BY ERIC ROSEN | FORBES | APRIL 9, 2021 | Read on FORBES

Although the Covid pandemic persists, as vaccination rates rise, more travelers appear to be making trip plans in the coming months. That has prompted not only startup airlines to appear on the scene, but new hotels to begin cropping up around the country and the world as well. Visitors to Los Angeles, in particular, will find a plethora of exciting entrants, including the new Hilton Santa Monica Hotel & Suites, which officially opens today on 4th Street in Santa Monica, just a short walk to the beach.

Celebrating the launch, the hotel’s general manager, Shahid Kayani, said, “We are thrilled to join the vibrant community of Santa Monica, providing both guests and locals a place to relax, reconnect, and share a meal together in one of the most iconic beach cities.”

The Hilton takes over the former DoubleTree Suites after a sweeping renovation that lasted more than two years. The new hotel debuts with 211 suites and 75 guest rooms, all with unique layouts. Los Angeles-based Avenue Interior Design was charged with revamping the hotel for new travel demographics that might include everyone from vacationing families to tech entrepreneurs and creatives visiting the area’s burgeoning Silicon Beach tech sector shingles. They teamed up with Pineapple Procurement to update the furnishings and fixtures with a brighter, more beachy aesthetic that reflects the surrounding neighborhood and its laidback vibe.

Gone are the blandly patterned upholstery and carpeting, oversized wooden desks and tired drapes. Instead, rooms and suites now feature palettes with tans, taupes, sea-glass greens, and pelagic blues that hearken to the nearby beach. There is a renewed focus on windows and natural light, though slimline lighting fixtures have their place, as do more plentiful plugs and charging ports. Living room furniture, meanwhile, replaces fusty sleeper couches and drab dining tables with more midcentury modern-skewing pieces in natural woods and neutral textiles. All of it modular, of course, to accommodate a variety of configurations based on room layout and guest needs.

The property’s public spaces have also been given a complete overhaul replete with local touches and references. A hand-painted mural by Los Angeles artist collective, Hattas, hangs over the check-in desk. The lobby also now features the newest must-have hotel amenity, a co-working space and tech lounge, while the eight-story atrium is a showcase for nine-foot totems sculpted by Arizona artist Chris Nelke.

As for other amenities, the hotel retains its guest pool, along with private cabanas, as well as an updated fitness center, and several event spaces totally 10,000 square feet.

Perhaps most exciting…once folks get vaccinated and local restrictions are further eased, that is…is new food and beverage program, overseen by Edy Lucas, formerly of The Strand House and Fishing with Dynamite in Manhattan Beach. The aptly named Monica’s will serve as the hotel’s full-service flagship restaurant and bar, with seasonal menus that highlight the profusion of Southern Californian produce. The opening menu will veer Americana with mainstays like a Wagyu burger, and a fiery Cajun chicken sandwich, though more international flavors should also make their way into dishes over time.

The hotel will house a grab-and-go outlet for sandwiches, salads and casual drinks called The Marketplace, too. Guests will also find beach essentials and wellbeing products (this is L.A., after all) selected by The Detox Market for sale.

Opening rates at the Hilton Santa Monica Hotel & Suites start at $217 per night, or 70,000 Hilton Honors points.