Henry Miller once said, “One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” Kimpton’s Hotel Palomar San Diego intends to do just that: change how guests see things, by elevating their journey. Edible Skinny headed to San Diego in the beginning of April to experience Palomar’s concept of individualized luxury at where we were wowed by this hotel’s commitment to both style and service. Combining their prime location in the heart of San Diego’s Gaslamp, with their lavish accommodations, Hotel Palomar has thought of everything, down to the tiniest detail, with each amenity ensuring every guest is comfortable and cared for.
Before
we even arrived, Edible Skinny was elated at Hotel Palomar’s convenient
location: a world of play within walking distance. Surrounded by some of the
top craft breweries such as Stone, Karl Strauss, Half Door Brewing Company and
Ballast Point, this location is a beer lover’s dream, easy to walk to without
the stress of getting behind the wheel. It is also a few blocks to Petco Park,
home of the San Diego Padres, Gaslamp’s exciting nights life, and the delicious
Italian fare of Little Italy. Palomar has found the sweet spot, nestled inside
the action, great for those who looking for adventure, but once inside the
hotel transports guest to a calming oasis.
Kimpton’s
Hotel Palomar has the perfect balance of style that combines accents of urban
with a subdue seaside touch. Palomar tastefully encompasses a causal elegance
that feels like a relaxing day at the beach, even though it rests in the city’s
center. And while Palomar have perfected their sensational style, sans
pretension, that is only part of the hotel’s mission. This boutique urban
retreat stands out for their exceptional service. “What’s primarily different
with Palomar is the people and the level of service. We want service to be genuine and come from
heart,” said Drew Parker, Director of Sales and Marketing for Hotel Palomar San
Diego. “When you walk through the door, you’re it to us. We are small enough we
can create that.” And while many hotels tote a similar claim, the proof is in
the details.
Hotel
Palomar has thought of everything to ensure every need is met running the gamut
from delicious to decadent. Guest can enjoy the California Coastal cuisine of
the hotel’s restaurant, Saltbox, while sipping one of their carefully crafted
cocktails. Palomar also hosts a daily social hour that provides guests with
complimentary wine from 5pm-6pm. For those wanting to get a little more
physical, Palomar has a complementary fitness center, as well as a yoga mat in
every hotel room and free on demand fitness TV. If relaxation is what you’re
looking for, guests can head to Nature's Spa by Jurlique, for a hot stone
massage or relaxing couples soak. Palomar’s pool deck is the perfect place to
soak in the sun, or have a drink at their Summer Salt pool bar. The hotel also
welcomes pets free of charge, as well as provides complimentary food bowls and
beds during the stay. Forgot your phone charger? Toothbrush? Anything else you
can think of? The front desk of Palomar is stocked with all those little left
behinds to take the stress out of travel.
But
what really set our stay apart was the staff. From doorman to front desk,
everyone was excited, engaged and eager to enhance our stay. Hotel Palomar
friendly and flexible staff went the extra mile, recommending local breweries
and offering insider tips from locals, and always asking, “What else can we
do?”
“We
pride ourselves on not being scripted,” added Parker. “Hiring decisions are
based on the connection we feel with a person and how well they will connect
with guests. It’s self-empowerment, giving employees the power to make
decisions that will make guests happy.” And the staff at Palomar calculates
every consideration.
They
even got wind that Edible Skinny was celebrating a birthday, so after a day of
visiting San Diego’s breweries and restaurants, we returned to a delicious
bottle of wine and four different decadent desserts. One thing’s for sure;
Palomar has mastered the art of personalized pampering.
And
yet with such a high quality of service, Palomar still asks how they can do
better, to bring the standard of service higher. The hotel is currently in the
process of a renovation and redo where they are constructing floors 16-20 into
a new 50-room collection of Skyline Guestrooms, Suites and Penthouses, set to
launch May 2015. “We saw the opportunity to reconfigure and create exclusive
collection of guestrooms and suites,” added Parker. “They are named Skyline
because the views are truly exceptional, you can see past Coronado and even
Mexico.” Parker describes the renovation
as “ . . . an opportunity not to just launch new room, but really elevate the
guest experience, with new rooms, new pool deck and a new spa line.”
When
Hotel Palomar talks of elevating the guest experience, their aim is a mix of
luxury and lifestyle. This new campaign will launch in the beginning in May.
“We wanted to find a clever way to engage with out guests and people who love
Kimpton, … to elevate their journeys. We are rolling out new programming, where
every day of the week there will be something different.” The upcoming
programming is meant to be “fun, relaxed and easy going,” said Parker,
describing some of the things guests can look forward to this May.
With
the weather getting warmer and summer fast approaching many of the new
activities will be centered around Kimpton’s beautiful pool deck. Among them
will be Game Day, a day of poolside play, fun in the sun with lift-sized Jenga,
corn hole and beer pong. Palomar will also offer a spa day, which focuses on
pampering and relaxation. And on the weekends, they will be one of the only San
Diego hotels to offer poolside brunch, along with Beauty Beats acid jazz or
live blue grass performers.
And
Palomar doesn’t stop there. Along with everything they do, they want to involve
their guests, to get feedback and interact with other personal journeys through
their social media campaign. So to kick off the redo, they are hosting the
#elevateyourjounrey contest from Feb. 19 through May 31, encouraging guests to
share ways they elevate their journeys.
To enter the contest follow
@palomarsandiego and upload an Instagram posts that shows how you elevate your
journey through food, art, activities or self-expression. Those posts are then
transferred to the contest web page, where everyone can view these breathtaking
photos. The prize for the winning image, valued at $5,000, includes a two-night
stay in the Skyline Penthouse, $200 credit to Nature’s Spa by Jurlique, dinner
for two at Saltbox, and two passes for skydiving with Skydive San Diego or
stand-up paddle boarding on Mission Bay. Additional information on the contest
can be found here: http://www.hotelpalomar-sandiego.com/renovation.htmlhttp://www.hotelpalomar-sandiego.com/renovation.html
So
for those looking for a getaway that has the perfect balance of city and
seaside, look no further than the conveniently located Hotel Palomar San Diego.
Individual luxury and personal pampering to #elevateyourjourney.
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