Lodging

Hilton Garden Inn Taking Care of Business

by The Editors on February 12, 2014

Hgi BoardroomSure, Carlsbad’s Hilton Garden Inn is a great place to put the in-laws stay when they come to Carlsbad for a visit (it’s close, but not too close), but it’s also a great place for business meetings (especially for those like us who don’t exactly have large offices).

Featuring close to 16,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space, most with a spectacular view of Carlsbad State Beach, Hilton Garden Inn Carlsbad Beach is a prime destination for local organizations of all sizes to meet and mingle. The hotel’s newly renovated boardroom, which holds up to 16 people; boasts ergonomic Herman Miller chairs and a flat-screen TV to help streamline big business meetings. A freestanding ballroom, also fully remodeled with plush carpeting and beautiful chandeliers; is equipped to host anything from a casual breakfast gathering to a formal affair for up to 350 people.

If that gets you thinking about your next business function, follow the jump for the official word from the Hilton Garden Inn. [click to continue…]

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Savory’s Vignau Named Hilton Executive Chef

by The Editors on March 16, 2012

Hiton ChefPascal Vignau, the founder of Encinitas’ Savory Casual Fare (one of our favorite restaurants) has been a named executive chef of The Hilton Carlsbad Oceanfront Resort & Spa.

Passionate about food that is both comfortable and approachable, Pascal Vignau specializes in simple yet contemporary international and home-style cuisine. “I look forward to presenting the next generation of ‘Simple Food, Simply Prepared’ at Chandler’s Restaurant,” said Vignau. “With our spectacular oceanfront setting, I can think of no better place to introduce a major new restaurant for San Diego County. . . With ocean views available from much of our 25,000 square-feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space, it will be a pleasure to present visually stunning dining experiences. . . ”

The hotel is scheduled to open this July and we’re looking forward to checking out his new food creations. For the official word, follow the jump. [click to continue…]

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New Hilton Resort Coming To Carlsbadistan

by The Editors on January 24, 2011

Hilton-LogoIt’s a good thing that the Hyatt Park Aviara got an extension on their loan, because they’re going to get some serious high-end lodging competition from the $60 million Hilton Oceanfront Resort & Spa near the campgrounds, according to a story on San Diego Source.

Due for completion mid-year 2012, the Hilton Carlsbad Oceanfront Resort & Spa will feature approximately 15,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space, as well as a state-of-the-art spa and fitness center and oceanfront restaurant. The eight-acre site is located in Carlsbad’s southern Ponto region adjacent to the Hanover Beach Colony housing development.

It’s going to be sad to see that empty space go, but it will be good to have a nice resort that is close to the sand.

For a look at a Hilton Oceanfront Resort in South Carolina, click here.

[Link: San Diego Source]

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Broadreach Capital Gets Aviara Loan Extension

by The Editors on January 20, 2011

051609 3-1Carlsbadistan’s Park Hyatt Aviara Resort owners Broadreach Capital Partners are getting a little more time before they have to begin paying down their $186.5 million loan on the property. The loan, which was set to mature in 2012, has been extended five years to 2017.

Broadreach’s Director Heather Turner is happy with the extension.

“We are particularly pleased with the extension of the term which will allow the resort the time it needs to recover from both macro-economic and hotel-specific challenges of the last few years,” says Turner. “This modification is in the best interest of the resort and all of its stakeholders and provides the best opportunity to maximize value,” she adds.

The Park Hyatt’s General Manager Mark Stiebeling says this allow the hotel to continue to deliver the kind of experience customers are accustomed to.

“This decision illustrates Broadreach’s long-term commitment to the success of Park Hyatt Aviara,” says Mark Stiebeling, General Manager of the Resort. “Under Hyatt’s management, our team has successfully maintained the prestigious AAA Five Diamond Award and we have extensive plans underway to further enhance the Aviara guest experience.”

Follow the jump for the full release.
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Carlsbadistan’s Homewood Suites Sold

by The Editors on November 4, 2010

Sanhwhw Homewood Suites By Hilton Carlsbad-North San Diego County Home RightCarlsbadistan’s 145-unit Homewood Suites by Hilton (located right across the street from McClellan-Palomar Airport) has been purchased by Palm Beach, Florida’s Chatham Lodging Trust for approximately $32 million, according to a press release from the company.

“This is Chatham’s first acquisition in California, a market we know very well and where we have extensive experience,” said Jeffrey H. Fisher, Chatham’s chief executive officer. “We continue to seek other West Coast properties and have an active acquisition pipeline of premium-branded upscale extended-stay and select-service hotels in areas with high barriers to entry.”

The hotel will be managed by Island Hospitality Management, a company of which Fisher owns 90 percent. See, the publicly traded company buys the property, then the CEO’s privately owned company manages it. What a wonderful way to get paid.
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Park Hyatt Aviara’s $186.5 Million Problem

by The Editors on October 1, 2010

051609-3-1A $186.5 million loan backed by Carlsbadistan’s Park Hyatt Aviara has gone into default, according to a story on the San Diego Daily Transcript.

