By the Daily Post staff
Palo Alto’s 62-room Garden Court Hotel, which opened in 1986, has a new name, el Prado, and is undergoing an interior redesign.
El Prado, at 520 Cowper St., is closed but plans to reopen this summer.
“Inspired by Spanish open-air living and the enchanting residential feel of the surrounding community, this refresh will focus on transforming the hotel’s interior layout, creating an authentic and vibrant luxury destination designed for the discerning business and leisure traveler,” a statement from el Prado said.
The starting rate for rooms in the four-star hotel will be $429 a night on weekdays and $299 a night on weekends.
The hotel will compete in the same league as Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison’s Nobu hotel at 180 Hamilton Ave. Also, the new owners of the President Hotel next door at 480 University Ave. are planning to convert the apartment building into a hotel.
While the name has changed to el Prado, the property is still owned by Newport Beach-based Ferrado U.S., a real estate investment firm.
Going forward, el Prado will include:
• a two-floor glass solarium outfitted with seating adjacent to the breakfast eatery, where guests can work remotely or have a morning coffee.
• a second-floor bar offering light Spanish-inspired bites.
• 6,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor meeting and event space designed for corporate groups, weddings, and specialty celebrations.
• “The Library,” which features a boardroom table, separate lounge area with couches, and full technology capabilities for video conferencing.
• The back courtyard will have a large fireplace and outdoor lounge furniture adjacent to lobby-level meeting rooms for breakout sessions.
“This rebrand and renovation is centered around an atmosphere that is equally relaxed and inviting,” says Brayton Gosling, general manager of el Prado. “Our goal is to redefine what it means to be a hotel in Silicon Valley, offering a quintessential haven that is rooted in crafting personalized experiences.”
Correction: An earlier version of the story said that the ownership of the hotel had changed hands. This version has been corrected to say the ownership hasn’t changed. The error was made because of incorrect information furnished to the Daily Post.
So do they have new owners or not?
What happens to Il Fornaio?
Il Fornaio is its own separate property and ownership
That must have been a typo because the ownership is the same