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Guam Visitors Bureau teams up with local artist for ongoing mural series

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The Guam Visitors Bureau (GVB) is pleased to announce the non-profit membership corporation is working with local artist Lee Hiura San Nicolas to produce a series of murals around the island.

GVB has been a long-time supporter of the arts on island and sponsored numerous events to include Pow! Wow! Guam, Guam Art eXhibit (GAX), and Guam Spraycation. The Bureau has also encouraged the growth of art spots and linking businesses with local talent.

“GVB has been working with other local and international artists for many years to beautify our island. We’re proud to continue that effort by collaborating with Lee,” said GVB President and CEO Pilar Laguaña. “This project is all about creating art with purpose. We wanted to create murals that told a Guam story and will become new attractions for our visitors and residents to see. There are five prime spots that will have large scale murals in the coming weeks for everyone to enjoy.”

Two of the five murals have already been completed. San Nicolas has finished a mural of a large coconut crab or ayuyu in the village of Anigua close to the Federal District Court. The second mural that was done is of a Chamorrita girl, Cameron San Agustin, and large hibiscus flowers next to the old Blockbuster/ Oasis Empowerment Center in the village of Tamuning. The next mural project will be at Paseo de Susana with the last two murals to be finalized.

“As an artist, I work hard to create paintings that visually speak both to me and to my audience about the beauty and culture of our island,” said San Nicolas. “Art is a movement and I hope to inspire the younger generation of artists to show their love of Guam and pair it with their love for art. Si Yu’os Ma’åse’ GVB for supporting the local art scene!”

Guam Visitors Bureau teams up with local artist for ongoing mural series
lee san nicolas at work
Guam Visitors Bureau teams up with local artist for ongoing mural series
chamorrita girl mural
Guam Visitors Bureau teams up with local artist for ongoing mural series
ayuyu mural

San Nicolas has a “street island style” that aims to depict original culture fused with contemporary art flavor. He began his early career as a graffiti artist and has worked toward professional aspects of art in creative forms. His work is featured in galleries and throughout the local community. San Nicolas is a graduate of the University of Guam and majored in Liberal Arts.

Follow GVB on instagram @visitguamusa and Lee San Nicolas @thefueking for highlights on the mural project.

Source:http://www.visitguam.com

MEDIA CONTACT:

JOSH TYQUIENGCO

Public Information Officer

GUAM VISITORS BUREAU

Office: (671) 646-5278 

josh.tyquiengco@visitguam.org  |  http://www.visitguam.com

InterContinental San Francisco Hotel unveils Presidential Suite, capping top-to-bottom renovation

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Luxury hotel completes redesign with show-stopping penthouse master suite

Topping off a full interior renovation, the InterContinental San Francisco Hotel reveals an entirely redesigned Presidential Suite—an impressive 2,000 square-foot penthouse luxury suite located on the property’s 31st and 32nd floors

The expansive and light-filled Presidential Suite features a pair of private outdoor terraces with sweeping cityscapes, dining room with seating for eight, plush living room with floor-to-ceiling windows, powder room, and a luxurious master suite, complete with two walk-in wardrobes and two master baths, the first of which features a jacuzzi, shower, and bidet, while the second includes a separate shower and tub

“We are thrilled to debut the newly redesigned Presidential Suite, which marks the culmination of our year-long interior renovation project,” said General Manager of InterContinental San Francisco Hotel, Peter Koehler. “Following this dedicated refresh, the thoughtfully curated suite boasts designer finishes, luxe amenities, integrated technologies, and unparalleled views of San Francisco, and we are excited to provide this highly memorable guest suite as an exclusive option to our esteemed clientele.”

The InterContinental San Francisco Hotel’s Presidential Suite evokes a streamlined sophistication and grandeur that suits its savvy San Francisco guests. The redesign from Kiko Singh of BraytonHughes Design Studios accentuates the Presidential Suite’s stunning skyline views, introducing a refined color palate with tailored finishes that run throughout the suite’s upholstery, textile wall hangings, light fixtures, artwork, and more. Notable design features include a black and white stone floor inspired by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and a wall of stained wood that acts a stark backdrop to showcase the suite’s art collection. Bookended by floor to ceiling windows, natural light fills both levels of the suite. Details that highlight the suite’s residential inspiration include a Nero Marquina marble countertop and fireplace, a custom de Gournay gold leaf wallcovering in the master bedroom, and one-of-a-kind artwork such as vintage silk scarves from famed San Francisco retailer Gump’s adorning the upstairs landing. Oversized wingback chairs and plush couches provide ample seating for business meetings, social gatherings, or personal relaxation, and the appliances throughout—including televisions integrated into the bathroom mirrors—allow guests to stay connected in style.

