W San Diego

SAN DIEGO (2010)- W Hotel San Diego (WSD) this month welcomes John Garcia as the new driving force behind the property's food and beverage team. As Executive Chef, Garcia will lend the experience from his extensive resume, which includes a recent invitation to cook at the celebrated James Beard House, to spearhead the evolution of WSD's culinary operations, implementing key initiatives throughout the property designed to enhance the dining experiences.

"With Chef Garcia's experience, artistry and energy, W San Diego is stepping into a new and welcomed culinary era," said General Manager Stan Kaminski. "His talents will lead the culinary initiatives property-wide and revive the cutting-edge cuisine guests have come to expect with the W brand."

Executive Chef Garcia brings more than fifteen years of experience from across the culinary spectrum to WSD. Most recently, Garcia joins WSD from the 5 Diamond Ritz Carlton of Laguna Niguel, where he served as their Chef De Cuisine. Starting with an apprenticeship under Michelin Star Chef Martin Scharff at the Hotel Eisenkrug in Dinkelsbuel, Germany Garcia has since been an integral player at: the Hotel Del Coronado; the Bellagio Hotel; Hard Rock Hotel's Simon Kitchen and Bar; the Patina Group's Catal Restaurant and Uva Bar; and, REDS Steakhouse at the Wigwam Golf Resort and Spa.

On April 22, Chef Garcia was in New York to prepare a menu at the historic James Beard House. Among other delectables served were ahi tuna Nori cones with Tobiko caviar; Japanese hamachi with black cherry, pear and petit red shiso soy-yuzu vinaigrette; and, crispy pork belly served with sweet onion marmalade, charred pineapple relish, and five spice port reduction. Monies raised from diners enjoying his menu and fine wine pairings benefitted James Beard Foundation scholarships for culinary students who need financial support to pursue careers in the food and beverage industry.

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Modern Brides and Grooms March Down the Aisle to a Different Beat
SAN DIEGO, CA (February 2010) - W San Diego (WSD), a wedding venue as unique as the couple is themselves, provides a brilliant backdrop to embody the personal style and attitude of the bride and groom that desire a modern, alternative-style wedding. From a BEACH wedding ceremony on the hotel's rooftop overlooking the city skyline, to custom branding throughout the property, to a reception in a chic-yet-funky space, like the newly revamped event space, Access, the perfect wedding is perfectly possible at WSD.

Versatility and ease prevail, with the option to host all aspects of the wedding at one site. WSD prides itself on customizing all wedding packages and, with an in-house wedding specialist assigned to each event, the wants and wishes of the soon-to-be newlyweds are easily attained. For example, the bride and her wedding party may choose to get ready in the property's 1250-square foot WOW suite, before the ceremony on the posh rooftop bar, BEACH. With real sand, a boardwalk and cabanas, BEACH provides the best of a beachfront ceremony sans the challenges of permitting with the added cityscape sex appeal. Add the flair of technological excitement to this space - and every other on the property - by posting images or customized branding to plasma and projector screens.

After, guests may say "I do" to a cocktail reception at the VERANDA, just steps away. Pristine white clapboard shutters open from the country-club chic space onto the property's sunny pool deck. The fun then flows to any number of private event spaces on property, including the super modern, recently repurposed Access. Here, throw the seating chart away and create an ultra-lounge with plush, contemporary furniture and heavy passed hors d'oeuvres from the hotel's culinary stars. Guests can spill out onto the adjacent patio, decked out to your desire, or mingle through the 1250 square foot space. Of course, if a seated dinner is in the couple's future, ample ballroom space is available and ready to be transformed into whatever, whenever.

And since the modern bride isn't tied to a Saturday wedding, WSD can help her plan an affair to remember on any day or night. Be it a Sunday brunch or a Wednesday fte, the possibilities continue to be endless, high quality and customized within your means.

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Meeting Planners Offered Boutique-style Capabilities to Create "Wow"-Inducing Meetings


SAN DIEGO, CA (JANUARY 2010)- In keeping with the brand's "whatever, whenever" mentality, W San Diego (WSD) has remodeled part of the property to reveal posh, "anything but vanilla" meeting and event space that truly caters to its modern clientele. The 1604 square-foot room, with its chic design and metallic trimmings, is ideal for post-meeting receptions as well as non-traditional meetings. Adjacent terraces offer attendees an experience atypical of more corporate environments. With the addition of Access, WSD now has 12,879 square feet of indoor/outdoor state-of-the-art meeting space.

"Access is another way in which the W San Diego allows planners to think outside the norm in terms of typical meeting programs and bring a So-Cal feel to the gathering," said Director of Sales Melissa Olsen. "Our services and amenities are the building blocks of successful meetings along with our dedication to providing guests with the high-energy, cutting-edge environment they have come to expect with the W brand."

Throughout the property, flexible and contiguous meeting space options, indoor and outdoor capabilities, creative packages, state of the art equipment, and specialized assistants all lend their part to making a "wow"-inducing meeting experience. A WSD Experience Engineer is paired with each event planner to make sure every request is carried out and expectations are not only met, but exceeded. WSD merges traditional meeting imagery, with the contemporary cool design of the W brand and modern creativity of even the wildest dreams. Be it as simple as pop'n'plug tabletop interconnect boxes paired with the latest A/V equipment, or as creative as a Sensory Set Up customized for the group to stimulates all five senses, meetings and events can be whatever the mind can imagine.

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