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Insular and globally influential at once, Silicon Valley is comprised of the world’s most powerful companies, brilliant innovators and an obscene amount of capital. Long a hub of startups and high-tech development, the area just south of San Francisco is in the thrust of an extended renaissance period that shows no immediate signs of waning, with the development of its hotel scene striving to keep up with an ever-expanding demand for more rooms.
While luxury staples like The Epiphany Hotel and Rosewood Sand Hill have played home to VC (venture capital) meetings and monied business travelers for years on end, a crop of fresh faces has surfaced as a foil to these five-star meccas. With some being more minimalist and functional, while others serve as convenient apart-hotels for those looking for a long-term stay, the one thing they all offer are options in terms of ambiance and price points.
Over the next few years, you can expect to see more select-service and extended-stay properties popping up in the Santa Clara Valley, including the recently announced westward expansion of Virgin Hotels, part of a residential and retail complex that broke ground late last year.
Until then, here’s a look at some of the most exciting Silicon Valley newcomers, and how they’re propelling the ever-maturing, consistent growth of the local lodging scene.
The Clement Hotel
Boasting “six-star” standards, The Clement Hotel arrived in Downtown Palo Alto earlier this year, catering to the on-demand desires of its high-powered Silicon Valley clientele. Clean lines and a modern, streamlined-luxe aesthetic make for contemporary surroundings complete with all the requisite high-class touches: Frette bath towels, Matouk linens and stone-lined bathrooms with soaking tubs, just to name a few.
The Clement Hotel was built to feel like an exclusive, private estate and sports amenities like a concierge and personal assistant upon request, a rooftop pool and all-inclusive perks like a 24-hour guest pantry and twice-daily housekeeping service. It’s an upscale home-away-from-home for out-of-towners or locals looking for sweet surroundings to hold meetings or put up VIP visitors.
AC Hotel San Jose Downtown
Part of the slate of 22 AC Hotels by Marriott properties opening this year, the swanky seven-story building opens its doors this October in Downtown San Jose. Located conveniently close to the Convention Center, its hyper-modern look should appeal to anyone looking for an alternative to the area’s older, tried-and-tested and naturally time-worn hotel options.
Guests can take advantage of the hotel’s salt water pool, lounge area (great for entertaining) or one of the Media Salons to use as a meeting space. Decidedly more no-frills than The Clement Hotel, the AC is still sleek enough to draw in design-conscious travelers seeking simplicity and efficiency from their hotel stay.
Aloft San Jose Cupertino
While not technically a new hotel opening, the recent rebranding and remodeling of the Four Points Cupertino as a member of the Aloft family is a significant overhaul worth mentioning. Still residing under the Starwood umbrella, the Aloft San Jose Cupertino has traded its former Four Points look and feel for Aloft’s right angles and neon-tinged touches, signature XYZ bar — a familiar staple for the W set — and splash pool with cabanas. One noticeably absent touch, however, is the presence of the much-buzzed about ‘robot butler’ Botlr, who is currently making the rounds at another nearby Aloft.
Bottom Line
The Clement Hotel, AC Hotel San Jose Downtown and Aloft San Jose Cupertino represent a small sliver of the hotel development you can expect to see in this area in the coming years. From Richard Branson’s pet project to more key re-branding and a pipeline of properties being constructed to meet demands, the Silicon Valley sprawl is sure to get even more densely populated with hotels aimed at a largely corporate clientele.
Source: thepointsguy.com