In the past six years, The Viv Hotel, Anaheim has struggled to maintain a stable leadership team and consistent revenue. The 326-room hotel has changed general managers at least three times since opening as a Radisson Blu in 2020.
Current General Manager Maria Evans aims to change that narrative.
“Being an Anaheim resident, I only knew of this hotel because of the restaurant and that is what I’m continually trying to overcome,” she told the Business Journal, referencing the rooftop venue, Top of The V, known as a go-to spot for viewing Disneyland fireworks.
Schulte Hospitality Group took over management from Crescent Hotels & Resorts in 2024 after developer BPM Real Estate Group defaulted on a $127 million loan from Miami-based lender 3650 Capital the year prior.
A year later, Schulte hired Evans in April 2025 to lead the hotel back to profitability.
“It needed stabilization, and I think that’s a value that I do bring,” she said.
Schulte told her that the hotel was a good “neighborhood” resort and did well with sports teams. BPM executives previously called it the “perfect family-friendly upper upscale hotel” in 2018.
But the new operators want to expand the hotel’s appeal by targeting business travelers.
Schulte gave Evans a head start by converting 30 double-queen rooms into king bedrooms to attract the solo corporate visitor.
Since joining, the GM said group travel has increased “exponentially,” and she’s aiming to increase the sector by 20%. Last year, The Viv doubled its number of business accounts and Evans is looking to double the amount again in 2026.
“The closer you get to the mouse, the more leisure you get,” Evans said, referring to Disney’s theme parks. “But that’s what our job is—to break down that barrier and say, ‘Hey, look!’”
Refreshing the Top of The V
The hotel’s current project is a refresh of its rooftop restaurant, a month-long makeover that started this month and touches everything from the menu to the dining room and bar spaces.
It should reopen in February, in time for Valentine’s Day.
The menu has already been tweaked.
Evans is reintroducing the Spanish-themed restaurant as a steakhouse and fully renovating the restaurant and bar, with construction expected over the next few weeks.
Chef Jayro Martinez was hired in 2025 and has spent the past seven months developing and testing a new menu that will turn Top of The V into a Spanish-cuisine steakhouse. He was previously the executive chef at the former Outer Reef seafood restaurant at the Laguna Cliffs Marriott Hotel & Spa in Dana Point.
New dishes include Flannery beef ribeye, Black Angus filet and house-made short rib empanadas.
The restaurant’s outdoor terrace is also being remodeled—two large fireplaces are being removed to make way for more dining space and increased capacity.
While the hotel declined to disclose exact figures, Evans said the cost of the renovation work is comparable to opening a brand-new restaurant.
With only 2,200 square feet of meeting space, Evans said the newest director of sales needed more options and noted that the restaurant could be a venue for groups and corporate events.
The hotel made Top of The V and its outdoor patio available for event buyouts for the first time last year, and Evans said it has become a popular option for clients.
Last week, Taylor Guitars booked the restaurant for a special event ahead of the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Show in Anaheim. Evans paused construction for two days to ensure Taylor could have the venue.
After the renovation is completed next month, Evans’ next task is to make The Viv known for more than just its rooftop restaurant.
“This property has tons of opportunity,” she said.
From Hilton to Marriott
Evans started her hospitality career at the front desk of the former Jolly Roger hotel in Anaheim at 19 years old. She quickly climbed the ranks at the property, and in 2010, Evans joined Pacific Hospitality Group (PHG) as director of sales at the DoubleTree Irvine Spectrum.
After spending a few years with PHG’s Wyndham Anaheim Resort and the DoubleTree Santa Ana Orange County Airport, now known as Hotel Zessa, she was hired in 2015 to open the Great Wolf Lodge in Garden Grove as director of sales and marketing.
“I was taking on as much responsibility as they wanted me to, for my growth potential,” she said. “I have embraced every department, which I believe makes me a pretty well-rounded GM.”
It was at Great Wolf Lodge that the general manager at the time, Philip Cunningham, told her she would be a GM one day.
That opportunity came in 2017 when Evans joined Interstate Hotels & Resorts. She went on to lead operations at Candlewood Suites Anaheim Resort, Portofino Inn & Suites and DoubleTree by Hilton San Pedro.
A few years later, Evans was charged with leading a turnaround at Hotel Fera in Orange under Spire Hospitality. So, when she was recruited by Schulte to join The Viv last year, Evans said it was hard to walk away at first.
“A lot of blood, sweat and tears went into that renovation and the rebranding, but something stood out with Schulte that I just couldn’t pass up,” Evans said. She added that it was an opportunity to experience a Marriott property after years of working for Hilton brands.
“This is where I’m supposed to be,” she said.
Updated Feb. 17, 2026
