In many minds, Southern California's Huntington Beach conjures images of a casual, family-oriented town more suited to kids’ birthday parties than corporate events. But that reputation is quickly becoming outdated. The city’s convention and visitors bureau trademarked the tagline “Surf City USA” to encourage more travel and event business along the lines of the annual U.S. Open of Surfing (the biggest surfing event in the world, by the way), which already brings in tons of business each year. Add to the rebranding the many major construction projects coming to the area: like its neighbors all over the hot real estate markets in the South Santa Monica Bay area—like Redondo Beach, Venice, Santa Monica, and Hermosa Beach— Huntington is undergoing a construction boom that will saturate its shoreline with meeting and event facilities. Here are four new projects:
The Strand
In the fall of 2006, construction teams are expected to complete a 3.5-acre multifunction development overlooking the pier called the Strand. The property will feature 40,000 square feet of office space, 65,000 square feet of restaurants and retailers, 500 underground parking spaces, and a 149-room Marriott Residence Inn. The hotel will feature about 1,000 square feet of meeting space. And since Huntington is the only beach town in Orange County whose downtown is right on the sand, the Strand’s connection to Main Street makes it desirable to sun-seekers.
Pacific City
By the spring of 2007, another oceanfront project on 31 acres will join the Strand’s new development along the Pacific Coast Highway. Pacific City (714.969.5805) will link the city’s two existing waterfront resorts—the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa and the Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort—with Huntington Beach’s burgeoning downtown scene. Pacific City will include a 200-room boutique resort and spa and a 191,000-square-foot retail promenade with restaurants, shops, and a health and wellness center—as well as a dedicated live entertainment venue.
Hyatt Regency
The existing Hyatt Regency (21500 Pacific Coast Hwy., 714.698.1234) has the most indoor and outdoor meeting space of any resort on the California coast— and it has recently begun a $1.7 million capital project, with $1 million dedicated to expanding its meeting offerings. The resort has converted its 10,700-square-foot Mariner’s Hall from an exhibit space into a ballroom, with attractive wrought-iron lighting fixtures and decor in gold and olive tones.
Robert Mayer Resort
A third project will bring a fifth resort to Huntington Beach within the next three years. Preliminary plans call for a 12-story luxury building built by the Robert Mayer Corporation, which owns the existing Hilton Waterfront and the Hyatt Regency.
—Alesandra Dubin
Photo: Courtesy of the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa
Posted 09.22.05
This story originally appeared in the October/November 2005 issue of the BiZBash magazine.
The Strand
In the fall of 2006, construction teams are expected to complete a 3.5-acre multifunction development overlooking the pier called the Strand. The property will feature 40,000 square feet of office space, 65,000 square feet of restaurants and retailers, 500 underground parking spaces, and a 149-room Marriott Residence Inn. The hotel will feature about 1,000 square feet of meeting space. And since Huntington is the only beach town in Orange County whose downtown is right on the sand, the Strand’s connection to Main Street makes it desirable to sun-seekers.
Pacific City
By the spring of 2007, another oceanfront project on 31 acres will join the Strand’s new development along the Pacific Coast Highway. Pacific City (714.969.5805) will link the city’s two existing waterfront resorts—the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa and the Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort—with Huntington Beach’s burgeoning downtown scene. Pacific City will include a 200-room boutique resort and spa and a 191,000-square-foot retail promenade with restaurants, shops, and a health and wellness center—as well as a dedicated live entertainment venue.
Hyatt Regency
The existing Hyatt Regency (21500 Pacific Coast Hwy., 714.698.1234) has the most indoor and outdoor meeting space of any resort on the California coast— and it has recently begun a $1.7 million capital project, with $1 million dedicated to expanding its meeting offerings. The resort has converted its 10,700-square-foot Mariner’s Hall from an exhibit space into a ballroom, with attractive wrought-iron lighting fixtures and decor in gold and olive tones.
Robert Mayer Resort
A third project will bring a fifth resort to Huntington Beach within the next three years. Preliminary plans call for a 12-story luxury building built by the Robert Mayer Corporation, which owns the existing Hilton Waterfront and the Hyatt Regency.
—Alesandra Dubin
Photo: Courtesy of the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa
Posted 09.22.05
This story originally appeared in the October/November 2005 issue of the BiZBash magazine.
The Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa.
