WHAT’S NEW IN CALIFORNIA SPRING 2020 2 VISIT CALIFORNIA 2020 California Visitor’s IN THIS ISSUE Guide inspires travel Accommodations .................................. 3 ideas throughout the Culinary ................................................... 6 Golden State Arts & Entertainment .......................... 10 Discover insider travel tips, epicurean Family Fun ..............................................11 adventures, surfing legends and more Outdoors & Recreation........................12 The all-new 2020 California Visitor’s Guide is available free of cost on Visit California’s website and available at select newsstands. Full of informative Technology & Tours ..............................12 and inspirational content, the 196-page annual guide is a great resource for potential travelers as they plan their next California vacation. Shopping ................................................12 The cover of the guide features iconic entertainer Steve Martin, who in an Wellness .................................................13 exclusive interview reflects on his time in the Golden State and discusses his new song, “California,” a whimsical, banjo-driven homage to Los Angeles. Milestones & California’s vibrant culinary scene is showcased in this year’s Looking Ahead .....................................14 guide as well, featuring “3 Epic Culinary Road Trips” around the state with recommendations from culinary icons and Michelin- starred chefs including Dominique Crenn (Atelier Crenn), Niki Nakayama (n/naka) and Nancy Silverton (Pizzeria Mozza). The magazine also includes a tribute to surfing, the state’s official sport. “California Surf Culture: An A-to-Z Guide” takes readers up and down the coast, highlighting many of the key attractions, destinations and Visit California is pleased to people who helped establish surfing as an international phenomenon. present this newsletter describing new developments taking place Other features within the publication include an insider’s guide to nine throughout the Golden State. Please family-friendly attractions (“How to Hack California Theme Parks”); an note that dates listed are subject to interactive decision tree designed to help match readers with the perfect change. Confirm with appropriate winter resort (“Choose Your Ultimate Snow Getaway”); an “Explore” section media contacts listed after each entry. that emphasizes the latest and greatest experiences available to visitors; The information in this publication is and richly detailed directories for each of the state’s 12 distinct regions. also available online on our media site listed below. Simply look for What’s To obtain your copy of the 500,000-circulation 2020 New on the home page. There you California Visitor’s Guide, visit a California Welcome can dynamically search the most Centers, select newsstand or VisitCalifornia.com/cvg. up to date information by category and region. Media Website: media.visitcalifornia.com Consumer Website: www.visitcalifornia.com © 2020 Visit California WHAT’S NEW IN CALIFORNIA SPRING 2020 3 COACHELLA GREATER LOS ANGELES Hotel Indigo Coachella Hotel Boom Continues Takes the Stage Across Los Angeles Hotel Indigo Coachella recently Los Angeles will welcome a variety of new debuted, offering visitors an exciting new hotels this year, from hip boutique hotels ACCOMMODATIONS accommodations option when attending and major brand resorts to budget friendly the area’s iconic music festival and ongoing properties. This winter Proper Hotels will AVALON events. The upscale, full-service property open a second Southern California property occupies a 35-acre site along Hwy 11 between in downtown, featuring 151 rooms as well as Historic Hotel Atwater Indio and Coachella and reflects the region a rooftop pool and two restaurants overseen Reopens After Extensive throughout. The concept draws inspiration by James Beard Award-winning duo, Suzanne Renovation from the storied destination, from distinctive Goin and Caroline Styne. This spring design to farm-to-table restaurant. Guests AccorHotels’ Fairmont badge will take over The Catalina Island Company recently can kick back in casita-style rooms before the landmark Century Plaza hotel when the reopened the 95-room historic Hotel Atwater, heading to the 10,000-square-foot pool property is redeveloped. Scheduled to open which celebrates its centennial this year, after a where a fashion runway and a DJ stage next April, the hotel will boast 394 rooms. major makeover. Located just off the Southern aim to offer the best party in town. The The 94-room Hotel Mariposa, a new-build California coast on Catalina Island, the hotel’s grass-covered Playground will host upscale-boutique hotel, will open in Sherman completely revitalized property offers modern everything from