Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa

Irvine, CA – February 2013 / Hospitality 1ST / Pacific Hospitality Group, LLC (PHG), has announced its latest venture for their expanding company. The newly formed Meritage Collection, gives PHG the distinction of being the only operator to provide AAA Four Diamond properties in Napa, Newport Beach, Santa Barbara, and La Jolla, four of California’s most desirable travel destinations. Each of the Meritage Collection’s hotels and resorts reflects the intention to deliver upscale, one-of-a-kind, elevated experiences in outstanding settings. The Meritage Collection ensures ease of access and cultural integration at these coveted California locations.

Also included in the collection is Napa Valley’s Trinitas Cellars, www.TrinitasCellars.com. The perfect complement to the Meritage Collection lifestyle, Trinitas provides a wide of variety of California-style wines including Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and their signature Meritage blend.

From yachting off the coast of Newport Beach and hiking down a seaside bluff to a deserted beach in La Jolla to discovering the nuances of a complex Cabernet and pedaling along the foothills of verdant Napa Valley to basking in the sun in Santa Barbara, the Meritage Collection’s hotels and resorts are portals to the best of California living.

“We are committed to the collective success of these wonderful properties,” said Timothy Busch, founder and chief executive officer of Pacific Hospitality Group. “Each property in the Meritage Collection is connected through its pledge to high quality culinary, fitness, spa, and cultural programs, along with attentive service, and a dedication to a sustainable and responsible environment. At all our hotels and resorts, we will deliver exceptional experiences for both the business and leisure traveler.”

Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa, www.EstanciaLaJolla.com, is a former equestrian estate spread over nine acres filled with enchanted gardens and Spanish Revival architecture, reflecting early Southern California ranchero lifestyle. The hotel sits just minutes from the charming village of La Jolla and some of the Pacific Coast’s most spectacular beaches. On property, rejuvenate the body and soul at The Spa at Estancia, then slip into a cozy couch next to the brick fireplace on the patio of Mustangs & Burros surrounded by twinkling lights and serenaded by the hypnotic sounds of a Flamenco guitar.

At Balboa Bay Resort, www.BalboaBayResort.com, guests are immersed in the glamorous seaside atmosphere of Newport Beach—the iconic property is the only waterfront resort in town. This scintillating aquatic playground offers kayaking, paddle boarding, surfing, and chartered yacht adventures for both seasoned watermen and neophytes. Guests also have access to Newport’s sophisticated shopping, art galleries, and world-class restaurants. Balboa Bay Resort visitors enjoy airy ocean breezes in their stylish rooms or suites, and views of the famous marina studded with many of the world’s most prestigious yachts. After lounging at the pool and treatments at the spa, waterfront dining at the spectacular The First Cabin awaits.

Nestled on the Gaviota coast between the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Ynez Mountains, Bacara Resort & Spa, www.BacaraResort.com, offers relaxed luxury and incomparable natural beauty. The resort features 354 lavish guestrooms and suites, each with a private balcony with breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean or flower-filled gardens. Additional features include a four-story spa, a state-of-the-art wellness center, three zero-edge saline swimming pools, four restaurants and lounges, a 12,000-bottle Wine Cellar & Tasting Room, and direct access to Santa Barbara’s beautiful wine country.

In Napa Valley, The Meritage Resort and Spa, www.TheMeritageResort.com, invites guests to sip and savor the best of Northern California’s wine region. Old-world elegance meets the excitement of modern day winemaking as the Tuscan design-inspired property has its own vineyard and Estate Cave tasting room featuring Trinitas Cellars. Their award-winning Spa Terra calls for decompression and pampering while the animated Crush sports bar is a haven for brews, bowling, and ballgame viewing. Meritage is also the gateway to all the wonders of Napa Valley: wine tastings, epicurean adventures, and endless recreation.

Across the Meritage Collection and its 1,044 guestrooms and suites, each stylish property caters to the comfort of the guests with luxury amenities like fine linens, premium eco-friendly bath products, and state-of-the-art technology. A dedication to the culinary arts is evident in the Meritage Collection’s commitment to local purveyors, seasonal food, sustainable products, and artisanal ingredients. Savvy wine programs and erudite sommeliers educate guests in the art of wine pairing to elevate the dining experience. The Collection firmly believes that service is an art form that should be unobtrusive yet genuine, with a fastidious attention to detail. Each staff member will go to extraordinary lengths to ensure that desires are fulfilled to the satisfaction of their discerning guests. And every property welcomes four-legged family members, with their gracious pet-friendly policies.

The Meritage Collection also provides a refuge for business travelers and groups, as each property is fully prepared to meet the specific needs of these important guests. A combination of stimulating environments, state-of-the-art technology, and team-building recreational activities make the Meritage Collection’s properties ideal destinations for groups, large and small. Meeting planners will appreciate the ease of access for multi-year programs, while extensive privileges will be extended to business and loyal members at all Meritage Collection properties.

Each of the properties is also an idyllic location for a destination wedding. With enchanted gardens, seaside settings, and romantic havens, they are the perfect place to say, “I do.” The Meritage Collection’s exquisite venues, distinguished farm-to-table cuisine, and dedicated staff make for a perfect union and celebration of love. Destination weddings create an atmosphere of camaraderie and joy through shared experience; the captivating settings of the Meritage Collection will undoubtedly lead to indelible lifelong memories.

“We’re looking forward to applying our talent and passion for the hospitality industry in this very special collection,” adds Steve Arnold, president and chief operations officer of Pacific Hospitality Group. “We are very proud of this luxurious collection that embodies the best of what California has to offer, from fine dining and unsurpassed recreation to the wonders of nature and cultural tradition.”

