"We are very excited about the decision and are confident customers will recognize and relate to our feelings for Monterey," said Portola Plaza Hotel General Manager, Robert DeVoe. "Our ownership, management staff and complete commitment to our guests still remain key components of our hospitality." Over the last three years, the hotel has completely renovated all of its 380 rooms, the lobby and completed Jacks, the new lobby lounge at a cost of nearly $7 million. The last step in the Portola Plaza Hotel improvement program will be a $1 million renovation

Portola Plaza Hotel 2 Portola Plaza Monterey, California

"We believe this decision to operate as an independent hotel will offer us the flexibility to greatly enhance our guests' experiences. We are dedicated to the future and remaining a premier convention and visitor accommodation center for the Monterey Peninsula," said DeVoe.

Hotel owners selected the name Portola Plaza Hotel at Monterey Bay since it celebrates the history of the Spanish explorer Don Gaspar de Portola, who helped found Monterey back in 1768. A statue of Portola is in front of the Hotel and the Monterey Conference Center.

The image of Portola as an adventurer lends a fresh and exciting edge to match the hotel's philosophy as being innovative and charting new and refreshing levels of accommodations and guest service.