The Hotel del Coronado, affectionately known as ‘The Del’, is one of America’s most iconic hotels. Part of Curio Collection by Hilton, the stunning property is a National Historical Landmark; the original grand hotel building is in the American Queen Anne architectural style and one of the most well-known examples of the Victorian beach resort in the United States.
Curio Collection by Hilton is a global portfolio of more than 160 individually remarkable hotels, hand-picked to immerse guests in one-of-a-kind moments in the world’s most sought-after destinations. Each hotel in the Curio Collection evokes a bespoke story through distinctive architecture and design, world-class food and beverage and curated experiences, while providing the benefits of Hilton and its award-winning guest loyalty programme Hilton Honors.
The Del is a fitting part of the Curio Collection. Set on one of America’s most famous and beautiful beaches, the legendary hotel has welcomed discerning travellers for more than 135 years to experience the Southern California coastal lifestyle at its best. Built in America’s ‘Gilded Age’, it has played host to celebrities, politicians and world royalty.
Those that have enjoyed the luxury of The Del have included everyone from Marilyn Monroe to Ronald Reagan to Steven Spielberg and Whoopie Goldberg. King Edward VIII danced in the ballroom of The Del during a visit in 1920, when he was still the Prince of Wales and it has often been said that during that trip, he was introduced for the very first time to Wallis Simpson.
Built in 1888 by businessmen Elisha Babcock Jr. and Hampton L. Story, who were inspired by the natural beauty of Coronado and set about building a hotel that would be the ‘talk of the Western World’, the hotel has become a Californian icon. Whilst the hotel has been extensively extended over the years, at the heart of the famous property remains the original ‘Victorian building’ and The Del has just unveiled its stunning refurbishment of this historic part of the hotel.
Indeed, over $160 million has been invested to revitalise the Victorian building. This is one part of an extraordinary $550 million investment by Blackstone Real Estate, into restoring and upgrading this legendary luxury retreat. Founded in 1991, Blackstone’s real estate business is the largest owner of commercial real estate globally, owning and operating assets across every major geography and sector, including logistics, residential, office, hospitality and retail.
The wholly restored area and guest rooms will be unveiled from March 2025 and are now accepting reservations, the magnificently upgraded Crown and Coronet Rooms were revealed in July of this year.
The Crown Room, aptly named for its crown chandeliers designed by Wizard of Oz author, L. Frank Baum, exudes old Hollywood glamour beneath a breath-taking wood-domed ceiling. This architectural marvel spans 160 feet by 60 feet without any pillars, offering an uninterrupted view. Famous for its 33 foot high ceiling panelled in beautiful Oregon sugar pine, the Crown Room has hosted many prominent events, including the banquet for the Prince of Wales in 1920, a celebration of Charles Lindbergh’s solo trans-Atlantic flight in 1927, and the first state dinner held outside the White House in 1970.
The meticulous restoration has included refurbishment of the original wood and historic crown chandeliers which were first installed around 1911. It is a truly breath-taking space for weddings and special events. The adjacent Coronet Room enjoys a similar beautiful domed ceiling and has been upgraded alongside the Crown Room.
The completion of the Victorian building guest rooms will mark the crowning moment of the multi-year, multi-phase renovation that has preserved and enhanced the National Historic Landmark. ‘It has been an honour to be a part of this journey of reinvention of an iconic landmark and one-of-a-kind resort,’ said Sanjiv Hulugalle, managing director of the Hotel del Coronado. ‘The Victorian building is the most widely recognised part of this historic property, and our significant preservation efforts will elevate the guest experience to new heights with the reopening of the Victorian neighbourhood.’
Led by Wimberly Interiors in partnership with WATG’s California architecture studio, the restoration of the Victorian building aims to celebrate the legacy of the property and ensure the revitalised guest rooms incorporate modern amenities, comforts and luxuries. Guest rooms boast restored original finishes, design enhancements to bathrooms, furnishing and artwork, and state-of-the-art technologies.
David Marshall of Heritage Architecture and Planning has led The Victorian guestroom redesign effort with the same vigour and attention to detail that awarded the firm a ‘Preservation Project of The Year’ honour from the Save Our Heritage Organization, as well as a ‘Preservation Design Award’ from the California Preservation Foundation following their extensive and diligent reconstruction of the hotel’s front porch and historic Victorian lobby.
Hotel del Coronado embarked on a renovation and development plan in 2018 to ensure the resort remained a sought-after destination. The revitalisation has included, amongst other things, the addition of the Beach Village, an enclave of cottages and villas and one of the resort’s two residential-style neighbourhoods, which unveiled a full makeover in late 2023. There was the addition of the ‘Shore House’ at The Del which debuted in 2022, a neighbourhood inclusive of 75 residential style accommodations on the south end of the resort.
In recognition of its extraordinary history and heritage, The Del also opened the Ice House Museum which showcases The Del’s history with behind-the-scenes moments and images of its legendary guests.
Hotel del Coronoda on Coronado Island is just a a short trip across the bay from downtown San Diego. The hotel’s famous red turrets become visible as you drive over the Coronado Bridge. A stay at the The Del has been a memorable experience for guests for over a century and the renovation of the Victorian Building will ensure that memories continue to be made in the most splendorous of surroundings for many more years to come.