“Today’s cosmopolitan jetsetters and business travelers seek respite in a setting that is not just luxurious, but that also tells a good story,” said Kiko Singh, BraytonHughes Design Studios Principal. “We designed the Presidential Suite as an extension of the art-focused narrative that guests experience in other parts of the hotel, from the public spaces showcasing local art inspired by San Francisco throughout the decades to guestrooms referencing the chic residential experience of life in the city. With this new design, the Presidential Suite provides another layer to enrich the story, pulsing with the sharp artistic energy of the vibrant SoMa district.”

In additional to top-of-the-line amenities and state-of-the-art technology, the Presidential Suite includes daily maid service, one-hour suit pressing, early check-in and late check-out, and complimentary wireless Internet access.

About InterContinental San Francisco

Located in San Francisco’s urban SoMa district, the InterContinental San Francisco is a 4-star luxury hotel adjacent to the recently expanded Moscone Center and within a short, scenic stroll of the city’s financial, entertainment and shopping districts. The InterContinental San Francisco offers 556 guest rooms, including 14 suites, featuring a stunning duplex Presidential Suite with sweeping city skyline and San Francisco Bay views. The Hotel’s 43,000 square feet of meeting and function space includes two spectacular ballrooms and 21 meeting rooms on the 3rd, 4th and 5th floors, where flexible configurations provide for events requiring 400 to 1,600 square feet. Establishing new standards for design, luxury, amenities, and commitment to guest satisfaction, the Hotel offers the Michelin-starred Luce Restaurant and lobby level Bar 888, in addition to a state-of-the-art fitness center and indoor heated lap-pool. InterContinental San Francisco is located at 888 Howard Street in San Francisco. For more information, click here or call 415-616-6500.About BraytonHughes Design Studios

BraytonHughes Design Studios is an internationally acclaimed design firm based in San Francisco, California. Established in 1989, BraytonHughes has developed the design of hospitality, commercial, corporate, institutional and residential projects into a comprehensive practice recognized for design excellence. Today, BraytonHughes Design Studios has dozens of diverse projects spanning five continents. The firm’s philosophy of “total design” encompasses space, interior architecture, furniture, art, and decorative objects designed or chosen with an artistic sensibility. Each project is created to convey a unique sense of place, created through a common foundation of exacting detail and carefully crafted materials.

For more information, click here.

InterContinental San Francisco Hotel unveils Presidential Suite, capping top-to-bottom renovation
InterContinental San Francisco Hotel unveils Presidential Suite, capping top-to-bottom renovation

Media contacts:  Hwee Peng Yeo, Marguerite Munoz, Grecia Corleto or Lauren Cardey at Glodow Nead Communications, 415-394-6500, bhdstudiospr@glodownead.com

Marriott Bay Area Business Council Organizes 2nd Annual San Francisco Torch Relay Benefiting UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals on Sunday, October 6, at Oracle Park

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The St. Regis San Francisco is pleased to announce its support for the annual Torch Relay for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, a local 5k marathon benefiting UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals in San Francisco and Oakland that will take place Sunday, October 6 starting at Oracle Park. The St. Regis General Manager Jacqueline Volkart serves as Chair of the Marriott Bay Area Business Council, a coalition of more than 100 Marriott properties in the Bay Area which are organizing and sponsoring The San Francisco Torch Relay.

The Torch Relay for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals is a unique multi-day event where participants can walk or run a segment of The Torch Relay at events throughout the country to raise money for their local CMN Hospital, locally, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals in San Francisco and Oakland. Since its beginnings in 2002, The Torch Relay has raised more than $15 million for children’s hospitals across the country.

“I am delighted to be part of the Marriott Bay Area Business Council team that has brought this event to San Francisco,” said Jacqueline Volkart. In her capacity as Chair of the Marriott Bay Area Business Council, together with Yoke Yong, Chair of the Next-Gen, BABC brought the first Torch Relay to San Francisco in 2018. “It’s an inspiring event on so many levels. The Torch Relay helps build and strengthen a community of people who support our local hospitals. Everyone can do a little something to help, whether they walk, run, volunteer or donate. And, all of the funds we raise are kept local, helping Bay Area kids and their families meet health challenges.”

The Marriott Bay Area Business Council is comprised of the leadership from more than 100 Marriott hotels in the Bay Area. As Chair of the Council and General Manager of the St. Regis San Francisco, Ms. Volkart helps lead several projects that give back to the local community, including The San Francisco Torch Relay, Coastal Cleaning, Earth Hour and Earth Day, Women in Leadership Series, SF Love our City, Cultural Days, Oakland Pride, Bridges and HARF, among many others.

