CALIFORNIA
Sonesta International Hotels Corporation is now in the
San Francisco market with the addition of The Clift
Royal Sonesta Hotel to its portfolio. The 372-room hotel
first opened in 1915 and the lobby alone is a living
gallery, including pieces from Philippe Starck, Michel
Haillard and more. The hotel is located just off Union
Square and offers 12,500 square feet of event space.
There are 11 meeting and breakout rooms that can
accommodate groups of up to 350. www.sonesta.com
Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara
reopened. After a nearly five-month closure caused
by the California mudslides, the property has been
restored, including extensive landscaping and some
back-of-house areas and guest rooms. Originally built
in 1927, the 207-room resort is known for its authentic
Spanish Colonial architecture and oceanside location.
New is the 2,500-square-foot Anacapa Suite with its
own plunge pool, fire pit and private driveway. The
property offers 15,000
square feet of meeting
space, including two
ballrooms and nine
meeting rooms. www.
fourseasons.com
Lido House debuted in
Newport Beach as part
of Marriott’s Autograph
Collection. Set on the
site of the former City
Hall, the130-room hotel
is just steps away from
Lido Marina Village, Newport Beach’s marina, retail and
dining hub. The property also features five residen-
tial-style, three-level cottages, each boasting 1,300
square feet and featuring a rooftop patio, personal bar-
becue and fireplace. The hotel’s dining options include
The Mayor’s Table Pacific Pub & Kitchen, with a menu
of sustainable seafood and vegetable-forward fare;
Topside Roof Deck, the only rooftop bar in Newport
Beach; and Crew Coffee + Cremerie, offering up coffee
and ice cream. There is 15,000 square feet of event
space, including a 6,500-square-foot deck and lawn.
www.lidohousehotel.com
COLORADO
Renaissance Denver Stapleton Hotel completed a
multimillion-dollar renovation project. The entire hotel
has been transformed, including all 400 guest rooms,
40,000 square feet of meeting space, its lobby and
public spaces. As part of the $15 million renovation,
the hotel unveiled a new restaurant, Fifty300, reminiscent of a high-end ski resort cafe complete with pseudo
ski-lift booths. www.marriott.com
HAWAII
‘Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach opened on the grounds
that were once Queen Liliuoka-
lani’s beachside cottage. The
resort partnered with Hawaiian
Legacy Reforestation Initiative, a
nonprofit organization commit-
ted to returning the indigenous
koa, milo and sandalwood trees
back to Hawaii. Guests are
invited to be part of reviving
the endangered hardwood
species and native ecosystem
of Hawaii by planting their own
tree at the resort’s forest on
Gunstock Ranch. The property
features over 20,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor
meeting and event space, including a ballroom that
can accommodate up to 1,300 people. The resort is
home to Morimoto Asia as well as Iron Chef Masaharu
Morimoto’s second restaurant in the resort, Momosan.
The property also boasts a reimagined 280,000-gallon
saltwater Oceanarium, which houses more than 1,000
indigenous marine animals. www.alohilaniresort.com
WESTERN CANADA
Autograph Collection Hotels unveiled its fourth location
in Canada. The Kananaskis Mountain Lodge opened
at the foothills of the Canadian Rockies in Alberta. The
property boasts 247 guest rooms, suites and lofts,
many of which offer views of the mountains. There is
over 18,000 square feet of meeting space across 21
rooms. The Lodge has four restaurants; the Kananaskis
Nordic Spa, featuring four pools and its own bistro; and
the newly reopened Kananaskis Country Golf Course.
www.marriott.com
CALIFORNIA
COOL
Afacelift in Los Angeles? Nothing surprising there, but the recently unveiled surfer-in- spired Kahuna Room and five new meeting
rooms on the fourth floor of the Los Angeles Athletic Club (LAAC) does wow with its new “historic
elegance meets modern sleek” look, giving it true
California Cool vibes.
The 138-year old private club, hotel and event
venue completed phase two of its $10 million renovation, which also included the women’s locker
rooms. The project focused on the fourth, fifth and
sixth floors of the 12-story building, which encompasses athletic, social and meeting spaces, along
with three floors
of hotel rooms.
By the end of
2018, the club
will reveal the
final round of
renovations to
the sixth floor,
including a
unisex spa area
and treatment
rooms. There will also be a barber shop, nail
salon and the historic poolside lounge and dining
area reimagined as the Plunge Cafe.
Hidden down a secluded hallway lined with
historic images of the club, the Kahuna Room is
a tropical oasis and homage to legendary surfer
Duke Kahanamoku, who was a trained at the club
for many years in the 1930s.
The club’s five meeting rooms on the fourth floor
have been redesigned by renowned interior design-
er Tracy Beckmann, a native of Los Angeles dedi-
cated to the rehabilitation of downtown. Her design
blends the historic venue and modern elements
with period furnishings, rich colors and decorations
and adornments from LAAC’s fine art collection.
The club also boasts the Centennial Ballroom,
with capacity for up to 700 guests. The LAAC
Hotel occupies the top three floors of the building
and offers 72 guest rooms and nine suites.
—Kate Cripe
http://laac.com
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