SAN DIEGO--August 6, 2012--Today, San Francisco-based Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants officially re-launched the eagerly anticipated Hotel La Jolla, bringing coastal-chic design and Kimpton’s culture of care to sun-kissed La Jolla Shores. This marks the third Kimpton hotel in San Diego, following Hotel Solamar and Hotel Palomar San Diego.

A $4 million investment transformed this iconic property, with an emphasis on design at the root of the renovation. New spaces such as the lobby, pool deck and lounge, meeting space and fitness center are infused with light and space. Guest room updates, landscape alterations and a new coastal-Mediterranean restaurant reflect an elegant contemporary vibe.

Owned by Westport Capital Partners and Cove Equity Group, LLC and designed by Gulla Jonsdottir and Claude-Anthony Marengo, Hotel La Jolla offers 110 guestrooms, each with a patio or balcony, featuring breathtaking views of the sunset. Guests have a choice of a deluxe king or queen room or one of four 900-square-foot apartment-style luxury suites, complete with flat panel TVs, Frette linens, Bigelow bath products and Kimpton’s signature animal-print robes.

The new lobby, appointed with contemporary furnishings, offers an elegant yet comfortable atmosphere, while the new ground-floor venue, Hiatus, provides guests with more than 2,000 square feet of open-air relaxation, complete with fire pits, luxe chaise lounges and a bar.

The dramatic changes also include the reinvention of the panoramic view driven 11th-floor restaurant, Cusp Dining & Drinks, led by Executive Chef Donald Lockhart. The hotel also features a new fully-equipped 11th-floor event space. With more than 950 square feet, the spacious room redefines traditional meeting space, providing a breathtaking backdrop of the ocean.

“We are thrilled that the time is finally here for us to share this magnificent new hotel and all of its exceptional amenities with our guests and the local community,” said Caroline Dyal, general manager for Hotel La Jolla. “Our goal is to make our guests’ experience special and I know we have just the place and the team to make that happen.”

Additionally, there is a new fitness center, complete with workout equipment, hula-hoops and yoga mats and a business center. The fresh landscaping on property features a contemporary motif combining tropical and exotic vegetation with sculptural elements.

“The hotel is poised to provide the ideal setting for both the business and leisure traveler to experience La Jolla in wholly new way,” said Sean Armstrong, principal, Westport Capital Partners LLC. “We are very proud of the result of efforts by so many talented people who made this happen.”

With the new management comes Kimpton’s promise of extraordinary features, pleasant surprises and a genuine approach to making guests feel cared for. Guests will enjoy many of Kimpton’s notable programs such as wellness offerings and daily hosted evening wine hour, along with Kimpton’s signature brand of customer care.

To help guests live ‘Like a Local’ and support the community, the hotel is partnering up with several La Jolla-based organizations including the Birch Aquarium, La Jolla Playhouse and OEX Dive & Kayak to offer guests packages and create awareness around the organizations’ initiatives, with the purpose of enhancing the community as a whole. Complimentary beach cruisers and running maps are on hand to encourage outdoor adventures. Additionally, the hotel provides an array of locally sourced products throughout the hotel, such as Karl Strauss’ Windansea Wheat in the guest room mini-bars.

ABOUT HOTEL LA JOLLA
Situated between the sandy shores and scenic cliffs of La Jolla, Hotel La Jolla is a Kimpton Hotel, owned by an affiliate of Westport Capital Partners and Cove Equity Group. The contemporary coastal boutique hotel features 110 spacious, panoramic guest rooms and 950 square feet of top floor ballroom space, with an additional 2,000 square feet of flexible, naturally-lit outdoor event space. Located at 7955 La Jolla Shores Drive, the hotel is ideally situated for business and leisure, offering a refreshing escape with contemporary design and a casual chic atmosphere. www.hotellajolla.com 858-459-0261

ABOUT KIMPTON HOTELS & RESTAURANTS
San Francisco-based Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, a collection of boutique hotels and chef-driven restaurants in the US, is an acknowledged industry pioneer and was the first to bring the boutique hotel concept to America. In 1981 Bill Kimpton founded the company that today is well-known for making travelers feel welcomed and comfortable while away from home through authentic and unscripted customer care, stylish ambience and embodying a certain playfulness in its approach to programs and amenities. Market Metrix, a recognized authority and leader in feedback solutions, consistently ranks Kimpton above other hotel companies in luxury and upper upscale segments for customer satisfaction. The company operates more than 50 hotels and more than 50 restaurants in 23 cities. www.KimptonHotels.com 1-800-KIMPTON.

ABOUT WESTPORT CAPITAL PARTNERS LLC
Westport provides domestic and international investment opportunities to institutional and private clients. Through its various funds, the firm invests in a wide variety of opportunistic real estate situations. The firm focuses on enhancing value by implementing operational improvements and repositioning for the properties it acquires on behalf of its funds. The firm has offices in Los Angeles, CA and Wilton, CT.

ABOUT COVE EQUITY GROUP, LLC.
Cove Equity Group, LLC. is a La Jolla-based investment firm, specializing in a wide range of business opportunities. Established in 1996, the company has funded multiple startup companies and real estate ventures, from commercial and residential properties to hospitality and retail opportunities.