The newly rebranded Hotel Zessa Santa Ana—a combination of the word “zest” and Santa Ana’s initials—wrapped up a $12 million renovation last month, one that includes new interiors and amenities for the 22-year-old hotel.
Formerly the DoubleTree by Hilton Santa Ana-Orange County Airport, the seven-story, 254-room hotel has upgraded its meeting spaces, guest rooms, public spaces and restaurant in its largest renovation to date.
The property is at 201 E. MacArthur Blvd., near the headquarters of First American Financial Corp. (NYSE: FAF).
“We’re in a good and accessible corner of Orange County,” General Manager Aaron Saliba told the Business Journal.
The property, OC’s 47th largest by room count, remains a DoubleTree operation,
despite the name change.
Hotel Zessa is owned by Irvine-based Imperial Hotel Group LLC and operated by Irvine-based Pacific Hospitality Group (PHG). The hotel has not changed ownership since it first opened in 2002.
PHG also oversees Paséa Hotel & Spa in Huntington Beach, DoubleTree by Hilton Irvine Spectrum and AC Hotel Irvine.
Designers added Orange County-inspired artwork throughout the hotel and commissioned two outdoor murals at the front entrance and by the pool.
The resort’s 12,000 square feet of meeting space was updated with new carpets, chandeliers, conference tables and chairs.
Area Director of Sales Karen Finerman said that the hotel saw most of its business travelers during the week—association meetings have returned recently—with leisure guests visiting on the weekend.
Weddings and quinceañeras are also in full swing at the hotel.
Room rates are currently starting at $136.
New Menu
The hotel restaurant also received the makeover treatment.
Now called Citra Bar & Kitchen, its menu has shifted from American bistro to include more Mexican and Latin American dishes.
Chef Michele Bailey, who sports more than 25 years in the hospitality industry with her own gourmet business and past work at Ritz-Carlton, has led the kitchen for the past two years.
Bailey joined when the eatery was still known as Meritage Kitchen + Bar.
With Citra, Bailey said she can incorporate more flavor influences from her cooking career, starting with her grandmother’s kitchen in Jamaica to her time in Bali.
Newer dishes include tacos de nopalitos with mole sauce, a Zessa salad with cilantro lime dressing, and jerk wings with Jamaican spices.
