California
Santa Barbara, Calif.’s El Encanto Resort reopened in March. Operated by Orient Express, the seven-acre property is home to 92 restored bungalows and 9,820 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space, including an arbor and lily pond area with space for 200 guests. Other event options include a 3,000-square-foot ballroom, the private Wine Room or the Fireside patio.
The 100-room Westin Sacramento will open in April. The former Le Rivage hotel underwent a $3.2 million renovation and offers 7,000 square feet of function space.
The 149-room Sierra Nevada Lodge in Mammoth Lakes reopened in February following a three-year, multimillion-dollar renovation. Six chalets and 15 fireplace suites were added. The lodge’s Mountain View room can accommodate up to 100 people for meetings and private functions.
The San Francisco Marriott Marquis will complete a $90 million renovation this summer. The 10-year project upgraded all 1,499 guest rooms and 117,000 square feet of function space.
Colorado
Marriott has resumed negotiations surrounding the $824 million, 1,500-room Aurora Gaylord hotel and conference project, which was postponed when Gaylord Entertainment was acquired by Marriott last year.
Hawaii
The 343-room Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows on the Island of Hawaii will undergo a $38 million renovation this year. Inspired by the property’s “aquacultural” past, and the project will include new pool areas. More than 18,000 square feet of conference space is available.
Oregon
The 11,000-square-foot Portland Aquarium opened in late 2012 in Milwaukie with 12 hands-on exhibits. Otters and puffins are arriving this spring.
Washington
The SBE group agreed to begin work on a 184-room SLS Seattle hotel to open in 2016 and occupy 14 floors of a downtown office building. The project will include 30,000 square feet of dining outlets and 20,000 square feet of meeting space.
Utah
The 162-room Embassy Suites Salt Lake/West Valley City is now open in West Valley City, following a multimillion-dollar renovation. The hotel offers 7,500 square feet of meeting space.