SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (July 20, 2011) – As of today, Hotel Mar Monte, Santa Barbara’s much-loved, 80-year old oceanfront property, will proudly raise the Hyatt flag as it becomes Hyatt Santa Barbara. This landmark hotel, a community and visitor’s destination for generations, has been undergoing extensive renovations to all guest rooms, meeting rooms and public spaces since February.
The first phase of renovations, including 92 guest rooms, as well as the hotel lobby, landscaping and décor around the pool and deck area, has been completed for the summer. In October, the renovation will resume on the remaining 79 guest rooms and all function space. Renovations are expected to be completed in 2012 when the property will be fully refurbished to a classic fusion of Spanish Colonial architecture, casual elegance and modern conveniences.
Ensuring a seamless transition, Hyatt Santa Barbara will retain the Hotel Mar Monte’s traditional charm and hospitality. Offering a wide range of amenities and services, the new Hyatt Santa Barbara will be home to 171 stylish guestrooms, each graced with ocean or mountain views, the Hyatt Grand Bed®, a flat screen HDTV and iHome Stereo with iPod® docking stations. Hotel amenities and services include a heated outdoor pool and whirlpool, fitness center, spa,business center and Bistro 1111 restaurant. In addition, bicycle rentals, winery tours, beach activities, day trips and much more can be coordinated with the hotel concierge.
Santa Barbara is well known as a destination for weddings and conferences. Hyatt Santa Barbara’s ten thousand square feet of indoor/outdoor unique and flexible meeting space with state-of-the-art technology ensure business and private functions are seamlessly executed. With postcard-perfect ocean views, bougainvillea draped patios and fine cuisine, weddings are dreams come true.
For casual upscale dining, Bistro 1111 offers a stylish Santa Barbara experience for hotel guests and locals alike. With an ocean view setting, the restaurant serves contemporary American cuisine with California flair. At the restaurant’s center is a cozy lounge where guests may enjoy cocktails, light fare and a daily happy hour.
Hyatt Santa Barbara is the newest addition to a collection of 23 Hyatt brand properties offering restful and contemporary rooms and the expertise of enthusiastic insiders to help guests make the most of their stay.
Santa Barbara, also known as the American Riviera, is one of the nation’s most renowned destinations. With a reputation for showcasing the quintessential California coastal life, world-class cuisine and subdued glamour, Santa Barbara attracts visitors ranging from presidents, royalty and movie stars to surfers, beach combers and families. And as a classic wedding destination, Santa Barbara offers romance, breath taking views and superior service.
*TynanGroup is the Project Manager for the $9 million Hyatt Santa Barbara renovation.
About Hyatt Santa Barbara
Hyatt Santa Barbara has 171 guest rooms offering ocean and mountain views. Nearly half of guest rooms have been fully updated, with the remainder going under renovation this year. All rooms are equipped with iHome stereo with iPod® docking station and pampering products. Amenities of the hotel include heated outdoor pool and whirlpool, bicycle rentals, fitness center, high speed internet, 24-hour business center, valet parking, concierge services, FastBoardTM and 10,000 square feet of meeting space. Bistro 1111 is open daily for breakfast lunch and dinner. Hyatt Santa Barbara is located at 1111 East Cabrillo Boulevard, Santa Barbara, CA 93103.
Reservations can be made by calling 805-882-1234. www.santabarbara.hyatt.com
Three months ago we reported that construction costs for renovation components were stagnate or even negative and thus it was a great time to renovate. This is still true; however, the trend is that these costs are rising. The overall construction cost are +3.4% over the last 12 months. Labor costs are unchanged but materials are costing more.
Take a look at these key renovation components over the last 12 months:
Our friends on the design side are still keeping their fees competitive. Architect, engineering and interior designer fees are unchanged.
Textiles are going through the roof but we are not seeing this passed on to soft-goods just yet.
Oil prices are trending lower since the beginning of May and hopefully staying below $95/barrel for a while. However, long term I think we all know energy will be expensive and thus mechanical systems renovations are also prudent now.
We spoke to an executive at Pella about window pricing and it was explained that the Federal housing energy rebate ended in 2010 and thus they are truly experiencing reality now. Despite rising glass prices due to energy costs, they must be especially competitive.
