Dolce Hotels and Resorts will manage a new 200-room "urban lifestyle hotel" to be built just behind the Palm Springs Convention Center at the intersection of North Avenida Caballeros and East Amado Road.
Operators of 26 upscale hotels, resorts and conference hotels across North America and Europe, Palm Springs will be Dolce's third hotel in California.
Construction is expected to begin during the first quarter of 2014 and be completed by August 2015. Set on 10 acres, the hotel will include 15,000 square feet of flexible function space, landscaped outdoor event space, two restaurants, lounge, recording studio, screening room, outdoor pools, spa and fitness center.
The Palm Springs project will be Dolce's second urban lifestyle hotel following the January opening of The Alexander, A Dolce Hotel, a 209-room property with 16,500 square feet of function space in downtown Indianapolis.
"Like The Alexander, A Dolce Hotel, the Palm Springs property will be more than a place to stay," said said Steven A. Rudnitsky, Dolce Hotels and Resorts president and chief executive officer. "It will create a unique sense of discovery and place that inspires curious minds, intrigues the senses and stimulates our guests."
The owner and developer of the Palm Springs project, Praetor Investments LLC of California, retained Allen and Philp Architects/Interiors, a Scottsdale, Ariz., firm specializing in hospitality and urban mixed-use projects to create a "destination, not just a hotel," with a design that "melds international style and modern influences," said Mark Philp, Allen and Philp principal.
Design
The crescent-shaped hotel structure will pay homage to the modern and international architectural styles that distinguish Palm Springs, while offering extraordinary views on a 360-degree perspective.
To keep vehicular traffic out of sight, the architect designed an underground lobby and garage. A floating staircase will lead to the main level and continue up to the restaurant and lounge on the second floor. A 7,500-square-foot rooftop terrace and pavilion with views of the nearby San Jacinto Mountains will host outdoor events.
"From a design perspective, it's an extremely elegant building," Philp said. "We wanted to build a hotel that was urban in character yet open with gardens and outdoor resort activities. The bar, restaurant and main pool will take advantage of the desert experience by looking out over the San Jacinto Mountains."
Features and Amenities
The spaciousness of the tract, complete with an organic garden, grapevines and a grove of olive, pomegranate, fruit and citrus trees, will distinguish this hotel from others in downtown Palm Springs, according to Praetor. The gardens are planned to include vegetables and herbs, enabling the culinary staff to offer a true farm-to-table experience.
Treatment rooms in the 7,500 square-foot spa and fitness center will open to an outdoor courtyard to take full advantage of the sunlight and the sensory experience created by plantings of eucalyptus, lavender, rosemary and other fragrant herbs.
As part of the hotel's commitment to serving the community, spa memberships will be offered to local residents, who will be able to gain access through a private entrance outside of the hotel.
The hotel's screening room will ensure that the hotel plays an integral role in the annual Palm Springs International Film Festival and Palm Springs ShortFest and film market, according to Praetor. Similarly, the developers incorporated a professional recording studio into the property's design to capture a share of the music that is produced in the city.