With demand up from business and leisure travelers alike, hotels in California are once again enjoying healthy occupancies, and many are able to command higher rates than in recent times. While posing challenges for buyers, the positive side is that hotel profitability opens the way for renovations, new amenities and new development of everything from destination resorts to downtown boutique hotels.
Here’s a look at noteworthy changes reshaping California’s ever-evolving hotel scene.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco, where the boutique hotel concept was born, has another hip new addition with the Hotel Zetta, a 116-room downtown property with 2,760 square feet of meeting space and a game lounge. Whimsical and recycled elements are featured throughout the public spaces, including a vintage London phone booth, a chandelier strung with sunglasses and a backlit collage of Alcatraz mug shots.
“Our goal with the Hotel Zetta is to create a rejuvenating environment,” says Andrea Sheehan, the property’s interior designer. “Every aspect of the hotel is designed to feel playful and distinct, yet productive and work-conducive.”
Near San Francisco’s Union Square, Charlie Palmer’s Mystic Hotel unveiled the Berlinetta Lounge, a stylish event space available for groups of up to 80. The lounge offers lush seating and a catering menu featuring dishes from Chef Palmer’s Burritt Room + Tavern, also located at the hotel.
Across the Golden Gate Bridge in Sausalito, the Casa Madrona Hotel & Spa is winding up a renovation and restoration of its historic 1885 mansion, hillside cottages and meeting space. The hotel also has a new 3,000-square-foot spa with a treatment menu emphasizing local products.
In the East Bay, the Oakland Marriott City Center recently wrapped up a $17 million refurbishment with the addition of PURE Allergy-Friendly guest rooms designed to be 99.9% allergen-free. PageBreak
Silicon Valley
The completion of a major convention center expansion (see “Space Race” sidebar, page 29) has triggered a wave of rebranding and renovation among San Jose’s downtown hotels, according to Meghan Horrigan, director of communications for Team San Jose, the city’s CVB.
“The convention center has provided us with an opportunity to transform all of downtown,” she says.
Among the rebranded hotels are the former San Jose Crowne Plaza, which is now the Hyatt Place San Jose Downtown, and the former Wyndham Hotel San Jose, which is now the Holiday Inn San Jose-Airport. Two of the city’s most historic properties are also sporting new flags. The Hotel Montgomery is now the Four Points by Sheraton San Jose, and the Sainte Claire Hotel is now part of the Westin brand.
Wine Country
At Meritage Resort and Spa in Napa, a recent expansion doubled meeting space, including the addition of the Estate Cave, which can host wine-pairing dinners for up to 100 in a candlelit atmosphere of vaulted ceilings, and Crush, a casual lounge with bowling lanes.
“Crush is not something you’d expect in Napa, but it’s a great space for groups,” says Sheri Thomas, the venue’s director of sales and marketing. “It’s fun to have a beer and bowl in between all the wine tasting.”
In the Sonoma County hamlet of Glen Ellen, the Olea Hotel recently opened in a 100-year-old building nestled on a hillside under ancient oak and olive trees near Jack London State Historic Park. The boutique property, which has guest rooms and garden cottages, offers gourmet breakfasts, wine tastings and spa services.
Sacramento Area
Northeast of Sacramento, Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln has expanded with a 297-room hotel, a 10,000-square-foot banquet and entertainment facility, meeting rooms and a spa.
Monterey/Santa Cruz
Closed since 2009, the Quail Lodge and Golf Club in Carmel Valley recently reopened after a $28 million renovation of its 90 guest rooms and public areas. PageBreak
CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
Santa Barbara
A new addition to downtown Santa Barbara’s thriving arts district is the 41-room Hotel Indigo, which offers such touches as contemporary artwork, colorful murals and a plant-filled living wall. Other highlights include an art library, a business center, a boardroom, outdoor lounges and the Anchor Woodfire Kitchen and Bar.
The historic El Encanto Hotel in Santa Barbara reopened earlier this year, following a restoration of its 92 bungalows surrounded by gardens. The hotel, now part of the Orient Express collection, offers 10,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space.
Set on 220 acres between Santa Barbara and Los Angeles, the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa completed a guest room renovation that updated technology and replaced traditional Moorish-inspired fabrics and furnishings with modern additions and a light, airy color scheme.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Los Angeles
The Ace Hotel, a new addition to L.A.’s boutique hotel scene, is expected to open later this year in the downtown landmark United Artists building, which is being remodeled to include 180 guest rooms and a 1,600-seat entertainment venue. Another hip newcomer is the Hotel Moment, located in Hollywood’s Guitar Row, which opened in June with 39 guest rooms and a sleek rooftop lounge.
The L.A. Hotel Downtown, which underwent a $20 million renovation and brought a new contemporary design to its 400 guest rooms and 25,000 square feet of meeting space, will soon be rebranded as a Hyatt Regency.
Loews Hotels & Resorts purchased the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel in 2012, renaming it the Loews Hollywood Hotel and completing a $26 million makeover earlier this year. The 632-room property, located on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, has over 120,000 square feet of function areas, including a Dolby Theater and exhibition space. PageBreak
Orange County
Great Wolf Resorts is developing the Great Wolf Lodge, a 600-room resort with a waterpark and 30,000 square feet of meeting space. Located in Garden Grove about a mile from Disneyland, the property is expected to debut in 2015.
The Hyatt Regency Newport Beach completed a $15 million renovation that included new beach-inspired guest room decor and three new pool areas, including one with a lounge and sand beach.
Meanwhile, the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa made significant upgrades to its three presidential suites.
San Diego County
Loews Coronado Bay Resort recently unveiled a complete redesign of its lobby and dining areas, including Market Cafe for casual dining and Mistral, a fine-dining restaurant featuring global fusion cuisine. Also emerging from a makeover is the San Diego Marriott La Jolla, which has a new fitness center, lobby bar and bistro.
Meanwhile, the former Holiday Inn San Diego, now part of the Wyndham Hotel Group, was recently renamed Wyndham San Diego Bayside. The property is set to begin a major renovation in November.
In Escondido, the Stone Hotel is expected to open next year across from the Stone Brewing Co., an award-winning craft brewery. The 40-room hotel will feature an indoor barrel room available for events as well as two acres of outdoor event space.
In northern San Diego County, Pala Casino & Spa Resort wrapped up a $100 million expansion. The 507-room property offers 40,000 square feet of meeting space and four entertainment venues, including a 2,000-seat event center and theater.
Near Valley View, ground has broken on a $150 million expansion of Harrah’s Rincon Casino and Resort, which will include a 403-room hotel tower and a new convention and entertainment center.
Palm Springs
A renovation of the Riviera Palm Springs is putting a playful twist on the city’s Mid-Century Modern heritage with the new Polynesian Chiki Bar & Pool. The iconic property also has 3,000 square feet of new meeting space.
The Curve Palm Springs, which also has a retro vibe, opened on the site of a former Travelodge following a four-year renovation. The Curve offers 157 guest rooms, a lobby bar and cafe, and an event-ready pool deck.
Outside Palm Springs in La Quinta, the La Quinta Resort & Club is now offering golf instruction for groups at its PGA West Golf Academy. The property also renovated its award-winning spa.
