The city of Palm Springs and the surrounding communities remain classic desert retreats. Everyone from meeting attendees to Hollywood celebs escapes to the region to relax and unwind.
The good news for groups is that hotels within the city of Palm Springs are in the midst of a renaissance, as more than $180 million was poured into new properties and renovations since late 2009, while major upgrades have also taken place in many of the surrounding resort communities.
With the addition of new Virgin America flights from San Francisco and New York to Palm Springs International Airport, more people than ever will be able to experience the allure of the desert communities, where visitors can play on world-glass golf courses, be pampered at spa properties and gaze upon scenic desert terrain outside of town.
“There are fewer distractions and no high-rise buildings in Palm Springs, it is almost island-like, without going offshore.” says Scott White, president and CEO of the Palm Springs Desert Resort Communities Convention and Visitors Authority (CVA). “Some of the hotels needed renovations in the last few years, but the great thing is that once one hotel updates, they all tend to.”
With ongoing investment in maintaining the “oasis” brand, Palm Springs aims to continue being a destination where people come to escape the hectic city life and find relaxation and outdoor adventure, with hiking, desert tours and botanical gardens complementing the new and improved property options.
DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT
Though the region is renowned for the many all-encompassing resorts scattered throughout the desert, the city of Palm Springs offers a bustling downtown with numerous hotels and meeting facilities to accommodate groups. According to Hillary Angel, public relations manager for the Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism, there have been several new hotel openings and major property renovations recently, and there are impressive development plans under way throughout the city and wider Coachella Valley.
The Riviera Palm Springs resort is emblematic of this transformation. Opened in 1959, the former Rat Pack haunt and Frank Sinatra hangout was acquired by Noble House Hotels in 2006 and underwent a $70 million renovation. Combining the best of retro glamour and modern amenities, the Riviera boasts 406 rooms and suites, 45,000 square feet of meeting space and two pools. Four dining options include the chic Circa 59 steakhouse and the glitzy sidebar, with an outdoor patio, fire pits and bed lounges.
Joie de Vivre’s Saguaro Palm Springs opened in February, and the 249-room boutique hotel bursts with the vibrant colors of the desert wildflowers. Like the brand’s similarly hued Saguaro Scottsdale, the property takes its design from the local landscape. For groups, there is 7,500 square feet of event space, with an option for poolside events. Meeting rooms, named after local flowers and foliage, offer plenty of natural light and mountain views. The largest ballroom can accommodate 300 guests. El Jefe’s Tequila Bar, one of three dining outlets on-site, showcases 100 varieties of tequila and Mexican small plates.
Ace Hotel & Swim Club and Parker Palm Springs are among the other trendy properties in town.
Upcoming developments include a proposed 499-room Hard Rock Hotel, which will be located next to the Palm Springs Convention Center, boasting 250,000 square feet of indoor function space.
Several hotels have also completed upgrades. The historic Hotel at Spa Resort Casino, sitting atop hot mineral springs, underwent a $2.1 million renovation of its corridors, lobby and guest rooms. Marriott Renaissance Palm Springs and Hyatt Regency Suites also remodeled in 2011.
In addition to the large properties, there are more than 50 smaller hotels offering fewer than 20 rooms but plenty of character and timeless appeal for small groups, and some are modernizing as well. The former Pepper Tree Inn has emerged from a complete remodel to become Alcazar, a 34-room boutique hotel near the city’s design district.
Meanwhile, Palm Springs International Airport is bustling with activity. A new $13.9 million control tower is currently under construction, and the new Virgin America routes from San Francisco and New York have been a success. Virgin will also add daily flights during the Coachella Music Festival in April.
beyond the city limits
The “good hotel energy”, as White describes it, continues as you move away from the airport and Palm Springs proper. The outlying cities of Desert Hot Springs, Indian Wells, Rancho Mirage, Indio, La Quinta, Palm Desert and Cathedral City are also meetings hot spots and have recently seen massive development.
In Rancho Mirage, the new Annenberg Retreat at Sunnylands will cater specifically to high-level groups working to resolve global philanthropic and international relations issues when it opens. The expansive grounds and gardens will be open to the public for tours beginning in March.
The Hyatt Grand Champions in Indian Wells, which offers more than 88,000 square feet of meeting space, completed a $2.2 million renovation of its lobby bar and 26 penthouse suites, and JW Marriott Desert Springs underwent a $25 million renovation of its golf course and 884 guest rooms.
Other current regional projects include The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage, which may open by late 2012 and will feature 20,000 square feet of event space, 260 guest rooms and 30 suites.
still an escape
With all this construction and excitement, planners might worry that Palm Springs will lose the welcoming warmth and tranquil charm that has long attracted groups. But the desert cities are dedicated to preserving the oasis feeling, and the revitalized hotels provide a great home base for attendees to return to after a day spent horseback riding through the nearby Indian Canyons or learning about Palm Springs’ rich history of architecture and design.
The CVA’s White assures visitors that construction disruption will be minimal and that the result will be a more cohesive destination showcasing modernized infrastructure while continuing to highlight the Mid-Century Modern style for which Palm Springs is famous.
“Modernism was instrumental in revitalizing tourism in Palm Springs,” says Robert Imber, operator of Palm Springs Modern Tours and a fountain of knowledge about the historical style.
According to Imber, in addition to being a fun team-building program, many visitors come on his tour, fall in love with Palm Springs desert architecture and quickly inquire about purchasing homes or vacation properties in the area, which speaks volumes about the destination’s allure.
Palm Springs’ relaxed ambiance eliminates distractions and allows attendees to focus on the meeting, White adds.
“It is a true resort experience from the moment you arrive at the airport,” he says. “You don’t get lost in traffic or the hustle and bustle like you do in a big city. Things are easy, there are fewer distractions, and attendees are truly engaged. Groups want to come back here.”
The numerous new hotel options, combined with classic attractions and off-site activities, such as the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, which carries more than 400,000 people up 8,000 feet to the top of the San Jacinto Mountains annually, make Palm Springs an exceedingly attractive destination for groups.
