Renovation Mania
Hoteliers Pay to Upgrade OC Facilities as Demand Issues Beg Change
By SANDI CAIN
Soft demand for hotel rooms, coupled with competition, technology trends and spa mania spurred many hoteliers to undertake renovations in the past couple of years.
The pace of renovations hasn’t slowed, even though 2004 projections show that vacation and business demand is likely to increase this year.
Projects under way or planned include:
n Crowne Plaza, Garden Grove,Last fall the hotel renovated its Mazatlan ballroom, which now can be divided into seven breakout rooms.
n Disneyland Hotel, Anaheim,Will begin a renovation of its Grand Ballroom in June with completion slated for September.
n Four Seasons Newport Beach,Is awaiting budget approval for the addition of a 10-room spa. General Manager Mehdi Eftekari said he hopes to break ground this spring.
n Hilton Anaheim,Recently opened a Starbucks; believed to be the largest Starbucks in North America, according to Edd Karlan, director of sales and marketing. The hotel also plans a lobby renovation this year, and plans for a wireless network are pending.
n Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort, Huntington Beach,Replaced carpeting and wall treatments in hallways last fall, reframed guestroom doors and added surfboard-themed room numbers.
n Hyatt Regency Irvine,Completed a major makeover a year ago and now is beginning renovations to its restaurants. The $3 million project will convert Ciao Mein into a cafe, while a new restaurant with its own entryway and an open grill will be added. The project is slated for completion by the end of June.
n Hyatt Newporter,Is in the midst of a $10 million renovation that includes upgrades of the hotel’s meeting space. It is expected to be complete by summer.
n Irvine Marriott,Recently finished a ballroom renovation and added wireless Internet access in public areas.
n Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort and Spa,Has a newly opened $8.8 million, 14,000-square-foot spa with 10 treatment rooms and a 2,500-square-foot fitness center. New guest rooms opened in December.
n Newport Beach Marriott,Will begin a $60 million renovation in April that includes a new entry, landscaping, spa and room renovation. The 16,000-square-foot spa will include 21 treatment rooms. Meeting space will be closed for a few months in late 2004. General Manager Bill Gunderson said the renovation at the 29-year-old property is the most expensive in the history of the company.
n Surf & Sand, Laguna Beach,Completed a $6 million upgrade to its spa, Aquaterra, in October. Now the hotel is remaking its Catalina Terrace rooms and adding a rooftop event space overlooking the Laguna coastline.
n Westin South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa,Will start construction on its Westin Workout health club this spring. The health club will include treadmills with flat-screen TVs and Internet access. A $1 million expansion and renovation of meeting space and a new junior ballroom also are planned for this year.
