The Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Downtown hotel, located within the heart of the Gaslamp Quarter, recently completed a $5.8 million renovation of all public spaces, meeting rooms and guest rooms. As portion of this comprehensive revitalization, the hotel is unveiling THE LOBBY, a colourful and refreshing new space for dining, working and relaxing. The hotel is owned by affiliates of Wheelock Street Capital, LLC, and managed by Sage Hospitality.
Located in downtown San Diego, the hotel is within walking distance of the central business district and plenty of the city’s premier leisure attractions. Housed within the historic San Diego Trust and Savings Bank building, this boutique hotel is an iconic San Diego landmark. The changes to the lobby and public spaces incorporate unique, locally relevant design components which respect the heritage of the building while remaining in keeping with Courtyard by Marriott’s brand wide design standards. These changes, inclusive of a brand new business center, media pods, a GoBoard and an expanded “The Market”, meet modern travelers’ needs while making a relaxing urban ambience.
The new theme of the boutique Courtyard hotel is “What You will want, Where You Want”. “We call our team ‘cultural instigators’,” said Jody Blackinton , General Manager of the Courtyard San Diego Downtown. “They are ready and excited to give guests an authentic San Diego experience while responding promptly to guest needs. This revitalization has underscored the hotel’s local energy and allowed us to further elevate the guest experience. We’re excited to determine more San Diego locals within the LOBBY alongside our hotel guests. It’s the suitable place for a lager before a Padres game or a delicious dinner date.”
THE LOBBY adds a brand new flair to the hotel restaurant, taking color hints from the historic hand-painted ceiling and the California sunset. Separated from the lobby by decorative wood screens, the restaurant has an area of its own while seamlessly connecting to the remainder of the hotels public space. THE LOBBY serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and the redesigned bar features local draft and bottled beers. Dishes offer classic American flavors with a splash of southern California flair. Coffee service has also been upgraded to a Starbucks Espresso Bar.
Guest rooms have a colourful color scheme incorporated during the new bedding, furniture, carpeting and wall vinyl. Green upgrades include environmentally friendly lights and air-con. Executive king rooms feature a wet bar and sofa bed, while every room now includes refrigerators, microwaves and safes.
Meeting space features new wall vinyl, carpeting, furniture and technology, and in addition includes the hotel’s new art program. Following an initiative driven by the Sage Hospitality, greater than 300 pieces of local San Diego artwork are featured through the hotel. These include two special commissions—an eight foot by eight foot oil painting of a pool scene by emerging San Diego artist Sarah Stieber , and a recent, colorful portrait of San Diego Trust and Savings Bank founder J.W. Sefton, Sr. by L. a. artist Leia Steingart .
Key historical elements of the San Diego Trust and Savings Bank, inbuilt 1928, were preserved through the renovation. “We desired to create an interior that celebrates the nostalgia yet has a fresh and contemporary overlay of design elements that honor the historical details,” said Brandon Asbury of SERA Architects, who oversaw the renovation design. “The overall goal was to create an area that welcomes both hotel guests and locals alike, allowing everyone to experience the architectural heritage of the building.”