The Meritage Resort and Spa, the premier AAA Four Diamond resort located at the gateway of Napa Valley, has plans to renovate its premier event and conference venues. The extensive redesign project, spearheaded by HBA San Francisco, will update and modernize the Meritage Ballroom in November (completion slated for mid-December), followed by the Carneros Ballroom in mid-December (completion slated for mid-January 2023).
“The Meritage Resort and Spa has always been known as Napa Valley’s premier meeting destination. This renovation will amplify our offerings and allow guests and attendees to experience all the wine country has to offer, with unrivaled design and technological capabilities,” said Joe Leinacker, managing director, The Meritage Resort and Spa. “HBA San Francisco meticulously redesigned the event spaces to reflect the unique culture of Napa Valley wine country where groups can gather, connect and celebrate life’s important moments.”
The ballroom renovations are part of a larger series of enhanced upgrades taking place at the resort which were recently announced following a $25-million investment made by the Busch Family and Pacific Hospitality Group (PHG). Additional upgrades to the property include the Village Bistro, a newly opened French-influenced pop-up dining experience with a wine country twist, and full guestroom renovations forthcoming in 2023.
“We created two distinct ballroom experiences so that each ballroom has its own atmosphere and vibe,” said Sarah Hullinger, senior project manager, HBA San Francisco. “We stayed true to the Mission architectural style of the buildings but provided a fresh new interior finish palette to honor the luxury California casual style of the renowned Napa region. The interior color palette was inspired from the brilliant seasonal changes in color from the vines, grasses and trees. The Meritage Ballroom has rich reds and golds that invoke wine country’s fall and winter seasons, and the Carneros Ballroom celebrates the spring and summer with olive greens and yellows.”
The Meritage Ballroom’s (pictured above) new design is inspired by Napa Valley’s notable acres of sun-soaked vineyards. Modern, neutral furnishings will be added to enhance and highlight the striking wine and gold-hued carpeting. Subtle herringbone and geometric patterned wallcoverings are balanced with ivory and slate-colored ceilings to add a dramatic effect. Chandeliers, custom designed by HBA San Francisco, are composed of gold and black metal with hundreds of white glass lights to set a stunning ambiance for any occasion.
The namesake Meritage Ballroom, notably the largest meeting space offered in Napa Valley, can accommodate up to 1,000 guests or be divided into 10 separate spaces for smaller meetings and breakout sessions. The Meritage Grand Salon features 10,490 sq. ft. of meeting and event space with an additional 5,439 sq. ft. of pre-function space available on the adjoining covered terrace.
The new design for the Carneros Ballroom is inspired by the property’s Mission-style architecture which the design team at HBA San Francisco took elements from and married with what they see as Napa’s design aesthetic of elevated California-casual mixed with a relaxed, sophisticated style. The overall design is transitional with clean lines incorporating Old World touches of rustic beams, wrought iron, mosaic tile and warm wood tones paired with muted neutrals. Leather and rope tiebacks accent the drapery while custom chandeliers composed of black iron and hundreds of crystal prisms add a touch of elegance to the venue. Potted preserved olive trees accent the foyer, and custom art curated by Julie Coyle, among other prints highlighting local vineyards adorn the walls.
Featuring 7,358 sq. ft. of event space, the Carneros Ballroom can host up to 800 guests or can be divided into 10 smaller spaces for more intimate gatherings. An additional 1,564 sq. ft. of space is available on two covered terraces as well as the scenic West Lawn.
The resort’s tech-forward meetings environment provides groups with state-of-the-art equipment, technology support and connectivity for a seamless and stress-free experience. Highlights include internet speeds up to two gigabits (Gbps) via a secure fiber optic connection, the opportunity to live stream meeting content via an in-house TV channel to all guestrooms and access to a dedicated AV team with a multimillion-dollar inventory of AV equipment on-site.
