Brea - Embassy Suites Hotel completed a $1.1 million renovation to its commercial space, an upgraded fitness center, and the addition of a business center, breakfast service area and a self-service marketplace. Additionally, the hotel is renovating all 228 guest suites to reflect an exotic, Egyptian theme. The estimated cost of over $4.5 million in upgrades is slated to be completed in May.

La Jolla - Hotel by the Sea is an eight-suite hotel undergoing a $4 million historical restoration. Along with a 10-suite Garden Terraces, both hotels adjacent to The Grande Colonial hotel in La Jolla will become part of that historic property’s offerings. Slated to be completed in February , the Little Hotel by the Sea (built in 1924) will include restoration of the building’s rooftop loft and deck, and restoration of the 1929 Baker & Son’s elevator. The rooftop area will be used as a guest library and sitting room, as well as an outdoor terrace and dining area providing panoramic views of the Pacific. The Baker & Sons elevator, which will be restored to full operation, is a four-passenger, solid mahogany elevator housed in a steel tower erected from solid rock beneath the hotel. All units will have kitchens and many will have fireplaces. Upon completion, the Little Hotel by the Sea and Garden Terraces will maintain their individual names, but will become part of The Grande Colonial hotel. The two properties will take on an interior, designed by Carmel-based Design Group Carmel, that represents La Jolla’s seacoast village residential style.

Los Angeles - Hyatt Regency Century Plaza  boasts the completion of a  $22 million renovation. Every guestroom and suite is completely refurbished, the famous Lobby Court serves host to after work events and live music, and a new restaurant bar with outside patio and street access has been added. A one-of-a-kind, ground level, VIP lounge and a Starbucks coffee bar and international newsstand complements the hotel’s long list of services and amenities. Equinox Fitness Club + Spa (formerly Spa Mystique) is part of  $4.5 million renovation and is set to open February 2007. Additionally, the hotel debuts its newly constructed Plaza Pavilion, adding 9,100 square feet of function space. The Plaza Pavilion offers an elegant, quiet setting that is ideal for executive retreats, parties and weddings for up to 500 guests.

Monterey - The Monterey Hotel - Moonstone Hotel Properties recently broke ground on an $8 million expansion project on The Monterey Hotel, a historic property built in 1904 in the heart of downtown Monterey. A viable move to add needed amenities while preserving the hotel’s early 20th century detail and charm, this renovation adds 24 new guest rooms (eight per floor; all with private fireplaces) to the current 45 rooms, as well as an additional 454 square feet of meeting space, which will seat approximately 40 people. Other changes include extra underground valet parking; a new elevator system; and a 1,500 square-foot fitness facility, including a spa, treatment rooms and an exercise room. The interior design will remain consistent with the hotel’s existing Victorian theme, while adding an indoor garden conservatory on the lower level near the spa entrance. When expansion is complete in the spring of 2008, the hotel’s main entrance will have been moved from busy Alvarado Street to the more spacious Calle Principal. The project also includes space for three new retail shops adjoining the hotel along Alvarado Street, and a new pedestrian walkway linking Alvarado Street to nearby Calle Principal.

Monterey - Hilton Garden Inn Monterey reopened after a complete property renovation including 204 guest rooms, 6,500 square feet of meeting and banquet space and the Pacific Grille restaurant. Guests now enjoy rooms with a private balcony, high-definition flat screen TV, in-room refrigerator, microwave and coffee maker, and work space with free wireless Internet. The hotel also features a new business center plus free guest parking, fitness center, heated outdoor pool and tennis courts.

Moss Beach - Seal Cove Inn in Moss Beach Joins Four Sisters Inns Collection -  Seal Cove Inn in Moss Beach recently became the newest Four Sisters Inn. Sold to a private investor, the inn will be managed and marketed by Four Sisters Inns, becoming the twelfth property in the collection. Located just 24 miles south of San Francisco, the Seal Cove Inn is an easy escape for residents of the Bay Area and a short drive for visitors flying in to San Francisco International Airport. Built in 1991, the 10-room property is just north of Half Moon Bay, set on a tranquil meadow overlooking acres of county park land and the ocean. Frolicking seals at Fitzgerald Marine Reserve delight tourists to the area and visitors to this hotel property, for which the inn was named. Four Sisters Inns will undertake a gradual refurbishment of the Seal Cove Inn in 2007.

