Westin St. Francis Completes $6 Million Meeting Space Renovation
January 27, 2016
San Francisco’s iconic Westin St. Francis has completed an extensive renovation of 50,000 sf of meeting and special event space in both the Landmark and Tower buildings. Since opening more than a century ago on March 21, 1904, The Westin St. Francis has been at the center of San Francisco’s social, theatrical and business life, hosting socialites, royalty and business leaders for their most important meetings and celebrations.
“The renovation gives our meeting space a more contemporary look and feel,” said Westin St. Francis Director of Sales and Marketing Elaine Clancy. “The design and color palette are much more cohesive throughout.”
Thirty rooms were renovated including: the Grand Ballroom, ideal for large celebrations; the Colonial Room appointed with classic Italian murals, candelabras and gold-leafed columns separating regal opera balconies; the elaborate Italian Room; the Borgia Room with its jewel-like ceiling was originally the hotel chapel; and the sophisticated St. Francis Suite, the former home of the Pope Family for many years.
Designed by Whitespace Interiors, the meeting rooms and event space reflect a “new classic” aesthetic that is fresh and modern while paying tribute to the historic qualities of the hotel. Edwardian and art deco-era patterns and motifs found within the architecture of the spaces helped establish the spirit of the new design. Each of the 30 rooms showcase a sophisticated color palette that cohesively blends cool silvers and grays with warm bronze, cream and gold tones, providing a rich yet neutral backdrop for the deep red-gold tones found within the vintage architectural ceiling details.
Design highlights include: woven Axminster carpet with a custom designed pattern unique to the characteristics and vintage of each room; custom crafted chandelier and wall sconces with cast glass, bronze, and nickel finishes imported from the Czech Republic; elegant drapery and window treatments designed to provide a soft filtered light perfect for meetings; and artwork curated to provide a modern counterpoint to some of the traditional interior elements. All of the rooms have been outfitted with energy efficient LED architectural lighting and are wired for top performance high-speed Internet.
The Westin St. Francis boasts 1,195 guest rooms, including 41 suites. The hotel consists of two buildings, providing guests with a choice of staying in the historic Landmark Building or the contemporary Tower, which completed a $20 million renovation in 2014. Guest rooms in the Landmark Building showcase San Francisco’s history and charm with high ceilings, chandeliers and ornate woodwork supplemented by modern furnishings and premier views of Union Square. Tower guest rooms offer spacious accommodations with contemporary finishes, marble bathrooms and large bay windows, plus views of famous San Francisco icons.
Located in the heart of downtown San Francisco, The Westin St. Francis is the only hotel situated directly on Union Square. World-class shopping, restaurants and theaters are just steps from the hotel; the Financial District, Chinatown and North Beach are just a quick walk. San Francisco’s famous cable cars stop right at the front door with direct access to Fisherman’s Wharf. Conveniently located near two international airports, the hotel is just 30 minutes (12 miles) to San Francisco International Airport and 40 minutes (15 miles) to Oakland International Airport.