Once again, the 1,000 room Sheraton Phoenix Downtown continues to stay above the competition, this time by adding a new roof top pool bar to what was already the flagship downtown hotel in Phoenix.
The Sheraton Phoenix Downtown opened to great fanfare in 2008 as the largest hotel in Arizona with over 1.2 million square feet, 1,000 guestrooms, a destination restaurant, over 100,000 square feet of meeting and event space, a 3,500 square foot fitness facility, and a scenic roof top pool. The appropriately named “Breeze” pool bar now adds to this list of high end amenities on the renowned downtown hotel.
The innovative project design was created by RSP Architects of Tempe. The General Contractor was Rowland Construction Services, and TynanGroup acted as Project Manager. TynanGroup also served as the Project Manager on the Phoenix Sheraton Hotel project, and RSP previously worked with Arquitectonica on the Sheraton hotel’s progressive design.
This project was uniquely timed to take advantage of the lower construction and FF&E costs that the industry is currently experiencing. Although it was on the drawing boards for some time, the Owner (City of Phoenix) and Sheraton determined that the timing was optimal and any further delay in starting would result in a higher project cost. Working closely with the Sheraton’s F&B and Engineering departments, the project team was able to utilize a fast track construction schedule to allow the pool bar to fully open in time for the optimal spring season, all while minimizing any guest disruptions in an operating hotel environment.
Adjacent to the rooftop pool, Breeze is located to take advantage of the Phoenix skyline, with both bar seating and table seating, as well as pool side service. In addition to a great selection of blended drinks, cocktails and craft beers, Breeze offers its guests a pool side menu, as well. Next time you are in downtown Phoenix, don’t miss an opportunity to check out the latest pool side hot spot.
While gas prices have risen 27% over the past year (it seems like 127%) and commodity prices in general are going through the roof, we thought it was timely to look at the overall project cost implications for our clients, partners and team members. As in life, there is good news and bad news.
First the bad news: Cost of construction is rising (about 4% over the past year), primarily from the impacts of higher material costs. Some materials like steel, asphalt and copper have increased by double digit percentages. As a result, new-build construction will not be a bargain as one might have hoped coming out of the Great Recession. Actually, construction costs overall are back to mid-2009 levels and just 5% off the all-time peak.
Now the good news: Material costs typically involved in a hotel renovation are steady or have even declined. For example, take a look at these key renovation components over the last 12 months:
Architect, engineering and interior desinger fees are also competitive. Indeed, it is a good time to renovate.A word of caution however; cotton and, as a result, textile costs are skyrocketing. Cotton yards are up 27% and as a result they will have implications for softgoods (bedspreads, sheets, draperies, etc.) Fuel costs are up the same amount and so shipping and freight budgets will need adjusting. This is true for both truck and sea, and as a result, careful evalution is needed for overseas sourcing.
TynanGroup will be updating these key prices regularly so you can make important decisions with your properties and developments.
The Sheraton Phoenix Downtown is currently taking advantage of this positive renovation environment by adding a new rooftop pool bar to the recently opened 1000 key downtown property (pictured below.) Costs were 26% below budget.
Arizona Real Estate Magazine’s 6th annual Real Estate Development (RED) awards competition honored the “Biggest, Best and Most Notable” commercial real estate projects of 2010. This year, the RED Award for Best Hospitality Project was awarded to The Phoenician Ballroom Expansion. The project will be featured in the March/April issue of AZRE Magazine.
This makes three RED Awards for TynanGroup projects in the last three years: 2008 – The 1000 Room Phoenix Sheraton Downtown, 2009 – Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino and 2010 – The Phoenician Ballroom. TynanGroup is honored to have played a role in the success of these notable projects.
The new Phoenician Ballroom Expansion is gorgeous. With amazing views of both Camelback Mountain and the Phoenician’s signature golf courses, the new Ballroom addition provides guests a feeling of connection with the outdoors, as well as interior design that incorporates the natural surroundings through the use of native materials.
