NATIONAL REPORT—Whether conversions, new openings or re-openings due to the devastating wildfires, hotel activity is heating up in California.
Hyatt Place Pasadena
Hyatt Place Pasadena, the first Hyatt-branded hotel in the city, is officially open. The hotel is walking distance to Old Town Pasadena with many shops, restaurants and entertainment to choose from. The hotel is led by Ensemble Real Estate Solutions & Investments, and operated by Interstate Hotels & Resorts.
Ensemble led the development of the Hyatt Place Pasadena, an upscale hotel for business and leisure travelers that offers views of the San Gabriel mountains and cityscape, Pasadena’s downtown and the Old Town shopping district. Pasadena is home to the Rose Bowl Stadium and Tournament of Roses and a selection of leading local innovators and global brands, including NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratories, California Institute of Technology, Parsons Corporation, Kaiser Permanente, East West Bank and more.
Hyatt Place Pasadena offers 189 guestrooms, free WiFi, the Gallery Kitchen Breakfast, a 24/7 Gallery Menu & Market, Coffee to Cocktails Bar and Odds & Ends, a program for forgotten items that guests can buy, borrow or enjoy for free. There is more than 3,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space and a 24-hour gym.
The USC Hotel
Formerly operated as the Radisoon Hotel Los Angeles Midtown at USC, The USC Hotel will debut on Jan. 1, 2019. The 240-room hotel is a long-standing extension of the University of Southern California, and its operation as an independent hotel will allow management to provide a more customized experience for all guests, especially those affiliated with the university, according to the hotel.
The hotel opened its doors in 1974 as a Hilton and has operated under the Radisson flag for the last 20 years. The hotel was purchased by USC in 2000. USC Auxiliary Services assumed its day-to-day operation in 2010.
Newly customized services include upgraded rooms with new Trojan-themed decor, an executive level floor, pool and garden studios, as well as several suites.
Olea Hotel
The Olea Hotel, located in Sonoma Valley, has reopened with a fresh, mid-century modern luxe vibe following the devastating October 2017 Northern California wildfires.
Owners Sia and Ashish Patel have, for the second time since they purchased the property in 2011, painstakingly restored the hotel named Olea after the surrounding heritage olive trees. The reinvented Olea Hotel, designed by Inspired Spaces of Santa Rosa, CA, features upgrades including a new pool, hot tub and fire pit area, fresh landscaping, and interior updates to the entire property, including 13 guestrooms as well as two guest cottages, which will be completed by the spring of 2019.
Inside the walls of the historic main building lie modern furnishings such as rich cognac leather sofas, metallic grasscloth wallcoverings and sparkling midcentury light fixtures. Guestrooms continue in the same “organic midcentury” style with a cool, fresh, neutral color palette and crisp white bedding. Pops of color come from original artwork by Natasha Stocker, owner of Inspired Spaces, as well as colorful pillows and side chairs. Other unique design features include the installation of airplants and metallic leather macrame wall hangings.
To maintain the indoor/outdoor vibe and keep the look cohesive, Inspired Spaces has brought in hues of greens inspired by the surrounding olive groves. Clean lines, bold colors and a playful character lend a fresh, modern look, for an overall aesthetic that is chic yet approachable, while maintaining Olea’s original character.
Residence Inn Rocklin/Roseville
The 104-suite Residence Inn by Marriott in Roseville, CA, has opened. Owned and managed by Tharaldson Hospitality Management of Fargo, ND, the Residence Inn Rocklin/Roseville is within walking distance to Topgolf and offers its guests convenient access to Westfield Galleria, Thunder Valley Casino and Golfland Sunsplash.
Residence Inn properties are designed as all-suite hotels that offer studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom suites. Designed for stays of five nights or more, each suite has a fully equipped kitchen with a coffeemaker, microwave oven and residential-sized appliances.