Several weeks ago, we learned how a well respected resort in Southern California would be joining Marriott. There’s now an update, as this hotel is now bookable through Marriott channels.
Continue reading: Resort At Pelican Hill Joins Marriott, Becoming St. Regis
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
@ mark -- Maybe your interpretation is different, but I say "funny enough" because I do find it kind of amusing that the area had a St. Regis, it rebranded, and now another property in the area is rebranding as a St. Regis. Hotels rebranding isn't uncommon, but it's the proximity that I find interesting.
Agreed - this property is more for staycations rather than a destination - however for golfers the views from the two Fazio-designed courses are truly amazing!
One other interesting note is that a new Pendry-flag just opened very close to this hotel (formerly a Four Seasons). That along with Marriott re-branding another nearby property as a VEA - and building adjacent Ritz-Carlton Residences - perhaps is bringing some renewed attention from national, upscale brands to the area…
"Most of the luxury Southern California resorts are convenient getaways for those who live in the area, though they’re not necessarily destinations worth getting on a plane for." As a non-Californian, totally agree with this... Unless you're a golfer. This is a big time golf course/destination. But if I'm visiting SoCal, I'd much rather visit a place like Post Ranch Inn.
"Will it join one of Marriott’s other hotel collections, or just have the original name of the resort, but be bookable through Marriott channels?"
Smells of Luxury Collection
Haha the post ranch inn is not in Southern California. It’s 400 miles away in Big Sur (Northern California).
Nice get for Marriott since they lost Monarch Beach…..but I guess that didn’t really matter much since they have the RC Laguna Niguel.
Post Ranch Inn, while amazing, is not in SoCal. It is a solid seven hour drive from Newport Beach.
Post Ranch/Big Sur was a bad pre-coffee example. I suppose in the grand scheme of things it is more southern CA lol, but it was just the first that crossed my mind. A better example would be something like Montage Laguna Beach.
As someone who lives nearby and frequents the Pelican Hill Resort regularly, I can attest to the outstanding service provided at the hotel and its dining facilities. The Irvine Company has extremely high standards and ran this hotel exceptionally well. I concur with Ben's assessment that service standards will probably drop over time. Marriott seems to tarnish almost everything they touch. Case in point: Starwood. I long for those days where the brand actually cared about the customer.
@Nunya, you're right. It's only 396 miles from Post Ranch Inn to Newport Beach. And @pstm91, I assure you that if you tell anyone at Post Ranch Inn or anywhere nearby, that the are on southern California they be deeply offended. There's a massive cultural difference between northern California (which is really the middle part of the state culturally) and southern California. Post Ranch Inn and that area are very, very northern California culturally.
Imagine the rates will go through the roof and skyrocket once renovated and rebranded
That will keep out the riff raff
When La Concha in Key West changed from IHG to independent to Marriott recently rates and awards doubled.
I have stayed at this property many-many times. They also have a entire separate set of Villa on the other side of Pelican Hill Road which are very popular with foreign visitors from the Gulf. Pelican Hill was painstakingly developed as a trophy project by Irvine Company owner Donald Bren. He built and imaged it after northern Italian properties he visited. His attention to detail included bringing in hundreds of olive trees.
Agree that this property needs a refresh and that Irvine Company has done a great job with it and has high expectations, but I remain in the skeptical camp that Marriott will continue the legacy of this being a high-end property. I hope they can.
all legacy SPG brands take such a downturn after acquisition, Sheraton solidly lower than Marriott, and Four Points become dumps.
lol - the rates at this hotel are usually close to $1,000 a night. I think it already attempts to do that
Depends if you're in the US or not. Plenty of Sheratons around the rest of the world that are very good
Two down with Pelican Hill and Turtle Bay but still one to go…one more major luxury conversion coming to North America with Marriott in the near future.
Hopefully Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes is up next. And preferably with Hyatt. Hyatt's luxury footprint in So Cal is severely lacking.
I was interested in the property when you first posted about it
However the dining reviews are positively dreadful on trip ad and Yelp
I imagine point awards will be easily in excess of 100K plus points a night
And for 900 dollars and up a night having poor dining is a no go for me unless dramatically improved upon
Seems wildly overpriced for what it is for an aging luxury property not yet brought up to date
So hard pass for me at present
Just a heads up - the Resort at Pelican Hill is bookable with points - and maxmypoints have added it to their website. Completely open at the moment. (looks like it ranges from about 82k to 132k)