The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, April 1, 2016 … Benchmark Hospitality International, a leading U.S.-based hospitality management company, today added Santa Barbara’s award-winning Spanish Garden Inn to its Personal Luxury Resorts & Hotels® brand collection. The intimate boutique property is set in the historic Presidio Section of downtown Santa Barbara, close to the area’s best shopping, dining, beaches and attractions.
“We are delighted to add another legendary California property to our Personal Luxury Resorts & Hotels portfolio,” said Alex Cabañas, Benchmark’s CEO. “The brand now includes three California hotels: The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe just north of San Diego, Hotel Zelos in San Francisco, and as of today the Spanish Garden Inn in Santa Barbara.”
A favorite with both leisure guests and corporate travelers, the 24-guestroom Spanish Garden Inn offers an ideal location for exploring Santa Barbara’s many attractions and for access to major businesses in the area, including the University of California at Santa Barbara and Vandenberg Air Force Base. With an impeccably appointed boardroom and meeting space, the property is also ideal as a corporate retreat. The Spanish Garden Inn’s landscaped courtyards and fountains and elegant function rooms set the scene for intimate weddings and memorable social events.
Located on California’s Central Coast, and known as The American Riviera, Santa Barbara attracts visitors to its beautiful beaches and waterways, wineries and historic sites. The Spanish Garden Inn is just 10 miles from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport, which is served by several major airlines, including United, Alaska and American. Los Angeles International Airport is about 90 minutes by car via California Highway 101.
The inn’s 24 luxuriously-appointed guestrooms and suites are built around a series of charming courtyards and gardens in the Spanish Colonial style that marks many of the buildings in Santa Barbara’s downtown. All rooms have complimentary Wi-Fi, Molton Brown toiletries, large soaking tubs and gas fireplaces. A lavish Continental Breakfast is offered daily. Other amenities include complimentary parking in the hotel’s underground garage, a fitness center, a heated swimming pool and a newspaper each morning. There is an extensive DVD library and the inn provides complementary popcorn. The hotel offers an array of in-room spa treatments for face and body. Bicycles can be rented – the perfect way to see the sights and stay in shape. A complimentary wine hour is offered each evening where guests can mingle and sample some of the area’s best vintages.
The Spanish Garden Inn is just steps away from Santa Barbara’s lively State Street, lined with chic shops and galleries. Guests can enjoy dining at an array of eclectic restaurants featuring Italian, French, Mexican, Asian, and fresh and flavorful California Cuisine. Santa Barbara’s beautiful beaches are ideal for swimming, surfing, sailing, kayaking and sunning. Visitors can take a whale watching cruise or set sail for a brunch, lunch or sunset dinner cruise.
The Santa Barbara Wine Country and its vineyards claim a proud history of more than 200 years; from California’s Mission Era to the introduction of modern viniculture. Santa Barbara County’s wine makers combine traditional, hand-crafted techniques with the most current innovations in grape-growing and winemaking. Wine tours of the region can be booked at the hotel.
Santa Barbara is home to some of the finest museums and historic attractions on the West Coast, many are within walking distance of the Spanish Garden Inn, including the iconic Santa Barbara Mission and the Mission Historical Park. Other not-to-be-missed attractions include the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, the Santa Barbara Historical Museum, the Museum of Natural History, the Ty Warner Sea Center and the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum.
Originally opened in 2001, The Spanish Garden Inn reflects the charm and romance of Old California. Built on the site of a school for the arts, the inn is surrounded by olive trees and lush gardens. The owners designed the buildings, marked by graceful arches, tiled floors and colors that reflect the California coast and countryside. Original art works by the owners lend an individual aesthetic to the property.
The Spanish Garden Inn has won many accolades thanks to its singular location, luxurious appointments and friendly, professional staff. Trip Advisor lists it as one of Santa Barbara’s leading hotels and awarded the inn its prestigious Certificate of Excellence. In 2015, the inn was named #6 in Conde Nast Traveler’s list of the Top Hotels in Southern California.
