SAN DIEGO—The Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Downtown hotel recently completed a $5.8 million renovation of all public spaces, meeting rooms, and guestrooms. As part of this comprehensive revitalization, the hotel is unveiling THE LOBBY, a vibrant and refreshing new space for dining, working, and relaxing. The hotel is owned by affiliates of Wheelock Street Capital and managed by Sage Hospitality.
Housed in the historic San Diego Trust and Savings Bank building, this boutique hotel is a San Diego landmark. The changes to the lobby and public spaces incorporate locally relevant design components which respect the heritage of the building while remaining consistent with Courtyard by Marriott’s brand wide design standards. These changes include a new business center, media pods, a GoBoard and an expanded “The Market.”
THE LOBBY takes color hints from the historic hand-painted ceiling and the California sunset. Separated from the lobby by decorative wood screens, the restaurant has a space of its own while seamlessly connecting to the rest of the hotels public space. THE LOBBY serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner and the redesigned bar features local draft and bottled beers. Coffee service has also been upgraded to a Starbucks Espresso Bar.
Guestrooms have a new color scheme incorporated throughout the new bedding, furniture, carpeting, and wall vinyl. Green upgrades include environmentally friendly lights and air conditioning. Executive king rooms feature a wet bar and sofa bed, while every room now includes refrigerators, microwaves, and safes.
The hotel’s meeting space features new wall vinyl, carpeting, furniture, and technology, and also includes the hotel’s new art program. Following an initiative driven by the Sage Hospitality, more than 300 pieces of local San Diego artwork are featured throughout 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 contemporary, colorful portrait of San Diego Trust and Savings Bank founder J.W. Sefton, Sr. by Los Angeles artist Leia Steingart.
Key historical elements of the San Diego Trust and Savings Bank, built in 1928, were preserved during the renovation. “We wanted 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 a space that welcomes both hotel guests and locals alike, allowing everyone to experience the architectural heritage of the building.”
