Noble House Reopens the 406 room Riviera Resort & Spa; Noble Spends $70 million to Reinvent the Classic Mid-century Style of the Resort Built in 1958 / October 2008

Hotel Online
News for the Hospitality Executive

.W
Noble House Reopens the 406 room Riviera Resort & Spa
.
Noble Spends $70 million to Reinvent the Classic
Mid-century Style of the Resort Built in 1958

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (October 15, 2008) � Following an extensive $70 million modernization, Riviera Resort & Spa � a legendary 24-acre property that in its heyday played host to luminaries such as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr. and Elvis Presley � reopens its storied doors today.

Once billed as �Palm Springs� largest and most famous resort,� the revived property � re-outfitted in a swank Hollywood glam motif with sleek lines, abstract accents and a burst of deep colors � is located in the epicenter of old Palm Springs, a former mid-century hot spot currently in the midst of a multi-billion dollar renaissance.

This iconic resort, which evokes the glamour, allure and ultra-cool chic of 1960s Palm Springs, was purchased by Seattle-based Noble House Hotels & Resorts in 2006. First opened to much fanfare in 1958, the property quickly became a mecca for Southern California�s movers and shakers, including the Hollywood elite, but over the years had languished into obscurity. When Noble House took charge, the company quickly embarked on an ambitious plan to restore the hotel, with refurbishments to the rooms, lobby area, restaurant, landscaping and meeting facilities.

�Our goal was to preserve the original structure and pay tribute to its colorful past, repositioning the resort into a premiere Southern California destination resort,� said the property�s general manager Brett Schoenfield.
.

.
In fact, the renewal preserves the original façade and layout pioneered by its architect Irwin Schuman, who fashioned the resort after Las Vegas hotels like The Sands, The Flamingo and The Stardust. Designed in a modernist spoke wheel configuration, the revitalized property evokes the same sense of intimacy it did 50 years ago � with a series of two-story buildings skirting a central hub consisting of a huge swimming pool and bar, restaurant and outdoor lounge area.

Spearheaded by Noble House Hotels & Resorts, San Diego-based Rossi Architecture and Chicago-based Delarosa Studio, the design team carefully reinvented the property�s classic mid-century style, infusing contemporary sizzle � with design accents such as Andy Warhol-inspired portraits of the resort�s celebrity clientele; edgy, oversized crystal chandeliers; vibrant light-infused pillars and sleek mirror-clad walls.

Juxtaposing this �modern chic vibe� with a slew of state-of-the-art services and amenities, the restored resort, originally 475 rooms, now features 406 masterfully-revamped guest rooms and luxury suites � outfitted with handsome retro furnishings; chic marble bathrooms; flat-screen plasma TVs; wireless Internet access and private patios or balconies -- set amidst lushly-landscaped gardens with intimate courtyards anchored by fire pits. Room rates range from $289 for standard guestrooms to $4,800 per night for the lavish two-level Presidential Suite.

Adam Votaw Appointed Executive Chef

As Executive Chef, Adam Votaw brings more than 24 years of culinary experience to the Riviera Resort & Spa and its signature restaurant, Circa59 � an ultra high-end coastal version of a steakhouse that will offer the best in upscale seafood dining.

Votaw served as Executive Chef for Little Palm Island in the Florida Keys from 1999 to 2003 and most recently for LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort in Naples FL, both Nobel House properties. Under Votaw�s direction, Little Palm Island�s The Dining Room, was rated as the �Top Restaurant in Florida� and ranked #3 in the United States by Zagat, and has received numerous awards and honors from AAA and Gourmet.

At the new Riviera, Votaw will oversee multiple kitchens (including banquets and the various lounges and room service) and 50 culinarians and chefs. For Circa59, a coastal and modern interpretation of the classic American steakhouse, Votaw has created a menu of a-la-carte seafood and land food, both in classic dishes as well as �classics re-invented�. Circa59 will be featuring menus with a modern twist on some traditional favorites. In addition, Votaw will provide his expertise for the swanky Starlight Lounge, sophisticated Side Bar, and poolside Bikini Bar.

Votaw graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in 1984 and worked as an apprentice with renowned master chefs Albert and Michael Roux at the esteemed Le Gavroche in London, England. Votaw received classic French training in all areas of the kitchen and gained extensive knowledge of the essense of French cuisine, perfecting the art of creating sophisticated pastries.

Three years later, Votaw showcased his experience as Executive Pastry Chef at Le Chardon d�Or in Alexandria, Virginia. Returning to his mentor Albert Roux, Votaw took the reins at the acclaimed Relais and Chateau property, The Point, in Saranac Lake, New York. His efforts brought many accolades for the property including # 1 Lake Shore Resort in America by the Andrew Harper Report. He later assumed the position of Executive Pastry Chef at the prestigious Four Seasons Ocean Grand in Palm Beach, Fla., where he gained recognition as the �Top Pastry Chef� by Food Arts magazine.

Other resort highlights include:

� SpaTerre, an 11,000-square-foot retreat with cross-cultural and global treatments inspired by exotic Indonesian, Thai and Balinese rituals; 18 treatment rooms; a coed �Buddha Lounge� with an expansive Jacuzzi and a Watsu pool.

�An array of inventive food and beverage offerings, including the signature Circa 59 with fine seafood dining in a dynamic setting; the sexy outdoor Bikini Bar; the swank Starlite Lounge; and sidebar with a resident mixologist concocting tantalizing cocktails in an atmosphere of sleek sophistication.

� More than 45,000 square feet of function space, including an expansive grand ballroom plus over 10,000 square feet of outdoor space.

Riviera Resort & Spa is located at 1600 N. Indian Canyon Dr. in Palm Springs. For further information, visit www.psriviera.com or call (760) 327-8311.

Contact:

Marguarite Clark
(949) 295-2801
[email protected]

.
.

Also See:	Noble House Hotels and HBF Holdings Acquire the 475 room Palm Springs Riviera Resort & Racquet Club; Hotel Closes for Ambitious 18 month $50 million Renovation / May 2006
	Noble House Appoints Brett Schoenfield to General Manager of the Palm Springs Riviera Resort & Spa; The Iconic Resort Currently Closed and Undergoing $70 million Renovation / March 2008

.
.
.