Reconnecting to our hotels safely
October 23, 2020 9:00 AM
by Jennifer Taylor
As we choose to support our favorite local businesses, don’t forget to include Santa Monica’s list of dreamy hotels!
This year, many local hotels understand that our residents are in need of a mini-vacay more than ever, which is why it is the perfect time to take advantage of the annual Extra Bedroom Program, beginning now through February 15. You and your family can ease into an exceptional Santa Monica hotel room for a discounted rate, as a thank you to residents for supporting our community through these difficult times. The Extra Bedroom Program is also a perfect opportunity for residents who find it difficult to concentrate while working from home, or are participating in distance learning and in need of a learning-conducive environment that is also COVID-19 safe.
A Sampling of the Deals with the Santa Monica Extra Bedroom Program
Viceroy Hotel and the Le Méridien Delfina. Area Director for Sales and Marketing for the Viceroy hotel group, Kevin Anawati, says that the Le Méridien Delfina and Viceroy Hotel were “anticipating a record year” prior to COVID-19, but with recent events, they’re numbers have greatly staggered. This decline has forced many layoffs for staff at Le Méridien Delfina and Viceroy Hotel, but Anawati mentions that other local hotels have been able to regain their staff and that he is hopeful that both locations will follow suit soon.
Despite the challenges that the two hotels are facing, Le Méridien Delfina and the Viceroy Hotel are excited to give Santa Monica residents a taste of luxury. The Viceroy and Le Méridien Hotels are offering premium rooms for as little as $179 at the Le Méridien Delfina and $259 at the Viceroy Hotel.
SureStay Hotel by Best Western. Santa Monica residents booking the Extra Bedroom program at this hotel can enjoy rates for as low as $109 per night for a single room and $250 per night for a two-bed room. With rates this low, don’t forget your four-legged friends, because the SureStay Hotel by Best Western offers a limited amount of pet rooms for around $150 per night, because they understand that our pets are family too. Other amenities guests can enjoy is their complimentary “Grab n’ Go” breakfast bags with coffee given out every morning and free parking. Paknahal hopes that the community comes out “to support local businesses” like his own and is excited to once again participate in the Extra Bedroom Program.
The Sea Blue Hotel, an ocean-front hotel offers a beach house experience, with its location kissing the Santa Monica coastlin,e i Experience the soothing powers that the pacific ocean has on the mind, body and soul, as it will be mere steps away for rates as low as $159 per night, with certain restrictions applied.
For a listing of all of the specials, visit https://www.santamonica.com/extra-bedroom/.
Santa Monica Shines COVID-19 Safety Assurance Program for Hotels
Many local hotels signed on early to the Santa Monica Shines COVID-19 Safety Assurance Program, a voluntary program which helps businesses implement life-safety public health protocols to keep everyone safe. Every business that completes the program receives a seal of approval after a third-party inspection. Learn more at: visit santamonica.com/shines/.
The Viceroy Hotel Group was one of the first hotels to receive Santa Monica Shines COVID-19 Assurance Seal— a free program that serves as a platform for business owners to publicly recognize and highlight their compliance to clean and safe practices. The Viceroy Group’s Anawati says that “It was important to showcase the precautions that we have undertaken in keeping our guests and employees safe and comfortable. And there was no easier way than to participate in the Santa Monica Shines program.”
The Sea Blue Hotel was another early recipient of a Santa Monica Shines assurance seal. James “the Santa Monica Shines program is a key initiative for our hotel and the city, in our road to recovery from the pandemic,” shares James Graham, General Manager at the Sea Blue Hotel. With a focus on the safety of his guests and employees, Graham believes that “It’s important for our guests and the community to see [that] by [receiving] the Santa Monica Shines Assurance Seal, that we are doing everything possible to provide a safe, clean and enjoyable experience.”
