The former Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa will be reborn as the VEA Newport Beach, a Marriott Resort & Spa this spring. Houston Tyner spearheaded the property’s architecture upgrades while Gensler and HBA revamped public spaces and guestrooms, respectively. The design team drew inspiration from James and Robert McFadden, the brothers who developed Newport Beach at the turn of the century and whose architectural influence remains a hallmark of the destination.
“We wanted to create intuitive moves that draw the guest in and give them a sense of place through coastal-inspired details layered with tactile materiality,” says Candra Mathis, Southwest regional leader of hospitality interiors for Gensler. “The overall goal for transforming the public areas of the hotel was how do we transform the arrival experience for the guests to immediately be drawn through the space and see the incredible views.”
Folding glass walls will blur the lines between indoors and outdoors in the lobby, which features an entry oculus and massive circular waterfall. Millworks channels the waves the property overlooks as the space opens to the lanai area.
A European-style coffee bar and patisserie will be featured in the lobby as part of the F&B lineup, which also includes a signature restaurant wrapped in glass at the heart of the resort and a poolside terrace bar. In addition to more than 60,000 square feet of indoor-outdoor event space, onsite amenities will include a 14,000-square-foot spa that houses 14 treatment rooms, fitness center, yoga studio, and saltwater pool. The spa pool will feature new cabanas and lounge seating adjacent to an event lawn as well.
Coastal luxury will be evoked across all 400 accommodations through minimalist artwork and a beachy palette of tans, grays, and blues. A series of wellness-focused suites will boast an elevated relaxation experience, distinguished by soft muted hues, deep soaking tubs, and natural elements like wood, marble, and stone. Four-bedroom group suites will also host an expansive layout that comprises a fully equipped kitchen and luxe living room.
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