The San Francisco Torch Relay will be held on Sunday, October 6 starting and finishing at Oracle Park. Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. and the relay begins at 10:00 a.m. and includes a walk/run along the waterfront of San Francisco’s Embarcadero. For more information and to register or donate, please visit The San Francisco Torch Relay.

About The St. Regis San Francisco

The St. Regis San Francisco opened in November 2005, introducing a new dimension of luxury and timeless elegance to the city of San Francisco.  The 40-story landmark building, designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, includes 100 private residences rising 19 levels above the 260-room St. Regis Hotel.  From legendary butler service, “anticipatory” guest care and impeccable staff training to the signature Remède Spa, luxurious amenities and interior design by Yabu Pushelberg of Toronto, The St. Regis San Francisco delivers an unmatched guest experience.  The St. Regis San Francisco is located at 125 Third Street. Telephone: 415.284.4000. Website: stregissanfrancisco.com  

Media contacts:  Hwee Peng Yeo, Laura Gigounas, Danyelle Simpkins and Grecia Corleto at Glodow Nead Communications, 415.394.6500 or StRegisPR@glodownead.com .

San Francisco Marriott Marquis Welcomes New Senior Sales Executive

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Erin Musni to Manage Hotel’s Northern California Market

San Francisco Marriott Marquis, the iconic South of Market hotel, is pleased to announce the appointment of Erin Musni as the hotel’s new senior sales executive. A hospitality industry veteran with over 10 years of experience, Musni will be responsible for growing group business in Northern California.

“We are thrilled to welcome Erin to our team of talented hospitality individuals,” says Laura Jung, Director of Sales & Marketing at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis. “Her strong sales background and Bay Area knowledge will be of great value to the hotel.”

Prior to joining the San Francisco Marriott Marquis, Musni started her career with Marriott Brands in the front office and in guest services at the Residence Inn & Courtyard San Ramon. Her sales experience includes regional group sales manager for the Western Mountain Pacific Group sales team, destination sales executive for New York Marriott Brooklyn Bridge and sales executive for New York Marriott Marquis. Most recently, Musni has been senior account executive at Wailea Beach Resort in Maui. During her time at Wailea Beach Resort, Musni was responsible for managing group accounts within the West Coast market, attended trade shows and host client entertainment events in effort to strengthen account relationships all while the hotel went through a $130 million-dollar renovation and transformation.

Musni holds a Business of Arts in Communication Studies from California State University in Sacramento. A Bay Area native, Musni is an avid Bay Area sports fan and loves to travel.  

For more information about the San Francisco Marriott Marquis, please visit sfmarriottmarquis.com.

About San Francisco Marriott Marquis

The San Francisco Marriott Marquis showcases 1,500 guest rooms and suites, over 121,000-square-feet of meeting and banquet space, a two-story fitness center, and M Club Lounge.  Crowned by The View Lounge on its 39th story, the hotel also features B55 Craft House & Kitchen and Mission Street Pantry as delicious dining options.  The property’s prime SoMa location is just steps away from the Moscone Convention Center; Yerba Buena Gardens; shopping on Union Square and at Westfield San Francisco Center including Bloomingdales and Nordstrom. For more information, please visit sfmarriottmarquis.com or call 1-888-236-2427. 

Media Contacts: Hwee Peng Yeo, Morgan Moore, Laura Gigounas, Lauren Cardey, Grecia Corleto or Juliona Miller at Glodow Nead Communications, 415.394.6500, marriottmarquisPR@glodownead.com.

Hotel Zetta Amplifies Tech-Forward Guest Experiences with Elevated In-Room Service

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San Francisco’s most innovative hotel adds Volara-powered Alexa technology in every guestroom and Atari Pong® Table to its Zetta Suite

Hotel Zetta, a hotel managed by Viceroy Hotels & Resorts and owned by Pebblebrook Hotel Trust boasting ultra-modern guest rooms, innovative health and wellness programming, and cutting-edge tech experiences in the heart of San Francisco’s bustling SoMa district, is pleased to announce new tech-forward guest amenities that adds a new level of innovative in-room offerings and services.  As the most tech-friendly hotel in San Francisco, Hotel Zetta now gives travelers an intuitive way to engage with the hotel directly with newly installed Amazon Alexa voice assistants powered by Volara, the only provider of custom voice-based solutions for the hospitality industry, in all of the property’s tech-forward and design-forward guestrooms along with adding a retro-inspired Atari Pong® Table to its Zetta Suite.

