NATIONAL REPORT—On both the West and the East Coast, two hotels are set to make their debuts.
The Rockaway Hotel
The Rockaway Hotel, an urban beach getaway for surfers and cultural enthusiasts, will open its doors this summer in Rockaway Beach in Queens, NY. A project ten years in the making, the hotel is the brainchild of 7G Realty and IGC Hospitality whose partnership is founded on a shared passion for the beach, arts, food, culture, wellness, and the Rockaways.
The newly built, 84,000 sq.-ft. hotel will offer 53 guestrooms, along with eight fully furnished, extended-stay suites. Inspired by the history and existing topography of Rockaway, Morris Adjmi Architects designed the new building to complement the bungalows that hug the shoreline. Curious Yellow Design spearheaded the design components, drawing inspiration from the hotel’s iconic setting. Materials such as teak, linen, wool, leather and rattan create an eclectic, retro, and calming atmosphere throughout the hotel, complemented by a soothing color palette with pops of colors such as yellow, blue, and pink.
With an emphasis on supporting the dynamic culture of Rockaway Beach, the hotel will collaborate with local organizations, artists and brands to produce programming. Events will include festivals, film screenings, artist panels and public art initiatives. The hotel’s public spaces and guestrooms will feature a rotating selection of artwork from local and internationally renowned artists. There are custom lights by artists Sam Stewart, commissioned works from Zoe Buckman, Hannah Whitaker and Kennedy Yanko, as well as featured artworks from Derrick Adams, Roe Ethridge and Herbie Fletcher.
Among the hotel’s partners, local New York City store Warm will not only open its second location at the property, but will be designing the hotel staff uniforms. The hotel will host pop-ups for local brands to showcase goods, such as Rockaway Brewing Co., which will be served on property, as well as Locals Surf School, the hotel’s surf school partner. Sustainable greenery situated around the pool and on guestroom terraces will be planted in custom macrame hangers produced by Rockaway Beach-based artist Fabiola Sheppard of Handmade Cocoon. Guests will also find soaps and bath products from Goldie’s—a Rockaway Beach shop—throughout the hotel and sold in the hotel’s store.
The hotel will offer guests four distinct food and beverage options managed by IGC Hospitality: Margie’s, which will serve reinvented American classics made with healthy, natural, and sustainable ingredients; The Pool, with 61 seats by the pool and 81 bar-area seats; The Rooftop, located on the sixth floor and spanning 6,000 sq. ft. of indoor and outdoor space; and Greenhouse Café, The Rockaway Hotel’s street side coffee shop concept.
The hotel will also offer more than 25,000 sq. ft. of indoor and outdoor, versatile function spaces.
El Capitan, a Joie De Vivre Hotel
El Capitan, a Joie De Vivre Hotel, is expected to open this fall in Merced, CA. The hotel is located in a turn of the century property in Merced’s downtown featuring a historically preserved wing and a newly constructed extension.
The 114-room hotel will invite guests to rediscover tradition and adventure in California’s Central Valley. Housed in a former 19th century historic hotel of the same name, the boutique property will offer three distinct dining options and more than 3,000 sq. ft. of dedicated meeting and event spaces. With indoor and outdoor facilities, the property will be able to accommodate groups from intimate meetings to stylish social events and weddings.
Additionally, Hyatt will manage the restored Mainzer theater under the Joie de Vivre brand, retaining its movie cinema and introducing a performance and event space with a self-serve craft beer and retro gaming area. Downtown Merced is home to a number of dining, shopping and entertainment venues and is near Merced and Yosemite lakes, Yosemite National Park as well as nearby farms and vineyards, providing guests ample opportunities for exploration.