Throughout the expansion, the Phoenician remained open and continued to hold events, posing unique challenges in a Five Diamond Resort where guest inconvenience is out of the question. TynanGroup played a key role in managing the efforts of all involved team members to successfully achieve the goals of minimizing guest disruption while still completing the project on time and on budget.
The highly anticipated Phoenician Ballroom Expansion has been completed and is receiving rave reviews from the convention industry. TynanGroup, the Project Manager, was able to meet the tight timelines to ensure that this high-end Conference Space would be available for the upcoming Convention Season at Starwood’s flagship 5-star property. The new facility augments the existing ballroom conference space and features state-of-the-art presentation capabilities. With amazing views of both Camelback Mountain and the Phoenician’s signature golf courses, the new Ballroom addition provides guests a feeling of connection with the outdoors, as well as an interior design that incorporates the natural surroundings through the use of native materials. Centrally located in the metro Phoenix area, the Phoenician is in close proximity to Sky Harbor Airport, Downtown Scottsdale, and the Biltmore area, making it a top tier conference resort destination.
The new Phoenician ballroom is an approximately 50,000 square foot building addition to the existing Phoenician Resort and includes a new 15,000 square foot ballroom, 8,000 square foot arrival space, conference check-in, and pre-function area, as well as a new banquet kitchen and back of house area. The project includes a new conference center entrance drive and Porte Cochere area for conference guest arrival, abundant landscaping, and a new fairway and green for the Oasis golf course.
Due in part to the project’s complexities, TynanGroup was chosen for their expertise and ability to properly carry the project through design to its final completion, all while minimizing guest disruption and without hindrance to the ongoing operations of the Phoenician Resort. TynanGroup’s ability to complete the project on time and on budget once again demonstrates adherence to an efficient, economical, and well-coordinated Project Management process.
Television-Mirror Combinations: A contemporary look for Hotel Bathrooms.
For years, most hoteliers that wanted a 5-star look in their guestroom bathrooms thought this required incorporating stand alone LCD televisions to the already cluttered bathroom vanity area. Typically this involved finding adequate room for the TV, all while competing with the vanity mirror, make up mirror, shelving, towel rack, light sconces, and any bathroom OS&E/accessories found in the vanity area. Another issue was cable management, as these small LCD televisions required power and coax, and having these cables hanging or bundled behind a small television did not portray a tidy 5-star appearance. Additionally, many municipalities had code issues with these television clearance to water sources (sinks and tubs), which sometimes made for some pretty farfetched mounting locations.
In response to this long standing issue and the on-going 5-star demand, manufacturers have now developed LCD televisions that are fully integrated into the bathroom mirror. These mirror/LCD television systems are fogless, remote controlled, include required hotel “smart cards”, are extremely thin (down to 1 inch in thickness), and completely eliminate the unsightly cable management issue, as well as the vanity area clutter. Furthering the clean, contemporary uncluttered look, some manufacturers are also incorporating vanity lighting, thereby eliminating the traditional bathroom light sconce.
As the power source for these mirror/LCD/sconces are hidden behind the mirror (and can be both plug-in and hard-wired), most code issues regarding proximity to sinks and tubs are eliminated.
Prior to incorporating into your design, some things to verify:
Ensure adequate circuit amperage for combined mirror/LCD/sconce. You will need to provide a separate switched circuit if lighting is incorporated into the mirror, as well as a separate circuit for the LCD TV.
Verify acceptability with local code jurisdiction. Although manufacturers state that their products meet all codes, final interpretation comes down to the local jurisdiction.
Verify mirror location provides adequate viewing access to LCD TV. If it is incorporated just for the guest standing at the vanity, the traditional bathroom mirror location will typically suffice. If it is intended to be viewed from the bathtub, some mock-up trial and error exercises should be conducted with various mirror/LCD television locations.
Provide both a power source (hard wire or duplex, depending on manufacture/model requirement) and a coax source behind the mirror in a location that will not encumber mounting hardware. In a renovation, this power/coax relocation may be more difficult. The coax termination may also require an “L” fitting due to limited clearance behind the mirror.
Provide adequate backing for mirror installation hardware (per manufacturer’s recommendations). Since these combined systems are heavier than each single component, drywall anchors are typically insufficient.
