The U.S. Grant Hotel downtown stepped onto the world stage when it re-opened Oct. 17. After a 20-month, $52 million restoration, the world-class hotel now offers fine dining, 270 luxurious guest accommodations and original artwork in every room, as well as a personal spa treatment available on-call.
The hotel’s rich history makes it the centerpiece of downtown, said Mark Dibella, executive director of marketing. The U.S. Grant was originally opened in October of 1910 by former President Ulysses S. Grant’s son. The hotel has been host to many dignitaries and politicians over its 96-year legacy, including 13 presidents, said Dibella.
The Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation purchased the property in 2003.
“[It] was a reacquisition of their tribal homeland, physically … We love that story because it shows that the U.S. Grant Hotel has really come full circle,” Dibella said.
After the purchasing the property and hotel, the owners set out a plan to renovate. The original plan called for the hotel to close in January 2005 for about a year at a cost of about $20 million. After 21 months and $52 million, the U.S. Grant unveiled the end result of its grand design.
“Up until a few weeks ago, we were running around in hardhats,” said public relations representative Lauren Clifford.
Once the hotel closed, the scale of the renovations expanded. Sycuan contracted with Starwood Hotels & Resorts to manage the property and oversee development in order to raise it up to a standard that would put the U.S. Grant on par with about 50 other hotels exclusive to Starwood’s The Luxury Collection, which includes properties that are either historically or architecturally significant. These criteria made the Grant a “perfect match,” Dibella said.
The renovations provided the opportunity to integrate the legacy of Sycuan. Throughout the hotel are examples of Native American art and subtle displays of the Evening Primrose, which is the tribal floral of Sycuan, Dibella said. Various sculptures and the custom carpet in the lobby display the floral pattern as part of the aesthetic nuances carefully woven throughout the U.S. Grant Hotel with respect to its history.
The inclusion of art in the hotel is a very important luxury feature, Dibella noted, as developers commissioned approximately $6.5 million worth of artwork especially for this project.
“The most commanding piece of art is in our guest rooms,” Dibella said. “The headboard is an $11,000 piece of French art.”
The custom artwork speaks to the structure’s “indigenous” qualities “” indigenous, as used by the Luxury Collection of hotels, means that it can only be found in one location “” which is a theme that even carries over to the food. The legendary Grant Grill boasts market-fresh produce, fine cuisine made with ingredients from local markets and the culinary expertise of Executive Chef Adreas Nieto. Nieto’s custom spice-rubs are sold in the hotel’s gift shop.
The hotel’s legacy is never too far away, as a time capsule is buried in the first floor elevator foyer. The capsule has been buried, discovered and re-buried about four times over its 96-year history. Part of what is represented in the capsule is an original letter from Ulysses S. Grant Jr. that is on currently display at the hotel. The portion of the letter reads:
“To thee who finds these items in the Arch of the big front door he is building”¦” he continues to outline the items placed in the capsule dated in 1907.
The letter represents the span of history in which the historic structure has played a part. Walking through the newly renovated U.S. Grant Hotel is like walking through a modern standing legend that pays homage to its founders “” while providing a luxurious stay for the aesthetically inclined traveler, of course.
For more on the hotel, visit www.usgrant.net or call (800) 237-5029.