A magical experience awaits in Santa Monica

Situated atop the scenic bluffs overlooking Santa Monica Beach, eight miles north of Los Angeles International Airport, The Fairmont Miramar Hotel offers one of the city’s best locations. The hotel is just a short stroll from the beach and close to attractions such as the Third Street Promenade, the Montana shopping district and four blocks north of the Santa Monica Pier.

A magical transformation takes place from the moment guests arrive at The Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows. From the exquisitely manicured grounds to the casual elegance of the guest rooms, The Fairmont Miramar Hotel challenges the senses and provides an experience that has redefined luxury.

Every member of the team is committed to providing an unrivalled level of service that is both efficient and unobtrusive - understanding the importance of exceeding expectations and ensuring stays are both memorable and extraordinary.

The Fairmont Miramar Hotel features a stunning blend of casually elegant furnishings accented by rich wood appointments, marble and limestone flooring. The hotel has 302 guest rooms, including 32 luxurious garden bungalows, 25,000 square feet of meeting and conference space, one restaurant, in-room dining, a well-equipped fitness centre and day spa, and an outdoor pool and whirlpool spa.

Combining historic elegance with modern appointments for over a century, The Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows has been a hideaway to movie stars through the decades offering an exquisite setting for privacy and luxurious pampering. Five acres of tropical garden and fountains lead to a lobby enhanced by lustrous marble, exquisite Tibetan rugs and Chinese silk tapestries. The hotel’s lush tropical gardens are home to a huge and historic Moreton Bay fig tree and soothing waterfall fountain.

Originally a private mansion owned by Senator John P. Jones, the founder of Santa Monica, The Fairmont Miramar Hotel has served as temporary residence to some of the most popular celebrities and politicians in history for the past 100 years. Former guests have included Greta Garbo, Cary Grant, Eleanor Roosevelt and President and Mrs. John F. Kennedy.

In 1875, John P. Jones, a former senator from Nevada, was so impressed with Santa Monica’s ideal location and scenic beauty that he chose the site for his port. Finished in 1889, his residence became the city’s first ‘Miramar’, Spanish for ‘view of the sea’.

Exhale at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows Santa Monica:

Exhale, the highly publicised mind body spa praised for bringing the destination spa experience into urban markets through unique, result-oriented therapies and proprietary mind body classes including Core Fusion and Core Energy Flow, has partnered with the Fairmont Miramar Hotel to open Exhale at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows Santa Monica as of 1st April 2008.

Exhale at the Fairmont Miramar Santa Monica is the first of its kind urban sanctuary and retreat, offering guests Exhale’s unique and comprehensive spa, fitness and healing programmes that go far beyond what can be found in any other hotel.

The spa offers its authentic therapies for the body and face such as a relaxing deep tissue massage and facials appropriate for all skin types, nail care, eyebrow shaping and waxing services provided by professionals trained under Exhale’s eyebrow guru, Eliza Petrescu.

Exhale also provides to the hotel its acclaimed Core Fusion and Core Energy Flow fitness classes, private training sessions and weekend packages and retreat programs.

“We are confident that exhale will provide our guests a genuine ‘urban escape’ experience,” said Ellis O’Connor, General Manager of the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows. “Exhale encompasses fitness, spa therapies, relaxation, healing, and beauty all within one unique setting.”

Exhale at the Fairmont Miramar Santa Monica not only boasts a colourful menu of therapy services and fitness programs, but also allows guests to enjoy a quiet relaxation lounge along with fully appointed changing rooms with steam, sauna, lockers and showers. The indoor spa pavilion includes five therapy rooms, a brow room and an area specifically dedicated to nail care. As development moves forward, guests will soon be able soak up the Santa Monica sun with poolside spa cabanas and private mind body classes on the sundeck of the pavilion.

Exhale, conceived to fulfil the need for high quality transformational mind body offerings within a spa setting, is the brainchild of leading spa executive Annbeth Eschbach, who is supported by a team of industry veterans. Backed by Brentwood Associates, Exhale has plans to grow their wellbeing paradigm to 15-20 locations throughout the U.S. and currently operates 9 locations in New York, Massachusetts, Illinois, California and Texas.

The Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows has been named one of the first hotels in Southern California to receive the Green Hotel Certification. With over 207 certification requirements focusing on environmental issues, energy, corporate responsibilities and conservation, The Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows is taking one more step to preserve the environment.

