The newly opened Bay Shores Peninsula Hotel marks the second hospitality project in Orange County led by Blake Marriott and Spencer Samuelian.
The business partners, also brothers-in-law, bought the former 1960s surf motel in 2021. Marriott told the Business Journal he was convinced of its potential after seeing the view from the rooftop of not only of the Balboa Peninsula but also the harbor and the Pacific Ocean. That rooftop has been renovated as one of two ocean-facing venues that can host parties.
“We wanted Bay Shores to feel like a love letter to Newport, a place that nods to its past while embracing the creativity and ease of today’s California lifestyle,” Marriott, a member of the hospitality powerhouse family behind Marriott International, said in a statement.
Bay Shores, located at the intersection of West Balboa Boulevard and 18th Street, is also part of a growing resurgence of California motels, the company said.
Samuelian and Marriott hired Pacifica Hotels to manage the hotel with General Manager Didi Shields overseeing the property. Pacifica, headquartered in Aliso Viejo, also oversees the Residence Inn by Marriott Anaheim Hills Yorba Linda.
“The renovation was about elevating the guest experience while preserving the property’s character,” Shields said.
The 25-room boutique hotel was redesigned by CPD Studio with Slater Builders Inc. as the general contractor and AO as the architect. Renovations began in late 2023.
The hotel duo also renovated and reopened the Woods Cove Inn, managed by Sonder, in Laguna Beach. The 1940s-era motel, previously known as the Laguna Beach Inn, reopened in 2023 after a two-year renovation to its 25 guest rooms, public spaces and exterior.
Remodeling the two Orange County resorts has been a big leap into development for Marriott, a grandson of Marriott’s Chairman Emeritus J.W. Marriott Jr. He previously worked for Marriott International in operations until 2019 and said he’s learned a lot by switching gears in the last several years.
Bay Shores Peninsula Hotel opened on Nov. 3. Room rates start at $359 per night.
The owners declined to share costs of the property and renovations.
A Callback to Balboa Peninsula of the Past
When applying for permits and approvals, Marriott said the city of Newport Beach recognized that the 13,395-square-foot property needed a facelift.
CPD Studio, based in Dana Point, redesigned the hotel, blending 1960s surf-era styles with contemporary California details in the guest rooms and lobby. Designer Courtney Pena told the Business Journal that she was inspired by Balboa Peninsula as it was in the past.
Local photographs by Mariah Brink are included in all the rooms and the two-bedroom suites include mid-century furniture and kitchenware.
Two notable additions to the property are the twin rooftop decks. The open-air spaces, known as The Penny and The Pearl, have panoramic views of the harbor, the jetty and the rest of the city.
The spaces are designed for activities such as yoga and lounging during the day. At night, the rooftop space can be used for gatherings such as happy hour, birthday parties or networking events, according to marketing materials.
A new elevator was installed to provide easier access to both spaces.
In the lobby, the owners built a new all-day café that offers coffee, pastries and breakfast items in the morning, salads and sandwiches in the afternoon and more beverages in the evening.
“The hotel has had a strong response since opening, with bookings filling up quickly,” Shields said. “We’re excited to keep this momentum going into 2026.”