Palm Desert - The Fairfield Inn, by Marriott in Palm Desert announces the completion of a $1.5 million renovation. All 112 guest rooms, including five suites have been completely renovated and refurbished. Complimentary breakfast of fresh Belgian waffles and hot breakfast sandwiches are served each morning, and a new mini market for travelers has been added.  Free high-speed internet access, and free fax and copy service among the new conveniences for business travelers. The Fairfield Inn, by Marriott also features a large outdoor pool, whirlpool and fitness room. The hotel is in walking distance to movie theatres, restaurants, theatre and shopping.

Rancho Cucamonga - Courtyard by Marriott Ontario-Rancho Cucamonga offers a new option in accommodations for business travelers with 117 guest rooms, including four suites, 100% non-smoking rooms, and some balcony rooms available. The spacious rooms feature Marriott’s new luxury bedding with pillow-top mattresses, crisp white linens and extra pillows. In addition, rooms are equipped with a refrigerator, coffee maker, iron/board and hair dryer. Property amenities include wireless internet, indoor heated pool and spa, lush outdoor courtyard and fitness center. A hearty breakfast buffet and The Market provide a variety of food and beverage options for guest enjoyment. The hotel also offers meeting space for up to 40 people, with full catering and AV available.

Oxnard - GrandStay Residential Suites offers one and two-bedroom studio suites with full kitchens, each completely furnished. The property also features a heated outdoor pool, whirlpool, exercise room, guest laundry and outdoor sportcourt with grill area. GrandStay Residential Suites, 2211 East Gonzales Road, Oxnard, California

Pacific Beach -  In the heart of San Diego’s vibrant community lives one of Southern California’s best-kept coastal vacation secrets—the Surfer Beach Hotel. 1950’s “Art Deco chic” with a tastefully subtle hint of contemporary style, class and comfort where the beach landscape is literally its backyard greets guests to this 1964 hotel that was recently refurbished and revitalized. Maximizing the unobstructed ocean views and prime beachfront location, the Surfer’s four floors of 52 completely redesigned rooms are situated around its Melrose Place-like private courtyard pool deck that, guarded by a glass-front barricade, opens directly onto Pacific Beach’s bustling Oceanfront Walk. Unique to the Surfer is its second-floor, detached penthouse-style Surf & Sunset Suite. This 1,400 sq. ft., twobedroom, fully furnished suite gives families and larger groups a perfect venue for sharing quality vacation time together, under one roof.

Paso Robles - Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites, Paso Robles recently added 31 suites to the brings their total room inventory to 91. The new suites are designed to accommodate families and extended stay clientele, and feature a separate living room, cooking surfaces and Simply Smart bedding collection. Also added were 1,100 square feet of conference space. The property is located at 2455 Riverside Avenue, Paso Robles, CA

Redondo Beach - The Portofino Hotel & Yacht Club (age 45) has had a top-to-bottom facelift involving a complete revamp of interior design elements for travelers seeking a beach vacation.   Guestrooms, public and meeting spaces, as well as the restaurant have all been redone and updated with new paint, carpet, furniture and soft goods in a soothing new color palette that incorporates deep hues of blue, sea-inspired shades of green and bright whites to incorporate an underlying nautical theme.  A centerpiece lobby features two-story high windows that look out onto the Pacific Ocean with the cool blue color of the Pacific splashed against the walls.  New furnishings include cream-colored leather couches, rich brown leather bar stools, glass tables and high back chairs placed in private alcoves by each of the windows.  A focal point of the room is a cozy fireplace surrounded by two stories of sandstone, drawing the eye up to the ceiling. Five ultra-luxe oceanside suites have been added to the property, each averaging 700 square feet of space overlooking the Pacific.  The suites feature sitting rooms, two 44” plasma screen TVs, a double-sided fireplace opening into the sitting room and bedroom, four-post wrought iron bed, glass desk and claw foot bath tub.  Bathrooms in each guestroom feature sleek, modern fixtures including counter-mounted vessel bowl sinks, black granite counter tops and stylish glass shelves offset by warm, alabaster-colored marble floors.  Dark wood is used as an accent as side tables and armoires appear in the rich material throughout the rooms. Marine-side rooms, which comprise more than half of the hotel’s inventory, will come with flat screen TVs.  Rooms and common areas are adorned with art depicting nautical scenes as well as mirrors reminiscent of portholes.  The pool features new teak furniture with plush, bright padding, perfect for poolside meals.  The new fitness center features two treadmills, two elliptical machines, one stationary bike and a full weight set. A grand circular drive connects the hotel and BALEENlosangeles, the new freestanding restaurant offering views of the hotel’s marina and a cozy fireplace.  Breakfast and lunch are served downstairs by the Marina . The adjacent docks and boat slips are among the region’s most elite marina offerings.  Noble House Hotels & Resorts owns the 45-year-old property, once a hangout for race car driver Peter Revson.  The movie, Cannonball Run, features scenes filmed at Portofino .

