One in a series of Surfrider
Foundation Sponsor Stories
Sunny
Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to the following copyrighted
material. For permission to reprint or excerpt it and/or link it to another
website, contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com
Surfrider Foundation Huntington Beach/Seal Beach Chapter sponsor
Shorebreak Hotel is an
inviting retreat overlooking the Huntington Beach Pier. A boutique hotel
focused on providing guests with a luxurious beach experience, the Shorebreak is
operated by the Joie de Vivre
organization.
Located at 500 Pacific Coast Highway, on the second floor of The
Strand complex of shops and offices, the 157-room hotel is close to Main
Street, but hidden from view.
The hotel's warm, friendly atmosphere and attentive
service are perfect for visitors looking to soak up Surf City’s beach culture
and free-spirited ambience. One look at the surfboard storage racks next to the
bicycle racks downstairs tells you this isn’t your typical hotel.
For starters, guests
enter through an art gallery on the first floor.
The hotel lobby itself is a
work of art with natural woods, open spaces, and modern art and colorful
surfboards mounted on the walls.
Marco Perry,
General Manager of the Shorebreak, said the hotel is “a quintessential
California beach hotel that really takes in the vibe of Huntington Beach.”
To
ensure that guests have a special experience, Perry takes note of every detail
from the hotel’s décor and service to the music selections – “a mix of
contemporary surf sounds.”
Lobby Modern Art – made from Wetsuits
SurfWriter
Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel learned that every guest has a unique,
personal experience, starting with the check-in. Registration agents focus on
each guest’s needs and preferences.
Sara, Laurent and Gus ready to greet
guests
“The guest experience starts with the
person you meet at the entrance,” said Sales Coordinator TJ Ransom. “The same
person who checks you in does your concierge work for you. Guests only have one
person to contact for all their needs. After awhile we’re on a first-name
basis… like family.” Agents typically spend ten to fifteen minutes “just
hanging out” with guests to find out what brings them to the hotel and the
types of things they want to do during their visit, Ransom added.
To encourage
guests to strike up conversations with one another, the Shorebreak hosts a
complimentary wine hour from 5 – 6 p.m. in the lobby. There’s also a happy hour
in the Zimzala Restaurant and Bar from 3 – 7 p.m., with flatbread pizza,
parmesan-herb fries, crispy calamari, sweet potato tator-tots, roasted mussels,
sliders, and more.
Zimzala (defined by Riptionary as “a free-spirited person
who finds peace with the sand between their toes”) features a bar, living room-style
lounge, semi-exhibition kitchen, dining room, private dining room and outdoor
patio area.
Nathan Martinez, Assistant.
Restaurant Manager
This cool and comfortable space was created by noted design firm De
Lisle, Philpotts & Staub Interiors. After a day of surfing, sight-seeing
and shopping, or just relaxing it’s the perfect spot for guests to hang out and
share stories.
Bailey, Vanessa, Bella and Bill
having brunch
Duck Confit Quesadilla
Those who stay for dinner will enjoy such choices as
cider-brined pork chops, Australian rack of lamb, wild sea bass, and pan-seared
diver scallops.
The Shorebreak
Hotel has become a first-choice destination for couples, families and corporate
travelers by offering a beachside oasis that emphasizes comfort and
convenience. In creating the hotel, Joie
de Vivre designed it around five words: “sporty, connected, edgy, relaxed,
and free-spirited.”
In keeping with
this concept, the guest rooms all have 300-thread-count linens, high-speed
Internet access, flat screen TVs, executive work areas, and modern art. Along with this, there are fire pits on the
hotel’s terrace so people can gather outside in the evening.
The hotel even
provides marshmallows for making s’mores. Plus there is a
“beach butler” on staff to arrange for water sports equipment, bicycles, beach
supplies and food.
An added benefit for dog-lovers is that the hotel is
dog-friendly. Two dogs per room are allowed to stay without a weight limit or
pet fee. There’s even a special menu for dogs.
Bailey hanging out with Sunny and
Patti
Room rates range
from $199.00 to $499.00, depending on room type and time of year, with special
packages available and discounts for groups and repeat visitors.
One of the
hotel’s most popular packages is the “No Brainer Romance Package.” It includes “everything
needed to make a romantic evening a smashing success”: room accommodations, one
dozen roses, chocolate covered strawberries, a bottle of bubbles...
and dinner
reservations at Zimzala. Guests even
receive a “stack of pre-phrased cue cards” for romantic conversations.
The Shorebreak
Hotel is the official hotel for the Surfrider Foundation and supports the non-profit
organization’s environmental mission of protecting the world’s oceans, waves
and beaches.
The Shorebreak also participates in the Clean the World
Hospitality Program by collecting partially-used soap, shampoo and other guest
room amenities to be recycled and distributed to homeless shelters and missions
around the world. The Shorebreak has a “4 Green Keys” rating (out of 5) by
Green Key Global, which ranks hotels worldwide on their greening efforts.
Selected as one of the Top 25 Trendiest Hotels in the
United States by Trip Advisor, The Shorebreak Hotel is a recipient of a coveted Travelers' Choice Hotel Award.
www.surfwritergirls.blogspot.com
Please post your comment below.
Comments will appear the next day.
