Dive Brief:
- Coronado, California’s Hotel del Coronado completed its $550 million restoration, a six-year-plus project funded by Blackstone Real Estate, the hotel announced in a release obtained by Hotel Dive Wednesday.
- The project restored the 137-year-old hotel’s front porch and lobby, main entry and drive, as well as updated its Victorian guestrooms, courtyard and event spaces. It also added two dining options, Nobu Del Coronado and Veranda.
- Blackstone acquired the San Diego-area hotel in 2015 as part of its $6 billion acquisition of Strategic Hotels and Resorts. Since then, the property has undergone a multi-phase renovation, the final phase of which kicked off in 2023.
Dive Insight:
In a statement, Rob Harper, head of asset management Americas at Blackstone Real Estate, said Blackstone “has been dedicated to preserving Hotel del Coronado’s iconic status as a National Historic Landmark while ensuring it remains a timeless destination for future generations.”
The renovation “prioritized historical accuracy,” per the announcement, leaning on design and architecture collaborators Wimberly Interiors, WATG, GSB Inc., Burton Studios and David Marshall of Heritage Architecture & Planning.
Revamped guest rooms now offer modern accents as well as redesigned bathrooms with spacious vanities. Meanwhile, the hotel’s Victorian ballrooms have undergone a “meticulous restoration,” according to the hotel.
The renovation also restored the building’s central courtyard to its original design, including walkways, pergolas and a historic statue and fountain.
Meanwhile, Blackstone’s renovation of the neighborhoods surrounding the hotel has also added the residential-style Shore House and fully renovated Beach Village, an enclave of cottages and villas that is part of Hilton’s LXR Hotels & Resorts, and expanded and revamped the Spa & Salon at The Del and fitness center. The project also developed the Ice House Museum, and added new meeting spaces and retail at The Shops at The Del.
According to the hotel, the revitalization resulted in the creation of 300-plus resort jobs, in addition to the thousands of construction roles created over the course of the project.
Hotel del Coronado is part of Hilton’s Curio Collection, which the company is expanding as part of a broader lifestyle portfolio push.
