California
- Joie de Vivre recently added a sixth property to its Silicon Valley collection with the opening of the Best Western Avatar Hotel in Santa Clara. The former Holiday Inn transformed into a 168-room boutique hotel. Guest room amenities include complimentary wired and wireless Internet access and 37-inch flat-screen televisions. In the landscaped courtyard, a new fitness center overlooks the Avatar’s outdoor heated pool and Jacuzzi spa. The hotel also offers complimentary Wednesday night "Beer & Brats" barbecues, where draft microbrews and hot dogs are served by the poolside in the evenings. In addition, preferred corporate guests have exclusive access to the Commons, an interactive business lounge with free Wi-Fi. The Commons also features two Nintendo Wii game consoles, vintage board games, a flat-screen television and massage chairs. Guests can host informal meetings in the lounge or book formal meetings in The Garage, the executive conference room that accommodates up to 50 people. For more information, call 408.235.8900 or visit www.jdvhotels.com.
- After two years of extensive renovation, Berkeley’s Hotel Shattuck Plaza reopened in September. The hotel features 199 redesigned guest rooms, a renovated ballroom and nearly 8,000 square feet of meeting space. The 2,856-square-foot Crystal Ballroom has existed since the hotel’s inception in 1910 and features a landscaped adjoining courtyard. For more information, call 510. 845.7300 or visit www.hotelshattuckplaza.com.
- The Holiday Inn Irvine South/Irvine Spectrum recently debuted in Lake Forest. The $22 million property offers 148 guest rooms and more than 900 square feet of meeting space. Amenities include high-speed Internet access, a fitness center
and an outdoor pool and spa. For more information, call 949.455.7000 or visit
www.ichotelsgroup.com. - The Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Los Angeles Airport Hawthorne opened in October. The 120-room property features an outdoor pool and more than 1,000 square feet of meeting space. For more information, call 310.722.2707 or visit www.ichotelsgroup.com.
Hawaii
- The St. Regis Princeville Resort, on the island of Kauai, debuted in September after closing last year for a rebranding and renovations. The resort offers 252 guest rooms, including 51 premium ocean view suites. The hotel also features the 10,000-square-foot Halelea Spa, 12,000 square feet of meeting space and an outdoor event lawn. The resort’s Grand Ballroom accommodates functions of up to 500 within its 6,616 square feet and can be divided into four sections. Other event spaces include the 2,868-square-foot Bay Terrace and five conference rooms that offer an additional 3,128 square feet. For more information, call 808.826.9644 or visit www.stregisprinceville.com.
Utah
- The 123-room Hyatt Place Salt Lake City Airport opened in September. Guest rooms feature a media center with a Hyatt Plug Panel, a special connectivity tool that allows electronic devices to plug directly into the 42-inch high-definition television. Other amenities include a fitness center and complimentary Wi-Fi access throughout the hotel. For more information, call 801.363.1400 or visit www.saltlakecityairport.place.hyatt.com.