Roseville - The Best Western Galleria Inn is one of many hotels in Roseville. It recently opened in Roseville for the travel season, providing 83 rooms with wired and wireless Internet access, microwaves, refrigerators, business center, fitness center, shuttle services, and banquet & meeting facilities. A complimentary continental breakfast bar is available to guests. Located near the Galleria Mall, the inn is near restaurants, recreational facilities and business parks and corporate offices. While sports teams fill the popular, affordable hotels on weekends and business travelers utilize them during the week, we’ve discovered this city’s best kept secret, it’s access to the gold country.  There’s plent to do on a weekend getaway to Roseville, but the hotels are also great for day trips to see museums, wineries and other attractions.

San Diego - 500 West, San Diego’s first hybrid hotel, is an 80-year-old concrete building in the heart of San Diego blended with the chic simplicity of modern European-style lodging. 500 West Hotel, San Diego’s funkiest hybrid hotel seeks to redefine affordable urban travel accommodations with a $9+ million renovation and facelift. The former Armed Services YMCA is now a creative and comfortable hotel that is lavish yet practical, hip yet historical and fun yet functional. The hotel’s redesigned interior completely transformed its dated lobby and 208 guestrooms into comfortable and contemporary spaces. The guestrooms were updated with a fresh, organic color palette and feature Michael Graves-designed custom furnishings and fixtures, platform beds, 13” flat-screen televisions, and huge windows, many that lookout over the city’s stunning skyline and ocean harbor. Other property highlights include free wireless Internet in the lobby, 24-hour on-site laundry facilities, a gourmet Viking display kitchen and living room lounge with big screen television, a restored outdoor courtyard and new lobby lounge.

San Diego - The Hilton Mission Valley San Diego recently completed an $11-million renovation including an extensive remodeling of the property’s 349 guest rooms, lobby and concierge area, meeting spaces, executive lounge, pool area, fitness facilities, hotel façade, and landscaping. All 349 guest rooms now feature modernized architecture, state-of-the-art Suite Dreams bed sets, desks, and adjustable task lighting. The space that once housed the Monterey Whaling Company is now home to a new, 3,000 square-foot high-tech meeting center, featuring three customizable rooms. The meeting spaces boast sophisticated dropdown screens, LCD projectors, sound systems, DVD/CD/VCR, wireless highspeed Internet, and ergonomic chairs. The hotel’s new restaurant, Stish, features steak and seafood fare in a hip and urban dining room.

Santa Clara - Travel is on the rise to Silicon Valley and Santa Clara Convention Center. Several Santa Clara hotels have completed and are planning to complete multi-million dollar renovation projects. The Hyatt Regency Santa Clara will begin a multi-million dollar renovation of its 501 guestrooms and lobby beginning in March 2007. Also scheduled for a multi-million dollar renovation is the Marriott Santa Clara. The 755-room property will spend $1.8 million renovating its two smaller ballrooms, and another $22 million renovating all of its guestrooms by mid-2007. The Hilton Santa Clara is enhancing its guest rooms also with the “Hilton Suite Dreams Bed”. Other multi-million dollar renovations include The Plaza Suites Hotel—Santa Clara who just completed a $19 million renovation of all 220 of its two-room suites, and added a new 120- seat restaurant, business center and fitness center. The Holiday Inn Great America also updated its guest rooms with new bedding, window coverings and carpets.