On March 26, 2015 it was announced that the luxury hotel operator Fairmont Hotels & Resorts will soon take over management of San Diego’s top-rated hotel and rebrand it as The Fairmont Grand Del Mar.
The Grand Del Mar was named Trip Advisor’s #1 Luxury Hotel in California in 2014 and a Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Hotel for the fourth consecutive year, and will soon join a substantial hotel collection including the Fairmont San Francisco, The Plaza in New York, and The Savoy in London.
Upon the deal’s closing, Fairmont will oversee day-to-day operations of the award-winning property under a long-term management agreement. Manchester Financial Group and Fairmont’s parent company FRHI Hotels & Resorts (FRHI) will both hold a minority interest in the AAA Five-Diamond hotel.
“With the beauty and climate of San Diego, we’re extremely pleased to be adding an asset of this caliber to our hotel collection,” said William Fatt, chairman and chief executive officer, FRHI.
Featuring designs reflecting the Mediterranean style of the American resort architect Addison Mizner, the property is well suited to San Diego’s warm climate and outdoor lifestyle. Set amid the Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve, the resort features 249 guest rooms, as well as larger suites, plus eight two-story 4,500 square foot villas.
Some of the outstanding features of The Grand Del Mar include a 21,000 square foot spa, that received a Five Star rating from Forbes Travel Guide in 2015; an 18-hole Tom-Fazio designed golf course and clubhouse; six food and beverage venues including Addison, the resort’s AAA Five Diamond rated signature restaurant with awards-winning Executive Chef William Bradley overseeing; and a state-of-the-art fitness center. The resort also houses and Equestrian Center, boutique shopping outlets and 27,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 10,000 square foot ballroom, perfect for both large and small-scale events.
“The Manchester team, led by Douglas, or ‘Papa Doug’ Manchester, built an incredible hotel product and coupled it with an expertly trained group of hotel colleagues,” added FRHI’s Fatt. “We are excited to become stewards of this wonderful hotel and to continue this amazing performance, to further strengthen and grow the resort’s luxury positioning.”
The Fairmont Grand Del Mar is near the coast in north San Diego, and is surrounded by the coastal communities of La Jolla, Del Mar, Solana Beach, and Rancho Santa Fe. It is also about ½ hour north of the San Diego Airport, close to beaches and the Del Mar Race Track and Thoroughbred Club.
