Dive Brief:
- San Diego’s Hotel Z will convert to Stellen San Diego Gaslamp, a new boutique lifestyle hotel joining the Series by Marriott brand, according to a news release.
- Owner Portland, Oregon-based Stoa Lodging will renovate and reposition the hotel into “a new urban hospitality experience designed to reflect the culture of the city’s historic Gaslamp Quarter” in preparation for its debut in early 2027, per the release. San Clemente, California-based Evolution Hospitality will manage the hotel.
- The conversion will “introduce a San Diego-inspired lifestyle brand, elevated design and locally driven programming” meant to “create a more meaningful and place-driven guest experience,” according to the release. The hotel is among a handful of others that have recently joined the Series by Marriott collection brand, which launched in May 2025.
Dive Insight:
Stellen San Diego will offer 100 redesigned guest rooms and new amenities, including a “locally driven” food and beverage concept meant for both hotel guests and locals.
Local architecture firm Delawie will design the property, including the updated public spaces, which will blend “warm natural materials, botanical accents and comfortable lounge seating,” per the release.
The hotel will serve downtown San Diego’s “diverse mix of business, convention and leisure travelers, while delivering the warm, service-first hospitality and local character of a boutique hotel,” Michael Murray, vice president of operations for Evolution Hospitality, said in a statement. The hotel is located within blocks of the San Diego Convention Center, baseball stadium Petco Park and the waterfront.
Stellen San Diego will become the latest hotel to join Series by Marriott, which was created to bring “strong, regionally relevant brands and hotels” in the midscale and upscale segment under Marriott’s portfolio.
In March, developer Hawkins Way Capital rebranded a Best Western in Santa Barbara, California, as a Found Hotels property and converted it under Series by Marriott, as part of a development partnership with the hotel giant. Beverly Hills, California-based Hawkins Way also brought Found Hotels, Chicago under Marriott’s Series collection this summer.
Hawkins Way previously said it planned to convert additional Found Hotels properties under Series by Marriott in San Francisco and San Diego.
Marriott CEO Anthony Capuano said during a Q2 earnings call earlier this month that conversions remained a significant driver of growth for Marriott throughout the first half of 2026.
