The Guild Hotel Revamps a San Diego Landmark
Bringing a dose of chic to San Diego's bustling Gaslamp Quarter, the Guild Hotel occupies the former landmarked Armed Services YMCA building in the city's urban core.
The structure was well known, having served the military community since 1924, but it fell into disrepair in the 1950s. Most recently, the six-story property had been a low-income hotel that filed for bankruptcy in 2010 before ultimately closing in 2014. The Guild Hotel opened this June, debuting an $80 million renovation that preserved the building's Italian Renaissance-style bones and repurposed several elements from the original interiors. Some of the hardwood floors were restored, along with the observation deck over the former swimming pool.
On the patio, on-site restaurant Luca ups the hotel's glam factor, adorned with chic black-and-white umbrellas, taupe herringbone flooring, and potted palms. Grace Garden, a recreation space, follows the same motif, with low-water minimalist landscaping. Trees and potted plants accent the space with pops of deep green.
The indoor lobby lounge is a popular local destination for cocktails. Crimson armchairs and couches fill the center, and the back bar glows alluringly, thanks to strategically placed accent lights.
There are six room configurations, ranging from standard queen rooms to a two-bedroom rooftop garden penthouse. The rooms all feature a clean aesthetic, with white-hued, neutral flooring, and rose gold light fixtures. Curated works by local artists adorn the walls.
The hotel is the latest project by local investors and developers Oram Hotels in partnership with Azul Hospitality Group, which falls under Marriott's Tribute Portfolio.
In the 1920s, the original ASYMCA always kept its doors open for those visiting from far away. Today, the Guild's developers continue that tradition as the structure approaches its 100-year birthday in 2024.
“As San Diego natives, our team at Oram envisioned a destination that would not only offer something new and inspired to our hometown, but that would celebrate its unique personality and cultural imprint on California," said Oram Hotels co-founder Alvin Mansour.
