Monday, April 27, 2015

#Elevateyourjourney with Hotel Palomar San Diego


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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