After much anticipation, the long awaited Santa Monica Proper Hotel officially opens its doors to its first guests today as the first and only luxury lifestyle hotel to open in Santa Monica's history!
Following the success of San Francisco Proper Hotel, the evolution of Proper continues amid the sun-drenched boulevards and sea breezes of L.A.'s cinematic Pacific coastline. Opening June, Santa Monica Proper Hotel emerges as an architectural wonder just seven blocks from the crashing waves of the ocean, spanning two stylistically disparate buildings linked by an artfully crafted bridge. With interior design by Kelly Wearstler, the hotel is a lesson in restrained elegance—think nature-inspired palettes, light hardwood floors, and organic textures augmented by artworks from emerging local artists. The exquisitely pared-down aesthetics provide the stylish backdrop to the neighborhood's only indoor-outdoor rooftop playground, complete with pool, cabanas, restaurant and bar. Add in a restaurant serving innovative Californian- and Mexican-inspired cuisine devised by celebrated chefs Jessica Koslow and Gabriela Camara, and an expansive Ayurvedic spa, and you have the hottest hotel to hit Westside L.A. in decades.
Kopano is an expert in opening hotels, branding and building a strong hospitality focused employee culture, and managing property operations. She will serve as Area General Manager at Santa Monica Proper Hotel, the first high-end lifestyle hotel to open in Santa Monica in two decades. The 271-room project fuses a circa-1928, Arthur E. Harvey designed Spanish Colonial Revival building with sleek, new construction to create the city's freshest, most invigorating luxury hotel. Chefs Jessica Koslow (chef/owner of Sqirl) and Gabriela Camara (restaurateur/ chef of Contramar) are coming together for the first time to oversee the ground floor restaurant.
Proper Hospitality is redefining traditional luxury hospitality, targeting a new generation of high-end travelers who yearn not only for elevated services and amenities, but memorable stays and cultural connectivity. Showcasing the best of what a destination has to offer, Proper intentionally selects creative locations and develops a locally immersed program through eclectic designs by Kelly Wearstler, locally curated F&B programming through incredible culinary partners and world-class amenities, providing one-of-a-kind experiences for locals and visitors alike.
Pahlke brings global experience from Asia, Europe and North America specializing in the luxury, boutique and lifestyle accommodation sectors. Over the last 23 years, Pahlke has held various sales, marketing and operations positions at some of the world's most recognized hotel brands, including Mandarin Oriental, Le Meridien, Hyatt, Alila and most recently Two Roads. Pahlke will oversee revenue management, sales and marketing, and e-commerce within the Proper Hospitality portfolio. In addition, he will be responsible for executing long term strategic global goals and initiatives for the brand.
Nolte will oversee all property operations with a focus on brand and culture development, guest services and client satisfaction as the Director of Hospitality. With 13 years of hospitality experience, Nolte brings with him a unique mix of operational, sales, training and financial skills. Nolte joins Proper Hospitality from Soho House where he most recently served as Club Manager and serviced key US and global markets such as New York, London and Los Angeles while traveling extensively to assist with various Soho House openings.
Formerly the Executive Chef of The Beverly Hills Hilton, Executive Chef at the Waikiki Edition Hotel in Honolulu, and Executive Sous Chef at The Ritz Carlton Hotel in San Francisco. Adams joins Proper Hospitality with more than 15 years of culinary and luxury hospitality experience. A level one Sommelier, Adams also spent time at a Three Michelin Starred Hotel in Spain.
Santa Monica's Shore Hotel is celebrating seven years of sustainability! Since opening in 2011, the city's first LEED Gold-certified hotel has saved 31 million watts of energy (enough to power the average U.S. home for 34 months), 5.2 million gallons of water (enough to fill nearly eight Olympic-sized swimming pools) and 28,000 plastic water bottles from entering our landfills, all through the hotel's eco-friendly management practices.
Edward Thomas Collection of Hotels (ETC), the independent owners and operators of Southern California's two most distinguished coastal hotels, Shutters on the Beach and Hotel Casa del Mar, has appointed Daniel Ben-Efraim Vice President of Sales and Marketing. In his new role, Ben-Efraim will lead all aspects of sales and marketing initiatives for Santa Monica's most iconic seaside hotels, including food and beverage programming. This addition to ETC marks an exciting time as Shutters on the Beach nears its 25th birthday in June and Hotel Casa del Mar welcomes guests to newly renovated rooms and suites this month.
Edward Thomas Collection of Hotels (ETC), the independent owners and operators of Southern California's two most distinguished coastal hotels, Shutters on the Beach and Hotel Casa del Mar, has appointed Daniel Ben-Efraim Vice President of Sales and Marketing. In his new role, Ben-Efraim will lead all aspects of sales and marketing initiatives for Santa Monica's most iconic seaside hotels, including food and beverage programming. This addition to ETC marks an exciting time as Shutters on the Beach nears its 25th birthday in June and Hotel Casa del Mar welcomes guests to newly renovated rooms and suites this month.
Viceroy Hotel Group is pleased to announce Angela Lockyer as Director of Sales and Marketing of Viceroy Santa Monica. Angela brings 15 years of sales, marketing, and revenue management experience to the hotel which has become known for its stylish yet playful ambience.