About Meritage Collection
The Meritage Collection is a new life and style collection from Pacific Hospitality Group, which includes independent hotels, resorts, wineries, and golf courses. The Meritage Collection offers exceptional travel and one-of-a-kind experiences in four of California’s most spectacular locations—La Jolla, Napa Valley, Newport Beach, and Santa Barbara. These design-focused properties are stylish yet welcoming, with creative restaurants, relaxed lounges, and inviting social spaces.

The collection features 1,044 finely appointed guest rooms and suites to appeal to both the leisure traveler and group attendee. With more than 130,000 square feet in flexible meeting space with up-to-the-minute AV services, groups will appreciate the opportunity to meet in style at California’s most talked about locations.

Embracing a holistic approach to wellness, the Meritage Collection puts a creative spin on traditional spa concepts and offers extensive treatments and health enhancing services. Blending the best in leisure and group travel, the Meritage Collection débuted in 2013 and includes The Meritage Resort and Spa, Bacara Resort & Spa, Balboa Bay Resort, and Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa.

Experience hospitality in a whole new light. For more information about the Meritage Collection, please visit www.MeritageCollection.com.


Pacific Hospitality Group


About Pacific Hospitality Group, LLC
Since 1987, Pacific Hospitality Group, LLC (PHG) has maintained a strategic vision and strong sense of core values as guiding principles for business success. With luxury hotel properties from Napa Valley to Southern California, PHG’s growing portfolio of hotel and resort investments reinforces the company’s cohesive vision. PHG manages, develops, finances, and owns hotel assets in California including Bacara Resort & Spa in Santa Barbara, Balboa Bay Resort, Balboa Bay Club, Newport Beach Country Club, Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa, and The Meritage Resort and Spa in Napa Valley. In addition, the company owns and operates the Crowne Plaza Anaheim Resort, Doubletree by Hilton Irvine Spectrum, and Doubletree by Hilton Santa Ana / Orange County Airport. PHG successfully operates its hotels by consistently growing revenue while effectively managing costs, thereby maximizing each hotel’s NOI. By using a cluster strategy, PHG is committed to growing its market share and adding value to its portfolio through renovations, repositioning, and expansion. www.pacifichospitality.com

Media Contacts:
Resonate PR
on behalf of Meritage Collection
Pam Devaney / 760-846-4640
Lauren Crowley / 949-204-7034

LA JOLLA, California (April 2, 2008) - Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa, managed by Destination Hotels and Resorts, has partnered with San Diego Golf to launch a convenient new way for visitors to book golf reservations in "real-time". The first of its kind in San Diego, the sensory retreat, located less than two miles from the world-renown Torrey Pines Golf Course, is offering guests the ability to reserve tee-times for their favorite sport, at eleven top courses in San Diego County, online either from home or from their guestroom.

"This new booking function compliments the already high level of service that Estancia provides to their guests," stated Gordon MacMitchell, the hotel's new General Manager. "It's a great tool that our staff can use to assist golfers already on property, reservation agents can book tee-times for customers calling in and reserving rooms, or customers can simply do it on their own through our website. It is easy and convenient."

Guests using this new electronic golf tool will not only have the capability to book tee times at various San Diego County courses, they will also have access to course information, pictures and recommendations. For more information please contact Estancia La Jolla at (858) 550-1000 or visit http://www.estancialajolla.com/.

La Jolla, California (January,2008) - Estancia La Jolla Hotel and Spa recently received the Elite Meetings Advisory Board's "2007 Elite Certified Award," an endorsement given only to resorts and hotels exceeding industry standards in accommodations, activities, amenities, food and beverage, meetings facilities and, most importantly, service.
"We are extremely proud to receive this prestigious designation," said Dave Gerdes, Regional Director of Sales and Marketing for Estancia La Jolla. "To have our hotel approved by industry veterans, as well as those who do business at our property is an honor and acknowledgement of our hard work and dedication to service."
The Elite Meetings Advisory Board (EMAB) is comprised of nine distinguished members, all key players in the industry, representing leading companies such as AAA, Advanced Auto Parts, Symantec, AO North America and Starwood Hotels & Resorts among others. EMAB conducts extensive research of resorts and hotels worldwide to provide planners with credible, peer-rated information about first-class properties for meeting events and incentive retreats.

About Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa
Selected by Cond Nast Traveler as one of the "Hottest New Hotels in the World" upon its opening in 2005
and as one of the "World's Best Places to Stay" in 2006, Estancia La Jolla is renowned as a coastal sensory retreat where tradition, environment and design blend to renew and inspire in the setting reminiscent of a sprawling early California ranch estate. Just a "chip shot" away from Torrey Pines Golf Course, host of the 2008 US Open, and a short stroll from the majestic coves, those seeking natural beauty and renowned golf have discovered the perfect location. The property features 210 cleverly aesthetic rooms (including 11 suites), three restaurants, including Bodega wine bar, which offers one of the most extensive and diverse selections of California wines in the region, that will delight even the most discerning palate, an 8,000 sq. ft. spa with an adjacent fitness facility, an inviting pool deck with private cabanas, and 25,000 sq. ft. of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space, including exquisitely landscaped gardens. Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa is truly a retreat from the ordinary. For more information, please visit www.estancialajolla.com.

About Elite Meetings International, LLC
Based in Santa Barbara, California, Elite Meetings International delivers smart and efficient solutions to the upper-echelon groups segment of the hospitality industry. Through its annual publication, Elite Meetings magazine; the Web site, www.EliteMeetings.net; and semiannual event, the Elite Meetings Alliance, the company connects top meeting and incentive planners with the best hotels and resorts in North America. For more information on Elite Meetings International, please call 805-730-1002. For media kit information, please visit www.elitemeetings.net/mediainfo.