“Hotel Zetta continues to be at the forefront of delivering the latest technological offerings and experiences to our savvy travelers who expect a high caliber of service every time they visit,” said Mark Beevor, Hotel Zetta’s general manager.  “Being in the heart of an innovation hub like San Francisco, we’re proud to now offer Volara-powered Alexa, as well as a robust selection of tech-centric amenities that can’t be found elsewhere in the city.”

With Volara now an integral part of the hotel experience, guests can speak commands to Amazon Alexa to order Hotel Zetta’s services directly from the comfort of their guestrooms.  This offering gives visitors full control of their in-room experiences, whether its ordering a toothbrush, setting up a wake-up alarm, syncing their music playlists through Alexa, finding out the dining specials at The Cavalier restaurant or trying the Relax & Rejuvenate in-room spa treatment.  These quick on-command services are designed to make the guest experience as smooth as possible and is facilitated by Volara’s secure integration hub, which interfaces with the ALICE Hotel Operations Platform and MCOMS Guest Room Entertainment Platform at Hotel Zetta.

The recently-installed Atari Pong® Table in the Zetta Suite is equipped with games loaded with retro sound effects, bouncing lights and the original game mechanics.  The table blends the high-tech mechanical engineering of today with the beloved game from the ‘80s.  Atari Pong® Table features the classic PONG® game, a Bluetooth speaker so players can customize their PONG tournament experience with custom soundtracks, a LED clock display and USB charging.  The control panels on the table can also be hidden so it can be enjoyed as a retro coffee table.

Other tech-centric amenities include a virtual reality booth located in the hotel lobby featuring action, underwater or adventure games, OCULUS GO virtual reality headsets and Nintendo Switch portable gaming consoles available to all guests for complimentary use. Additionally, the Playroom now features pinball machines, a shuffleboard and neon artwork.  Each guestroom also features broadband Wi-Fi to help our guests always stay connected, the most up-to-date streaming platforms such as Netflix so guests can watch their favorite content on the TVs while traveling, and convenient in-room wireless charging capabilities.

For more information, please visit hotelzzetta.com or @HotelZetta on Instagram and on Facebook.

About Hotel Zetta

Located at the iconic convergence of San Francisco’s Union Square, SoMa and Financial Districts, Hotel Zetta is perfectly situated to experience the best of San Francisco’s fashion, arts, technology and music. Originally built in 1913 and reopened on its 100th anniversary, this 116-room property effortlessly combines state-of-the art amenities with intuitive service. With 2,760 square feet of meeting and event space, and Playroom, Hotel Zetta is the go-to hotspot for San Francisco’s leading-edge cultural and business communities. Hotel Zetta is a member of the Viceroy Hotel Group family and is located at 55 5th Street in San Francisco, California.

About Pebblebrook Hotel Trust

Pebblebrook Hotel Trust (NYSE: PEB) is a publicly traded real estate investment trust (“REIT”) and the largest owner of urban and resort lifestyle hotels in the United States.  The Company owns 59 hotels, totaling approximately 14,300 guest rooms across 16 urban and resort markets with a focus on the west coast gateway cities. Pebblebrook also owns The Unofficial Z Collection, which  includes other innovative hotels in San Francisco, including Hotel Zeppelin, Hotel Zelos, Hotel Zephyr, Hotel Zoe and The Hotel Zags in downtown Portland. For more information, visit pebblebrookhotels.com and follow us at @PebblebrookPEB.

Media contacts: Laura Gigounas, Morgan Moore, Angela Wong and Kate Bewak at Glodow Nead Communications, 415-394-6500 or HotelZettaPR@glodownead.com.

San Francisco Marriott Marquis Announces Marriott International’s “Masters of the Craft” Regional Culinary and Mixology Competition Winners

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The San Francisco Marriott Marquis, a landmark hotel in downtown San Francisco, hosted the Regional “Masters of the Craft” culinary and mixology competition on Monday, August 5. At the annual event, employees from within the western region of the U.S. Marriott International hotels competed to prove their prowess through quick-fire cooking and bartending challenges in a contest modeled after popular cooking competition shows. The competition was designed to discover and showcase Marriott’s best culinary and mixology talent. The day concluded by announcing Burmaa Munkhbat (Complex Purchaser) from The Westin Bellevue as the culinary winner, and Timothy Deenihand (Bartender) from The Westin Seattle as the beverage winner.

“It was an honor to have hosted so many talented individuals within the Marriott brand,” said San Francisco Marriott Marquis General Manager Mike Kass. “We extend our congratulations to Burmaa and Timothy for giving us a great show and letting us be part of their talented careers.”

