FEATURE ARTICLE, OCTOBER 2004

LIFESTYLE-BASED LODGINGS
A new crop of hotels is offering travelers an alternative to the traditional lodging experience.
Lara Fuller

With a great climate and picturesque landscape, it’s no wonder travelers often choose the West Coast as a vacation destination. The West is currently seeing renewed activity in the hospitality sector with the introduction of new hotel concepts and the renovation and repositioning of existing properties. The 2200 Westlake project in Seattle; Chamberlain in West Hollywood, California; LAX Gateway in Los Angeles; Sheraton Delfina in Santa Monica, California; and the Renaissance ClubSport in Aliso Viejo, California, are a unique group of hotels that are changing the face of hospitality in the West.

2200 WESTLAKE

A 160-room five-star boutique hotel will be the focal point of 2200 Westlake, a 550,000-square-foot mixed-use project located north of the Lake Union area of Seattle. The project is being developed by Vulcan and Milliken Urban Limited Partnership.

Construction on 2200 Westlake began in July. The 550,000-square-foot project, located north of the South Lake Union area of Seattle, is being developed through a joint partnership between Vulcan and Milliken Urban Limited Partnership. The project is anchored by a 160-room hotel and will also feature 261 condominium homes, 39,000 square feet of retail space and a spa. “This project serves as the gateway to the development and renewal of South Lake Union,” says Joanne Todd of The Fearey Group in Seattle. “The vibrant mix of residential, hotel, grocery and retail destinations will work together to create a lively gateway between South Lake Union developments and the downtown Seattle business core.”

The five-star boutique hotel, the focal point of the project, will be the first Pan Pacific Hotels and Resorts property in the northwestern United States. Singapore-based Pan Pacific plans to integrate the exclusive services of the hotel, including 24-hour room service, concierge, valet parking and housekeeping, with all of the condominium homes. Guest rooms, designed by Hirsch Bedner Associates, will feature contemporary bathrooms with rain showers, flexible workspace and flat screen televisions.

In addition, a 47,000-square-foot Whole Foods Market will be located at the project. “Whole Foods Market will fill a major void for a grocery store in the downtown, South Lake Union and Denny Triangle neighborhoods of Seattle,” says Todd. The grocery store will serve the needs of both long-term residents and visitors to the hotel.

CollinsWoerman is the lead architect for 2200 Westlake and Turner Construction Co. is the general contractor. Completion of most of 2200 Westlake, including the hotel, is scheduled for August 2006. “Guests will be drawn to the quality of the project, as well as the very unique proximity to both downtown Seattle and South Lake Union,” says Todd. “They will also experience the vibrant cultural and recreational opportunities that the neighborhood has to offer.”

LAX GATEWAY, SHERATON DELFINA AND CHAMBERLAIN

Kor Hotel Group is currently acquiring, redeveloping and repositioning several hotel properties in the West. “Kor Hotel Group acquires underperforming hotels in key locations and reinvents them to meet the standards of today’s savvy travelers,” says Jennifer Dowd, public relations manager with Kor. One of these is the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Gateway in Los Angeles. “Kor Hotel Group saw this as an excellent opportunity to maximize the contributions of the existing brand with its own unique style,” says Dowd.

The 723,626-square-foot property features 802 rooms, 44,000 square feet of meeting space, a complimentary shuttle service to and from the airport and a 24-hour fitness center. In addition, a Shula’s Steak House, sushi bar and Starbucks Coffee will open at the hotel in late 2004 or early 2005. “This is a sophisticated, designer airport hotel — complete with poolside cabanas, destination dining and boutique designer guest rooms — all with the convenience of being moments away from the airport,” says Dowd. IA is the architect of the $14 million repositioning project. Howard S. Wright is the project contractor.

Kor also recently acquired the former Four Points by Sheraton in Santa Monica. Now named the Sheraton Delfina, the hotel will cater to both corporate and leisure travelers. “Delfina will be its own coastal destination within the renowned destination of Santa Monica,” says Dowd. The 314-room project features a 1,200-square-foot fitness center, two pools and a 24-hour business center. IA is handling architectural services for the hotel and Howard S. Wright is the general contractor. Completion of the $11.2 million project is scheduled for December.

A third hotel currently under redevelopment is the Chamberlain in West Hollywood. “Kor Hotel Group saw the potential for this property to elevate from an all-suite property to a metropolitan boutique hotel with the comfort and ambience of a residential pied-a-terre,” says Dowd. The $5 million renovation and expansion will offer guests a full range of services and amenities in a popular setting. “The hotel has an incredible location, just steps away from all the action of Sunset and Santa Monica boulevards, but nestled within a quiet, residential part of the neighborhood,” says Dowd. The Chamberlain is being designed by IA and constructed by Case & Associates General Contractor. Completion is scheduled for December.

RENAISSANCE CLUBSPORT

The Renaissance ClubSport in Aliso Viejo will be a 185,650-square-foot hotel located within the 1.7 million-square-foot Summit Office Campus. The Renaissance ClubSport is a new hotel concept created through a joint venture between Pleasanton, California-based Leisure Sports and Marriott International. “The concept is specifically designed for the business and leisure traveler lifestyle in a suburban environment,” say Russell Parker, executive vice president of Parker Properties, developer of the project, and Scott Pickert, executive vice president of Leisure Sports. The first Renaissance ClubSport prototype is located in Walnut Creek, California. The success of the original prompted the development of a second hotel.

The main feature of the 175-room project will be the 67,300-square-foot sports club. The club features a full-service day spa; pool and aquatic center; a NCAA-regulation gymnasium; basketball, volleyball, racquetball and squash courts; group exercise studios; garden patio; and a childcare facility. Hotel guests will have free access to the sports club, but memberships are also available to tenants of the Summit Office Campus.

In addition to the sports club, the hotel will feature 4,000 square feet of meeting space, a bistro and lounge area, dry cleaning, valet service and a boutique-style gift shop.

Groundbreaking of the hotel is scheduled for the end of the year with completion expected by early 2006. In addition to bringing a new hospitality concept to the region, Renaissance ClubSport will also serve as the first hotel for the city of Aliso Viejo.


©2004 France Publications, Inc. Duplication or reproduction of this article not permitted without authorization from France Publications, Inc. For information on reprints of this article contact Barbara Sherer at (630) 554-6054.