What’s in a name? Apparently a lot, for Joie de Vivre Hospitality and Santa Cruz residents, trying to find a new name for the Dream Inn aka the Coast Hotel on Cowell’s Beach. After a lot of hand wringing, a naming contest which pulled in more than 800 responses and negotiations with the trademark holders of ‘Dream Inn’, JDV finally decided to name the hotel the Santa Cruz Dream Inn.
And the fact that public opposition to a 2004 proposal to raze the hotel building and build a convention center ended in the property being sold and the project scrapped is in sync with the importance that Santa Cruz residents gave to the naming contest. The hotel is an iconic structure on the Santa Cruz shore which locals do not want to see dissappear.
And JDV is more than happy to oblige. Inspite of an extensive three-phase renovation, the essential structure and the central coast essence of the hotel will remain the same. I contacted JDV Public Relations Manager Alexis Evans who said that “the renovation process is moving along and the rooms will be completed in early July. Joie de Vivre is excited to have Dream Inn as part of the Joie de Vivre collection and we are looking forward to the completion of the hotel’s renovation.”
What makes this hotel, and the land it sits on, so valuable? For starters, the Dream Inn will be considered Santa Cruz’s only luxury beachfront hotel, with spectacular views of the Monterey Bay from the balconies and patios of all the 165 guestrooms, including 16 suites . Secondly, the hotel is located adjacent to the Santa Cruz wharf and the boardwalk with all its attractions, restaurants and entertainment.
In-room amenities include complimentary high speed and wireless internet, Ipod docking stations, flat screen HDTVs with computer connectivity capabilities, pay-per-view movies, nintendo games, remote-controlled ceiling fans, honor bars with refrigerators, ergonomic chairs, hairdryers and lather bath amenities, quiet double-paned windows, and facilities for surfboard and bicycle storage. The 9th and 10th floors of this 10 story hotel offer executive level rooms with special amenities such as nightly turndown, large beach-blankets, mini binoculars a special arrival gift/amenity and upgraded spa/bath products.
Hotel services at the Dream Inn include complimentary valet and self parking, a large heated outdoor pool overlooking the ocean along with a children’s wading pool and full service pool bar and deck, same day laundry and valet service, and concierge services. A bar and a restaurant with a sustainable menu consisiting of local and organic produce will open after the next phase of renovation.
With this top to bottom renovation of the rooms and the public areas, JDV is aiming to convert the property into a four star hotel attractive to everyone from business travelers to surfers, families and couples. The hotel describes itself as young-at-heart, worldly, eclectic, organic, and dreamy. If the services and amenities at JDV’s other and existing excellent properties are any indication, and when combined with the location, and the iconic status of the Dream Inn, the least you can say is that the Dream Inn is going to be one of the top-notch Santa Cruz hotels.
Info: 175 West Cliff Drive Santa Cruz CA 95060; (866) 774-7735; Photo courtesy & copyrights Joie de Vivre Hospitality