Meetings Today - July 2018

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.