Stay up to date on the latest venue openings and property renovations, including these found in the West.
California
This spring, the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa will transform into VEA Newport Beach, a Marriott Resort & Spa. The property is undergoing a complete top-to-bottom refresh, including new coastal-inspired luxury guest rooms, two new suite categories, three new restaurant and bar concepts, a wellness spa and expansive new indoor and outdoor event spaces.
The updated lobby will bring the outside in by opening up an entire wall of the space to create a truly indoor-outdoor experience. A new restaurant and lounge—serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, described as “Mediterranean in flair and California in lifestyle”—will feature fire pits, cozy seating, live music, abundant greenery and ocean and golf course views.
Planners can work with more than 60,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space, including an ocean-facing event lawn with a classic Southern California backdrop. Other spaces include a new outdoor event lawn adjacent to the ballrooms and a new indoor/outdoor flex event space behind the property overlooking the coast.
Colorado
In February the Mile High City welcomed Thompson Denver in the Lower Downtown (LoDo) district. The new-build hotel is positioned near key attractions like the 16th Street Promenade, Union Station, Larimer Square, Coors Field and plenty of popular eateries and craft breweries.
The property brings with it a new restaurant from celebrated chef Ludo Lefebvre, marking his first concept outside of Los Angeles. Chez Maggy is a 90-seat, ground-floor brasserie open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Lefebvre blends his signature French style with hyperlocal inspiration from the region’s mountain climate. The restaurant gets its name from Lefebvre’s late mother-in-law, who lived in nearby Littleton, Colorado.
On the sixth floor, guests will find Reynard Social, a sunroom and bar lounge with a menu of après-inspired dishes and craft cocktails. Planners can make use of a private dining space and bar tucked into the mezzanine for up to 60 guests, as well as meeting and event venues centered around the two-story hearth fireplace.
[Related: Western Mountain Resorts Are Geared for Rekindling Organizational Connections]
Washington
Revered Seattle property Fairmont Olympic Hotel will welcome a new signature restaurant, The George, on April 4. The restaurant completes the hotel’s $25 million restoration that kicked off in January 2020. The project also involved updates to the grand lobby and event spaces, as well as a new Olympic Bar and a one-of-a-kind kinetic art installation.
The George will seat 100 and offer bar and lounge seating for 20, as well as a private dining room for 12. The restaurant will serve breakfast daily and dinner Tuesday through Saturday initially with weekend brunch and lunch service commencing later this spring.
Under the helm of executive chef Thomas Cullen, the menu will comprise fresh seafood (a must-try in the Pacific Northwest), dry-aged meats and seasonal fruits and vegetables from local farmers. Signature dishes will include a traditional French bouillabaisse and a seafood tower with a selection of crab, oysters, prawns, mussels, clams, geoduck and bay scallops.
A Wellness Haven for Small Meetings
Nestled in the heart of charming downtown San Luis Obispo, on California’s Central Coast, the newly opened Hotel Cerro is a haven for small meetings and events. The boutique hotel boasts 65 guest rooms, a full-service spa and a rooftop pool with 360-degree views.
Noteworthy wellness details can be found throughout the property, including a true farm-to-table experience. The property has its own edible garden and green wall, allowing guests to explore the growing seasonal herbs, fruits and vegetables used daily in the hotel’s restaurants. This includes Brasserie SLO, a modern French eatery with a Coastal twist. It also houses its own artisan distillery crafting spirits and liquors utilizing local botanicals.
The onsite Spa Cerro offers unique treatments like a chromotherapy cascade water treatment. Guests can also use complimentary Hotel Cerro bikes. Built with LEED Silver specifications, the property was designed with retrofitting two original building facades, resulting in exposed brick and beams found throughout guest rooms and suites.
Intimate meeting spaces, for up to 75 guests, include the second-floor Olive Tree, a light, airy venue with glass doors and natural light; and the Penthouse Loft for up to 20 people for cocktails.
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