According to the RealPoint LLC credit rating company, the loan is a month delinquent and has been transferred to a special servicer. . . . Horsham, Penn.-based Realpoint said the 329-room resort, which up until recently was known as the Four Seasons Aviara, had $382,910 in negative cash flow for the 12 months ended March 31. The hotel reportedly had posted $3.1 million in net earnings in 2009 and $11 million in 2008.

We thought the Battle of Aviara was over, but looks like the Park Hyatt is still in the trenches.

[Link: San Diego Daily Transcript]

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Carlsbad Inn Gets A Tune Up

by The Editors on June 22, 2010

373122-Looking-Good-The-Carlsbad-InnAfter getting a little long in the tooth (25 years to be exact) and getting some complaints from guests Carlbadistan’s Carlsbad Inn is getting some much needed improvements according to Winners Circle Resorts CEO Jim Watkins.

“We heard what our guests were saying behind our back. They love the Carlsbad Inn. It’s steps from the beautiful Pacific Ocean and the staff is warm, friendly and helpful. But perhaps we were getting a bit “tired.” So, after 25 years, we decided on a facelift.”

The top floor of the resort is now the “Premier Level” and will feature king and double queen rooms with marble walk-in showers, microwaves, flat screen TVs, WI-Fi and best of all plush robes. But they’re not going to let a little construction keep away the paying customers so they’re just going to build right around the guests.

Randy Chapin, General Manager of the property adds “During the renovation, everyone on-site is taking great care not to interrupt the guests and the phases are carefully sectioned such as to make the least impact on our guests and owners.”

Really, with the beach right across the street who is going to be spending time in their rooms during the day anyway, right?

Follow the jump for all the details.
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Aviara Resort Is Now Park Hyatt Aviara

by The Editors on June 21, 2010

Aviara-PoolAfter more than a year of disputing between resort owner Broadreach Capital and Four Seasons Resorts (something we called the Battle of Aviara) Carlsbadistan’s Aviara Resort officially became the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort yesterday, according to a story in the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Hyatt Hotels Corp. representatives insist that guests at the 329-room resort will notice no difference after the Aviara becomes a Park Hyatt, which is the Hyatt chain’s upscale, contemporary brand. All signage will be changed during the first two days of the changeover, they said. . . “We are thrilled to be managing one of California’s most beautiful resorts,” Chuck Floyd, Hyatt’s chief operating officer for North America, said in a news release. “Park Hyatt Aviara Resort will be a wonderful addition to our luxury Park Hyatt portfolio and Hyatt Resort properties worldwide.”

It will take a while to get things straightened out. A Google search for “Aviara Resort” still returns a list of links to the Four Season’s webpage which “regrets to inform you that the resort is no longer managed by Four Season Resorts and Hotels” but does not offer a link to the new site. It does, however, offer links to other Four Season’s properties. We’re sure the Park Hyatt Aviara wil eventually begin showing up properly.

We have more questions, but we’ll have more info after we give the new Hyatt a test run.

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Aviara To Become Park Hyatt Aviara Resort

by The Editors on April 21, 2010

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It’s been 13 months since Carlsbadistan’s Aviara Resort owner BRCP HEF Hotel Tenant LLC first tried to get out of its management contract with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts in what we called the Battle of Aviara. BRCP claimed Four Seasons was not living up to its contractual obligations and Four Season disagreed.

Now, after lockouts, and checkpoints, and accusations from both sides it appears that arbitration has worked, according to a story on the San Diego News Network. Four Seasons is out and Hyatt Hotels is in.

Hyatt Hotels has been selected to take over management of the Aviara Resort in Carlsbad from Four Seasons Hotels, it was announced Tuesday. . . Hyatt plans to brand and manage Aviara Resort as part of its luxury Park Hyatt group on June 21, when it will become the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, according to the company.

According to the story, the arbitration panel agreed with Four Seasons that no management agreements were broken, however they apparently decided that Four Seasons should no longer be involved with the property.

For the entire BRCP HEF Hotel Tenant LLC press release regarding the change please follow the jump.

[Link: San Diego News Network]
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The Beach Terrace Inn’s Upgrade

by The Editors on September 21, 2009

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We’ve been watching the construction on Carlsbadistan’s Beach Terrance Inn for months now, often wondering why the beachside hotel would remodel during the summer, but then we decided they know what they’re doing. After last week’s grand opening it appears we were right.

The hotel’s new luxury upgrades include completely re-configured and enlarged lobby; custom stained glass windows in lobby doors and windows; new mahogany window casings; new Palmwood flooring with beach pebble trim; refurbished rooms and common areas; Italian ceramic tile in entryways of many rooms; custom cast glass panels in all guestrooms (crafted by local artist); enlarged bathrooms with granite vanities and walk-in showers; 42” LCD flat screen TVs in all rooms; 310-count bed linens; waffle weave bathrobes in all rooms; and environmentally-friendly bath/body amenities and housekeeping products.

There really is no better place in Carlsbad to stay, literally on the beach. We recommend this property.

[Link: Beach Terrace Inn via Hotel World Network]

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