Review costs/manufacturers. Although the prices for the combination mirror/LCD/sconce systems have dropped dramatically over the past few years, they are still typically more expensive than individual mirror, sconces and LCD TV’s.
With these systems becoming increasingly more popular and commonplace in high-end restaurant restrooms, sports facilities and homes, more and more guests are expecting the same clean, unencumbered look in their upscale hotel bathrooms, which may ultimately spell the demise of the stand alone bathroom LCD television.
Hotels spend millions of dollars waterproofing the exteriors and roofs of their buildings. With the exception of guestroom bathrooms and public restrooms, one problem that does not get as much attention as it should is the need to waterproof the back-of-house interior areas of the hotel. It does however, get attention when water has infiltrated areas of the building that it shouldn’t.
There are numerous causes of water infiltration generating from inside the building and usually from normal back-of-house activities. These activities can range from simple things such as the use of a hose to clean the loading dock or carts in the cart wash area, to warewashing overspray, ice machine dispensing mishaps, and excessive use of liquids in cleaning BOH areas. Even after all the initial money and effort invested to install FRP, cement board or tile, or expensive flashing systems, the water still seems to find its way through joints and starts to damage the interior of the hotel. Not to mention, water inside a hotel building leads to other costly environmental issues.
A product that TynanGroup has had success with is the use of sprayed on polyurethane coatings. Once used only to protect truck beds, these coatings have evolved technically into a two-component, 100% solids application (no VOCs or solvents), that can be spray applied from as thin as 1/16 of an inch or built up to an unlimited thickness. Due to its seamless application, its flexibility for any movement/expansion, the fact that this material bonds to almost any surface, and its relative inexpensiveness when compared to other water resistant systems, it makes for a great option in these water prone interior areas. Once in place and cured, polyurethane coatings are almost indestructible, and can be used on floors, walls, and if required, ceilings. If some major mishap occurs that actually cuts the polyurethane coating, they can be easily patched at minimal costs.
When using sprayed on polyurethane coatings in food service areas, do your research to ensure that the specific manufacturer/sprayed-on product meets the Food and Drug regulations for a coating having incidental food contact, along with gaining approval from your local health department. (more…)
In the present economy, potential property owners are requesting property assessments and existing owners are looking at capital improvements and renovations that will enhance their product. One reoccurring theme coming from engineering staff members (and contract maintenance) is that many elevator machine rooms housing equipment for hydraulic elevators are not cooling to levels that allow the equipment to function properly. Some may just stress the equipment, shortening the lifespan, while in some cases, heavily used elevators simply shut down until operating temperatures return.
In several cases, mechanical consultants have been engaged to increase conditioned air into the space. This can include mechanical contractors, electrical contractors and elevator companies to install additionally designed equipment. Several “fixes” have been reviewed, after the fact, to have run upwards of $50,000 per room.
One solution for future installations requires the elevator consultant and architect to provide (at least as an alternate), a water-cooled oil heat exchanger. This “tube” runs chilled water from the hotel plant, through a series of coils and very effectively cool the hydraulic oil used by the elevator equipment. The second portion of this option requires the mechanical consultant and architect to provide a chilled water supply and return to the elevator machine room. If this minimum installation is made, the actual heat exchanger can be an easily added option if oil temperatures cannot be maintained.
At a minimum, this solution would extend the life cycle of the equipment. This would also prevent the dilemma of people unable to use an elevator that has shut down and would likewise prevent an expensive remodel under duress.
TynanGroup, a national, real estate development services firm that has been helping clients successfully navigate the development process for nearly two decades, announces the new location of its Arizona office.
The office has relocated to:
1250 W. Washington Street, Suite 420 Tempe, AZ 85281
All of TynanGroup’s phone numbers and electronic communication will remain the same.
Since the opening of TynanGroup’s Phoenix office over a decade ago, our team has had an active presence in the community and has worked on many landmark local projects, including the award-winning Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel, the Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino, the Phoenician Conference Center Expansion, the Sheraton Resort and Spa at Wild Horse Pass, and the Montelucía Resort and Spa. See a complete list of TynanGroup projects here.
