BOUTIQUES BLOOM IN THE DESERT
PALM SPRINGS OVERFLOWS WITH HIP NEW HOTELS
Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley are in the midst of a hotel boom, revolving around edgy boutiques that put a 21st-century spin on 1950s Palm Springs glamour.
Fourteen hotels that are either brand new or extreme makeovers of older structures have opened their doors since 2012 and another five are set to launch over the next year. But contrary to the megaresort trend that dominated the valley in the ’80s and ’90s, most of these are intimate abodes that offer personalized service, designer-savvy decor and movie-star ambience.
Typical of the new wave is Triada , a chic 56-room boutique hotel located in the Movie Colony area of downtown Palm Springs. Replete with red-tiled roofs and whitewashed walls, the Mediterranean-style getaway first opened in the 1920s and has gone through various iterations during which it attracted Hollywood heavyweights like Liz Taylor, Howard Hughes, Jimmy Durante and Lana Turner.
By the early 21st century, the property was derelict and ready for demolition. But rather than tear it down and start from scratch, Pacific Host Hotels decided to revamp the existing buildings into an upscale and modern boutique property. The name Triada derives from the fact that it has three wings with distinct design themes. A small luxury spa, several swimming pools and a gourmet restaurant round out the vibe. www.triadapalmsprings.com
Equipped with cutting-edge amenities like Apple TV and dressed with cool custom-designed furniture by ModShop, the Palm Springs Hotel goes straight for the young, hip, design-savvy wanderer. But the sleek all-suite abode also pays homage to the desert’s past with its spiffy mid-century modern architecture and suites named after habitués of the past like Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Paul Newman and Raquel Welch.
Located in the city’s north side in a neighborhood being recast as the Uptown Design District, the 15-room boutique features a cool pool area with fire pits and Jacuzzi, as well as an al fresco bar that serves up cocktails, cigars and other waterfront treats. Most of the suites open directly onto the pool garden. www.thepalmspringshotel.com
The south side is also undergoing a hotel renaissance that kicked off several years ago when the uber-trendy Ace Hotel & Swim Club and the colorful Saguaro Hotel came online. The latest edition to the East Palm Canyon
strip is the revamped Horizon , an architectural gem by mid-century master William F. Cody.
Originally designed as the private home of the producer who brought “Lassie” and “The Lone Ranger” to television, the hotel flaunts an iconic palm-shaded pool area where the likes of Betty Grable and Marilyn Monroe once tanned. Setting itself apart from the rowdy spring break abodes down the street, the Horizon is an adultonly hotel open to guests 21 and over.
Accommodations range from king rooms with outdoor showers to a stand-alone “residence” with its own pool and private patio. www.thehorizonhotel.com
The hotly anticipated Arrive is scheduled for a summer unveiling in the Uptown Design District. The 32-room boutique is the brainchild of Silicon Valley tycoon Ezra Callahan (Facebook’s sixth employee) and contemporary modernist architect Chris Pardo. The desert-friendly design revolves around 21st-century sensibilities rather than the 1950s.
Rooms will feature open floor plans, “wet” areas and abundant natural light — and many will flaunt private patios with outdoor fireplaces and daybeds. California cuisine will flavor the hotel restaurant, which will also include quirky culinary experiences. Knitting Factory Entertainment will curate poolside music and entertainment. www.arrivehotels.com
Kimpton will launch the 188-room Hotel Palomar sometime in the next year. Part of the $300-million Downtown Palm Springs redevelopment project, the hotel is rising on the site of the old Desert Fashion Plaza mall adjacent to the Palm Springs Art Museum and Annenberg Theater. Palomar is the latest addition to Kimpton’s new boutique brand. Guest rooms will be housed in two separate buildings connected by a glass-enclosed sky bridge. Plans call for a swimming pool and bar atop the six-story structure. www.kimptonhotels.com.