private music festivals and Oaks with an eco-conscious, wellness amenities and a new design that embraces the art exhibitions to local events. Those looking emphasis. Marriott International’s Aloft future and the Wrigley family legacy. This to rejuvenate after partying can visit the lifestyle brand will enter Glendale in November design features nostalgic elements throughout hotel’s spa, health club or yoga studio. with a 90-room new-build hotel on Brand the hotel, from vases filled with fragrant MEDIA/PUBLIC CONTACT: GUEST SERVICES, Boulevard. Hilton will bring its Hampton carnations to complimentary splits of sparkling HOTEL INDIGO COACHELLA, (877) 666 3243, Inn & Suites brand to Koreatown’s West 3rd wine in every room. Decorative elements [email protected], WWW.HOTELINDIGO.COM Street in late 2020 with a 171-room hotel. including the original Wrigley family safe, MEDIA CONTACT: DENISE LENGYELTOTI, LOS ANGELES GILROY books of family history and an accordion and TOURISM & CONVENTION BOARD, (213) 236-2357, harp. New fully equipped meeting and event Hampton Inn & Suites [email protected], WWW.LATOURISM.ORG space allows for gatherings of up to 49 people. PUBLIC CONTACT: VISITOR SERVICES, to Open in Gilroy [email protected], (213) 236-2300, MEDIA/PUBLIC CONTACT: KRISTIN METCALFE, WWW.DISCOVERLOSANGELES.COM CATALINA ISLAND COMPANY, (310) 510-7427, A new Hampton Inn & Suites will be opening [email protected], WWW.VISITCATALINAISLAND.COM in Gilroy in spring of 2020. The new 103- HOLLYWOOD bed hotel will be conveniently located just Two Lifestyle Hotels to off Highway 101 on Travel Park Circle, just three miles from Gilroy Premium Outlets. Premiere in Hollywood The hotel is also close to wineries, golf courses, Two trendy lifestyle hotel brands will take the historic downtown Gilroy, and Gilroy Gardens spotlight this year, including Thompson Hotels, Family Theme Park. WiFi and hot breakfast Thompson Hollywood. Scheduled to open are included in your stay along with access this spring, the new-build property will debut to a fitness center and outdoor heated pool. on Wilcox Avenue between Hollywood and Each room includes a comfortable bed, Sunset Boulevards. The 200-room hotel, to be microwave, mini fridge and coffee maker. built by Dream Hollywood developer Relevant MEDIA CONTACT: JANE HOWARD, VISIT GILROY, Group, will boast a rooftop deck with a pool. 408.842.6436, [email protected] This summer Hyatt’s Tommie Hotels will open, PUBLIC CONTACT: ERIC GEBHARDT, HAMPTON INN & SUITES GILROY, 669.239.7044, specializing in micro-suites. Relevant Group [email protected], HTTPS://HAMPTONINN3. will also develop this 212-room property, HILTON.COM/EN/HOTELS/CALIFORNIA/HAMPTON-INN- AND-SUITES-GILROY-SJCGYHX/INDEX.HTML located near Hollywood’s Cahuenga Corridor. MEDIA/PUBLIC CONTACT: VISITOR SERVICES, HOLLYWOOD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, (323) 469-8311, [email protected], WWW.HOLLYWOODCHAMBER.NET MEDIA.VISITCALIFORNIA.COM 4 VISIT CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES NEWPORT OAKLAND Iconic Mondrian Newport Dunes Waterfront New Hotel Lands at Los Angeles Unveils Resort Makes a Splash Oakland International $19 Million Redesign The iconic family friendly Newport Dunes Airport Leading international lifestyle hospitality group Waterfront Resort & Marina recently debuted Springhill Suites by Marriott Oakland Airport sbe recently revealed the $19 million makeover an exciting refurbishment. Nestled along recently opened by Oakland International of the Mondrian Los Angeles. Nestled atop the the Back Bay of Newport Beach, the resort’s Airport, featuring 134 suites—including hills of West Hollywood on Sunset Boulevard new features include updated beachfront 67 with king beds and 67 with double king the luxury hotel now features 236 redesigned cottages, a resort-style pool complex, expanded beds. The full-service property offers vibrant rooms—including its signature Skyview Loft Inflatable Water Park and an enhanced cafe common spaces, including a lobby, British and Penthouse—complete with a new lobby menu with beachfront communal lounge restaurant, lounge, 24/7 business center and and upgraded meeting spaces and fitness addition. The pool area now offers a children’s market, a fully equipped fitness center, a heated center. The spacious accommodations boast pool and a second hot tub, as well as private pool, patio and fire pit and event space with floor-to-ceiling windows, marble bathrooms cabanas and a large lounge area where catering. Guests can enjoy a complimentary and signature 24-hour room service. guests can converse around a fire pit. hot breakfast buffet, Wi-Fi, shuttle to and from MEDIA CONTACT: KATHRYN RIORDAN, THE ACE AGENCY, MEDIA CONTACT: JASON HAZZARD, THE INFLUENCE, LLC, the airport and the Bay Area