Marriott employees across the country began competing at individual property competitions to showcase their culinary and mixology skills, with the subsequent winners moving on to sectionals and then the regional competition. Deenihand and Munkhbat will now go on to compete in the semi-final competition on Tuesday, October 22, 2019, at the Marriott Marquis in Washington DC, in hopes of making it to the finals, to be held at Marriott International’s headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland on Wednesday, October 23, 2019. In 2018, more than 2,200 employees from 280 Marriott properties competed in the competition.

An all-star lineup of local industry experts were on hand to judge the regional competition, including James Aptakin, culinary director of the world-renowned Crenn Dining Group helmed by Dominique Crenn; Gerald Hirigoyen, executive chef and owner of Piperade, San Francisco’s acclaimed Basque restaurant; Adam Jed, co-founder and owner of local favorite Bluestem Brasserie; Roland Passot, award-winning French chef and owner of La Folie; Pati Poblete, editor-in-chief of the iconic San Francisco magazine; and Brian Sheehy, cocktail pioneer and co-founder and owner of Bourbon and Branch. These guest judges were responsible for critiquing dishes and beverages for presentation, creativity, taste and showmanship.

For more information about Marriott International’s Masters of the Craft, please visit Marriott.com. For more information about the San Francisco Marriott Marquis, please visit sfmarriottmarquis.com.

About Marriott International

Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of more than 6,700 properties in 30 leading hotel brands spanning 130 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts all around the world. The company also operates award-winning loyalty programs: Marriott Rewards®, which includes The Ritz-Carlton Rewards®, and Starwood Preferred Guest®. For the latest company news, visit marriottnewscenter.com. In addition, connect with us on Facebook and @MarriottIntl on Twitter and Instagram.

About San Francisco Marriott Marquis

The San Francisco Marriott Marquis showcases 1,500 guest rooms and suites, 117,000-square-feet of meeting and banquet space, a two-story fitness center and spa, and M Club Lounge.  Crowned by The View Lounge on its 39th story, the hotel also features new B55 Craft House & Kitchen and Mission Street Pantry as delicious dining options.  The property’s prime SoMa location is just steps away from the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Moscone Convention Center; Yerba Buena Gardens; shopping on Union Square and at Westfield San Francisco Center including Bloomingdales and Nordstrom. For more information, please visit our website or call 1-888-236-2427. 

Media contact: Glodow Nead Communications at 415.394.6500 or marriottmarquisPR@glodownead.com.

The St. Regis San Francisco Welcomes New Account Director Kurtis Sylvester

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The St. Regis San Francisco, the city’s premier address for relaxed luxury and timeless elegance, is pleased to announce the appointment of Kurtis Sylvester to the position of account director.  Sylvester joins the hotel team with several years of experience in the hospitality industry and brings high-end personalized luxury knowledge from boutique Wine Country resorts to The St. Regis San Francisco.

“It is such an honor to be a part of The St. Regis San Francisco and to join an incredible group of talented leaders and staff,” said Sylvester.  “The St. Regis San Francisco is the West Coast flagship for the brand, and I look forward to being involved in the growth of the hotel in such a thriving and cosmopolitan city.”

Kurtis will oversee all group sales west of the Mississippi, in addition to directly managing all international, automotive, incentive house, education, and travel accounts. Prior to joining The St. Regis San Francisco, Sylvester was the director of west coast group sales at Las Alcobas, a Luxury Collections Hotel in Napa Valley, and has overseen all group sales for Bardessono resort and spa. Prior to sales, Sylvester was the front office manager at Bardessono where he created cultural guidelines, training, and service standards for the hotel. His expertise contributed to the hotel ranking number two on TripAdvisor for five consecutive years.

“We are looking forward to having Kurtis at The St. Regis San Francisco,” said Jacqueline Volkart, general manager of The St. Regis San Francisco. “His knowledge and skills will bring great value to our associates and I am very excited to see the department succeed under his lead.”

A California native, Sylvester graduated from San Francisco State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration: Concentration in Management. As an active member of the community, Sylvester enjoys participating in activities and causes such as Volo City, an organization contributing to the funding and support of youth leagues for children ages 6-12 at zero cost for families, where he is a volunteer coach and referee. He also participates in beach clean-ups once a month through Golden Gate Beach Stewards. Sylvester enjoys the outdoors, exercising, and the fine cuisine and world-class wine for which his home state is known.

For more information about The St. Regis San Francisco, please visit The St Regis San Francisco.

Media contact:  Hwee Peng Yeo, Laura Gigounas, Danyelle Simpkins or Grecia Corleto at Glodow Nead Communications, 415.394.6500 or stregispr@glodownead.com.