To become fully certified as a Green Hotel, the Fairmont Miramar has undergone rigorous assessments, which include, developing an Environmental Management System, employing a Carbon offset program, implementing a Sustainable Tourism programme, measuring and comparing energy consumption, restricting the consumption, selling, trading or displaying of endangered species or products. Hiring and training of local staff and promotion at all levels, identifying and enforcing waste sorting actions, providing facilities for guests with special needs, displaying and promoting the environmental initiatives and policies to guests and ensuring promotional materials are accurate and up-to-date.

The Green Hotel Certification seal is an independent recognition of good corporate citizenship at an environmental and a cultural level, as well as a distinguishing promotional tool to reach a growing environmentally-aware global consumer market. The principal objective is to encourage responsible and sustainable environmental and social practices at all levels of the hospitality industry. Santa Monica is known worldwide as an environmental leader in this green movement.

Accommodation:
Accommodations are varied according to taste and whim. The 302 deluxe guest rooms include:

32 poolside bungalows with French doors open to private patios providing a peaceful, secluded world of relaxed elegance. Set in semitropical gardens on a bluff high above the Pacific Ocean, each of the 32 distinctive Bungalows has its spacious bathroom with luxurious tub and authentically local Californian décor. Bungalow Personal Assistants are on hand to help guests’ every need including drawing a rose petal bath!

176 sophisticated ocean tower rooms display awe-inspiring views of the majestic Pacific, Malibu and Venice with private balconies.

94 Palisades Rooms in the historic building. These are larger rooms with traditional décor including 51 suites.

Dining:
Guests are able to enjoy a gourmet dinner in the renowned restaurant, a BBQ cooked on their patio by the chef or a beach picnic planned by the Beach Butler.

The Grille:
Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, The Grille serves contemporary Californian cuisine in a relaxing open environment. Al Fresco dining is available to enjoy those soothing ocean breezes. With its rich wood appointments, emerald pearl granite topped bar, sparkling exhibition kitchen, linen-clad tables and custom-made wine cellar, The Grille’s main dining room provides the ideal ambience for business and intimate occasions. The terrace overlooks the colourful gardens and swimming pool.

The Koi Pond Lounge:
The Koi Pond Lounge, located in the lobby area, features relaxing views of the courtyard and is an ideal place to connect with associates and friends. Melodic sounds from the pianist set the tone for the casual but elegant atmosphere that is a wonderful start or end to a busy day. Serving drinks and food from The Grille, guests can enjoy a leisurely Continental Breakfast to start the day, relax as the day winds down, or watch the sunset from the outdoor patio while savouring an expertly prepared cocktail or a glass of wine. Open daily from 11am to midnight. For mornings on the run stop by the Koi Pond for an eye opening espresso or cappuccino, top it off with a freshly baked muffin or pastry.

24 hour room service available daily.

Amenities:
The historic Fairmont Miramar semitropical gardens, the koi pond and beautiful swimming pool create a private park-like setting inside the hotel’s grounds. Amenities include:

• Fitness Centre, designed to accommodate serious fitness enthusiasts. Equipment includes free weights, treadmills and an abdominal board.
• Beach access and guests services including concierge, car rental, beach butler, gift shop, one-day laundry and dry cleaning service, bike and roller blade rentals.

Meetings and Conferences:
• 25, 000 sq ft of meeting space, including 15 meeting rooms.
• 7,400 sq ft Starlight Ballroom, which can cater for a 600-person banquet, an 800- person reception and a 900-person theatre-style event seating. The ballroom is decorated with Austrian crystal chandeliers.
• For more intimate meetings, smaller rooms such as the distinctive Jones Library and conference bungalows have their own unique style.
• Outdoor area available for banquets – featuring waterfalls, Koi pond and flowering gardens. Can accommodate 900 attendees

Rates:
The Fairmont Miramar is offering guests several packages including:

Royal Bungalow Bed & Breakfast Package
The Royal Bungalow service is a streamlined, personalized luxury service for guests provided by the hotel, 24-hours a day. This includes handling all special requests from booking reservations at an award-winning restaurant or a luxurious spa in the city, all the way to ordering healthy Zone diet meals for guests' pets. Bungalow guests also receive signature items such as complimentary high speed internet, complimentary local calls, i-pods/MP3 adaptors, complimentary tea and coffee service and bottled water at turndown.

Package Includes:
• Overnight accommodations in a Signature Bungalow
• Overnight parking
• Full American breakfast in The Grille Restaurant or in-room dining
• Exclusive Royal Bungalow service

Availability:
The Royal Bungalow bed & breakfast package is available seven days a week, subject to availability.

Rates:
The Royal Bungalow bed & breakfast package starts from USD $609 (303.019 GBP)* per night, based on single or double occupancy. Taxes not included.

* 1 GBP = 2.00977 USD at time of going to press.

Reservations:
For UK reservations, visit Fairmont.com/santamonica