Putting the Shines Safety Program To Work
Over the past few months, SureStaty Hotel by Best Western General Manager Moe Paknahal has implemented serious protocols across the board to ensure that all guests and employees remain safe, saying that “the safety of our employees and our guests are important to us.” To maintain employee safety, Paknahal says that all employees must wear masks at all times, are conscious of social distancing guidelines and there is limited contact between employees and guests, while still providing great customer service.
For guests of the SureStay Hotel, enjoy their delightfully comfortable rooms that you can be sure are kept exceptionally clean. Paknahal explains that while housekeeping services are limited to operating only every three-days, they utilize electrostatic sprayers to sanitize rooms before occupancy, which applies a positive charge to liquid disinfectants, which attracts it to negatively charged surfaces allowing surfaces to become efficiently coated with disinfectant. Once the disinfectant settles, housekeeping then properly cleans the rest of the room and applies a seal to the door, as they leave, to certify that the room was properly sanitized and that no one else had entered since it was last cleaned. Paknahal says, “We usually go above standard in their efforts to maintain cleanliness and safety and that absolutely shows through their actions. Since we are re-imagining ways to enjoy our favorite activities, why not re-imagine the way we see our hometown?
Get Started
With over 40 hotels gracing the 3.5 miles of Santa Monica coastline, many of them have gotten creative with fun and COVID-19 friendly activities that everyone is sure to love on their visit. Now is your perfect chance to explore and experience your hometown with a different mindset. Imagine starting your day by waking up after a long night’s rest. Roll over and pick up the phone to order a gourmet breakfast with room service and enjoy it in bed. Once you have mustered the strength to take off the covers, head down to the Pier for a fitness class and have the ocean air revitalize your senses, then take a stroll through the boardwalk and end the afternoon shopping in Downtown Santa Monica and the Third Street Promenade. Head back to your hotel room and freshen up for dinner, because there are hundreds of delicious outdoor dining options in the area, including 1 Pico, or Coast at Shutters on the Beach, Terrazza at Hotel Casa Del Mar, the Longitude Bar + Restaurant at the Le Méridien Delfina, Calabra at Santa Monica Proper Hotel, or The Veranda Restaurant at The Georgian Hotel, among many more.
While you’re there, make sure to take a look at the fun and COVID-19 friendly activities that everyone is sure to love on their visit. Whether you’re looking for a calming weekend away from the kids, or looking to bring the whole family along, there are so many options to choose from with plenty of space for everyone.
Enjoy an outdoor cinematic experience poolside at The Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalow and Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel, or a rejuvenating beach-fitness class offered at Hotel Casa Del Mar, Shutters On The Beach, or even a salon experience at and JW Marriott Santa Monica Le Merigot’s Spa Le Merigot or a restorative massage on a private terrace at Santa Monica Proper Hotel with their Ricari Studios spa pop-up (hotel guests only).
If you are safely travelling with family or will welcome family members for the holidays and are looking for fun and COVID-19 safe activities, both locations are offering an amazing package with the help from their partners: Perry’s Beach Cafe. Residents now get the chance to experience the beach in a fun and hassle free way with the Surf and Stay package, where guests receive two chairs, an umbrella, a cooler, beach toys, as well as a surfboard and boogie board to play with at your preset location. Want to know the best part? You also get your own beach butler to serve you the finest food Perry’s Cafe offers, like their delicious gourmet burgers, farmers market sandwiches and much more. This premium package is available when booking your room, at the affordable price of just $280 with your hotel stay.
Show your local love by giving the gift of a hotel room overlooking the Pacific Ocean this holiday season, which is sure to please even the most finicky of relatives. Don’t forget that by participating in this year’s program, you will also be supporting a local business and that is something worth celebrating! For a full list of participating local hotels and their rates, you can visit santamonica.com/extra-bedroom.
After a relaxing few days “away,” you will come back to your routine re-energized and ready to take on your work week!
Authored By
Jennifer Taylor
Economic Development Manager