1 Pico at Shutters on the Beach has appointed David Almany as Chef de Cuisine. Following a globetrotting career that has taken him from his native Los Angeles to Singapore, Almany returns stateside to develop 1 Pico’s new culinary program. Set to launch in April, the refreshed menu of 1 Pico will feature light, coastal-Californian cuisine and market-fresh seafood. Chef Almany joins 1 Pico from his most recent position as Executive Chef and Partner at Angeleno, a Michelin-recommended, Italian-American restaurant in Singapore. Almany first landed in Singapore in 2010 when Nancy Silverton, Mario Batali and restaurateur Joe Bastianich selected him to spearhead Mozza’s international brand expansion. During his five-year tenure as Executive Chef of Osteria Mozza at Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands Hotel, the restaurant received numerous awards and accolades such as San Pellegrino Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants and Forbes’ 4-Star Excellent Restaurant Award. Before moving to Asia, Chef Almany worked for Silverton and Matt Molina at Osteria Mozza’s flagship Los Angeles restaurant. Chef Almany is a graduate of the Santa Barbara School of Culinary Arts.
Ingrid F. Braun joins Viceroy Hotel Group with over 17 years of hospitality experience. Most recently, Braun held the title of Director of Rooms for The Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows in Santa Monica, overseeing major renovations as well as all operational elements. She previously held leadership positions with W Hotels, the Ivy Hotel San Diego, and Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. As Hotel Manager, Braun will manage Viceroy Santa Monica's day-to-day hotel needs while overseeing all guest relations.
With over 15 years of hospitality experience in luxury hotel operations, sales, and marketing, Bridges is rejoining Viceroy Hotel Group in a key role to the property. In this position, he will oversee all employee and community relations, working to ensure the property's continued growth and success as an elite destination in Santa Monica. He originally joined Viceroy in 2013 for the pre-opening of Viceroy Central Park, where he held the role of Director of Sales and Marketing, and ultimately became interim General Manager. His career to date includes roles with The Ritz-Carlton, Thompson Hotels, and Morgans Hotel Group, and he joins Viceroy from his most recent position at The Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows in Santa Monica.
Iconic Santa Monica resort hotel deploys KEYPR's cloud-based platform which brings the latest guest experience technology to the hospitality industry
Hotel Casa Del Mar, an Edward Thomas Collection property, proudly announces the appointment of Charlie Lopez-Quintana as the oceanfront property’s General Manager. In his new role, Lopez-Quintana will be responsible for leading all aspects of operations for Santa Monica’s acclaimed luxury seaside hotel, including elevating service levels and overseeing the resort’s food and beverage programming at culinary outposts Catch, Terrazza Lounge and the recently debuted Wine Room.
As a hospitality industry veteran with twenty years of management experience at hotels and resorts across the US, Derek McCann comes to Santa Monica from his most recent role as managing director of Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, where he continued the property’s longstanding legacy as one of the destination’s premier resorts. Prior to joining Loews Hotels & Co in 2014, McCann was Vice President & Hotel Manager of Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee, a position he held after ten years with Gaylord Hotels. During his time in Nashville, McCann was actively involved on the boards of University of Tennessee's School of Retail, Hospitality and Tourism Management, as well as with Junior Achievement of Middle Tennessee. After nearly two decades, McCann will be returning to Los Angeles, where he began his career in hospitality as Assistant Front Office Manager of the Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles Hotel. Originally hailing from Edinburgh, Scotland, McCann earned a degree in Hotel Administration from Cornell University in 1996. In his free time, Derek and his wife Erika love to travel and explore the outdoors with their two children.
Jakub Skyvara, Director of Restaurants and Banquets, takes on the role of managing and overseeing the hotel’s Food and Beverage operation. Mr Skyvara comes to Viceroy Santa Monica from the Four Seasons Hotel Rancho Encantado where he was responsible for the entire food and beverage operation. Prior to moving back to US, Mr Skyvara spent over two years at the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong where he led the team of Michelin Star restaurants including Mandarin Grill and Bar, The Krug Room and The Chinnery to new heights of service and product innovation. No stranger to Los Angeles, Mr Skyvara spent over four years at the Beverly Wilshire before moving to Hong Kong. His passions include all things food and beverage with a real emphasis on excellence in service delivery. Mr Skyvara attended Charles University in the Czech Republic where he studied Tourism and Sport management.
As Hotel Manager, Mr Fares’ extensive background in hospitality sets him up for success in managing all operational aspects at the boutique property, including sales, marketing, food and beverage and future growth efforts. Prior to this appointment, Mr Fares held the position of Director of Food and Beverage at Clift Hotel San Francisco, where he was overseeing the culinary team to help develop all seasonal menus, and ensuring the quality of guest experiences. Before his time in San Francisco, Mr Fares held the role of Director of Restaurants and Bars at The St Regis Monarch Beach and The Westin San Diego; Restaurant Manager at The Westin Maui; and Food and Beverage Supervisor at The Sheraton San Diego.
This Friday marks the opening of the Courtyard by Marriott in downtown Santa Monica, one of two new hotels designed by local award-winning architecture firm Gwynne Pugh Urban Studio (GP-US). The six-story hotel is a striking new addition to the downtown Santa Monica skyline, with its bold orange color sure to make it a local icon.