Feb. 01, 2013--A new, Tuscan-style hotel is coming to Paso Robles.

Ayres Hotels, a Southern California-based company specializing in European-style boutique properties , plans to build a 169-room hotel in its first phase of development on 20 acres at Buena Vista Drive.

The 150,000-square-foot Ayres Paso Robles Resort will have a farm-to-table style restaurant, and a 5,000-square-foot meeting and event space. The grounds will feature a pool, yards, an olive orchard, and an organic vegetable and fruit garden. Rooms will have walkout patios leading to the gardens or vineyards. Some rooms will have fireplaces, and there will be a number of two-bedroom suites. Douglas Ayres, vice president of the company, said construction is expected to begin in late February or early March, with completion scheduled for late spring 2014.

There are 20 hotels in the privately-owned Ayres Hotel collection, located in Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego and the Inland Empire.

"I've always loved that area, and I feel it's very good for our company to expand north," said Ayres, who declined to disclose how much the company is spending to develop the property. "It allows our clients to have a resort destination in what I believe is one of the most beautiful areas on the Central Coast. I think it's the next Napa."

European antiques and fine artwork will be displayed throughout the hotel, said Ayres, who is overseeing the project.

"I believe the design should tell a story of the past and connect people to their present," he said. "I believe it's important to create warm cozy environments and have contemporary elements to it."

As well, a spa will initially be located inside the hotel, and there will be a separate Wellness Center with spa in a future phase, Ayres said. Guests will be able to choose from a variety of services, ranging from massages and acupuncture to chiropractic, physical therapy and homeopathic medicines.

Ayres said the hotel is searching for an operator for the spa and restaurant.

Future phases of the hotel will include a 20-room villa and 36 multi-unit casitas. Ayers said that any future development would begin when there is sufficient demand. At its maximum, the hotel will have a total of 236 rooms.

Future stages of development will also include wine tasting and a retail boutique, and Ayres said he is already looking for companies that may be interested in renting space for selling their wine and merchandise.

About 35 to 40 employees will be hired to work in the hotel, and at least 35 people will be employed in food/beverage and catering, Ayres said.

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