Revamped Doubletree Opens in Monrovia
By Monrovia Weekly
Published: Thursday, February 28th, 2008
East and west meet in Monrovia at the stylish new business savvy hotel.
By Jessica Hamlin
The Doubletree Hotel Monrovia opened last week, bringing style, class and a dash of pink to the unassuming renovated building along restaurant row.
“It’s a very contemporary hotel that’s very edgy and different than what you would see with other Doubletree hotels with the exception of Times Square,” said general manager Luis Plascencia. “It’s something new to Monrovia and the San Gabriel Valley and it’s sort of like bringing some of the west side over here.”
The upscale yet comfortable lobby greets guests with earth tones that extend to the rooms and restaurant and wine bar Elements, where the executive chef who formerly worked at Spago serves up savory dishes like gourmet macaroni and cheese and Kobe beef burgers.
“We’re a business hotel so we can attract the younger professionals during the week but then during the weekend it flips because it lends itself for people to come hang out and gather,” said Plascencia.
“Pink by the Pool” was the concept for the hotel’s grand opening last week which included a pink carpet, pink lighting, glasses of Doubletree’s signature Pink champagne and staff wearing pink clothing.
“Pink is a very soft color and it could be considered the new black,” said Plascencia. “If you wear it with a suit it allows you to be more approachable and it is more caring. Doubletree really embraces the care culture. We care about our employees, guests and community and pink is very caring so we decided to take it a step further and make it a pink party.”
Major holidays may incorporate pink parties like a pink Mother’s Day brunch, said Plascencia.
Cabanas with elegant upholstered chairs and chaises by the pool make for a regal atmosphere where guests can enjoy a drink or have a swim.
Rooms are available in three types, some with an infinity bathtub, and all with rainshower showerheads. Only a wall of clear glass separates the bath from the bedroom in some of the rooms, making for a very open feel and little privacy so guests who want less exposure may opt for a different room.
Each room has a sleek workspace desk on wheels for ultimate convenience and it is the width of the bed so it can be rolled over the bed and guests can work or dine in comfort.
The Doubletree name transfers to the natural feeling and wood furnishings and floors in some of the rooms that have platform beds, a European feature, and some floral fabric wall accents.
Signature Doubletree accommodations are present, like Wolfgang Puck coffee and coffee makers in the rooms and Sweet Dream beds as well as chocolate chip cookies at check-in.
Formerly the Doubletree Hotel Monrovia was a Holiday Inn and over $10 million in renovations started in December 2006.
A ball room is available with state-of-the art sound and audio visual systems and walls that lower using hydraulics to make the room smaller if needed and eliminate noise, and 6000 square feet of meeting space like board rooms are also in the hotel.
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