chardonnay during outdoor receptions.
Group business at the hotel is expected to be about 50 percent of its overall total, according to Director of Sales and Marketing Cathy Faber, who says that smaller meetings of less than 120 people will be the main focus. Included in the hotel’s 15,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space are two ballrooms with picture windows framing the bay.
“We’re a little small for the larger sales meetings that a lot of the high-tech firms do, but we’re ideal for their CEO roundtables or executive retreats,” Faber says, adding that the adjacent Monterey Bay Aquarium will play no small part in the InterContinental’s meetings business. “A lot of groups will have a reception here and then do a dinner at the aquarium. The beauty is that there’s no transportation required.”
Accommodations at the hotel feature natural wood, marble and glass finishes and sport luxurious bathrooms with soaking tubs and walk-in showers. Many rooms also have fireplaces and balconies.
The hotel also offers the C Restaurant + Bar, which overlooks the bay and serves up fresh seafood, Angus beef and local organic produce. Health, wellness and fitness programs are provided by Monterey-based Energia Body Centre at the hotel’s full-service spa.
The InterContinental is offering group rates that typically range from $189 to $289, depending on season and time of week, Faber says.
“Our business is shaping up to be what’s strongest in Monterey—technology, medical, agribusiness, education—these are the big players here,” she says.
For More Info
InterContinental The Clement Monterey 831.375.4500 www.intercontinental.com
