SAN DIEGO—The Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina has been working on an expansion of its ballroom here. The property, owned by Host Hotels & Resorts Inc., will be home to a brand-new two-level stacked ballroom project along with Marina Terrace, a large outdoor area right on the bay, coupled with the public walkway, Marina Walk.
With its large 16-screen video wall system and distinctive design details such as a unique Swarovski crystal ceiling installation, the new meeting venues aim to blend cutting-edge technology with sophisticated design.
Following an extensive multimillion-dollar makeover of the resort’s guestrooms and public areas in 2011, the downtown luxury hotel is undergoing an approximate $107-million investment into its meeting and event offerings. Upon completion of the expansion this summer, the hotel will offer premium indoor and outdoor venues with increased connectivity between downtown and the bay.
“It’s such an exciting time to plan an event at Marriott Marquis as we greatly expand our options,” said GM Tuni Kyi, Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina. “This summer we’ll be unveiling a truly fresh and innovative product, answering to the tremendous demand we receive here at the hotel.”
According to the company, the new construction will increase the meeting, indoor and outdoor event space to 280,000 sq. ft. Additionally, the renovation’s highlight consists of two 36,000-sq.-ft. ballrooms, each capable of accommodating up to 3,700 guests. Both have grand foyers reaching up to 25,000 sq. ft., offering options to extend the space.
The new building, which complements the downtown hotel’s existing towers, is positioned on the waterfront and features a blue glass design, making use of the location’s natural light. Envisioned by tvsdesign, the color scheme evokes the sand and sea. Spaces offer clean lines for a contemporary and casual look and feel.
“We drew inspiration from the host community with its iconic coastline, which we incorporated into the design, capturing a sense of fluidity and movement throughout,” said Patricia Richey, lead designer and principal, tvsdesign.
As part of the expansion, the waterfront hotel is also completing Marina Terrace, 27,000 sq. ft. of paved outdoor event space overlooking the marina. A final piece of the renovation will be Marriott Marquis’ Marina Walk, a landscaped walkway displaying public art, decorative paving and views of the waterfront. With full wheelchair accessibility and public facilities, Marina Walk’s finishing touches will include bike racks and benches.