[caption id="attachment_98220" align="aligncenter" width="500"] The 10,500-square-foot Grand Meritage Ballroom was a focal point for the $8 million renovation at the Napa hotel. (credit: The Meritage Resort and Spa)[/caption]
NAPA -- The Meritage Resort and Spa, which suffered no damage in the Aug. 24 quake that caused an estimated $300 million in losses in Napa, has completed yet another major upgrade, spending $8 million to refurbish 157 Tuscany-inspired guest rooms originally built in 2006 and improve the 10,500-square-foot Grand Meritage Ballroom and prefunction space.
Rather than take old furnishings to a landfill or recycling facility, The Meritage teamed with the Solano-Napa Habitat for Humanity and St. John's Thrift Store to donate doors, desks, chairs, lamps, flat-screen TVs, bedframes and sofas.
This 19-month upgrade follows the $40 million expansion in 2012 that included the addition of 165 new rooms, Crush Ultra Lounge, Blend Cafe, the 7,358-square-foot Carneros Ballroom along with an outdoor piazza and fitness studio. The Meritage now has 322 guest rooms.
Last July, The Meritage announced the opening of a new double-tier hilltop Vineyard Deck above the Estate Cave and spa. The upper level covers 1,968 square feet of space and the lower deck 1,343 square feet. Both are used for weddings and other group events within an area large enough to accommodate up to 200 guests.
Weddings are big business. The resort hosted 23 weddings in 2012, 69 in 2013 and has 120 booked so far this year.
In April 2013 the entire lobby was also refurbished.
"We've improved our seven-and-a-half year old facility again and there's more to come," said Michael Palmer, general manager. "We are always either planning or engaged in an upgrade and expansion process to please our guests, stay current and to enable us to compete effectively with other resorts from Monterey to Northern California."
[caption id="attachment_98221" align="alignleft" width="405"] This "Superior King" guest room at The Meritage Resort & Spa was one of 157 renovated as part of the project. (credit: Rex Gilbert)[/caption]
The recent makeover offers a fresh new look. It involved completely gutting original rooms from floor to ceiling and adding crown molding, sliding barn door closets, backlit mirrors, stylish bathroom tile, designer lighting over beds, upgraded carpeting, designer wall coverings and other features.
The Grand Meritage Ballroom also received new carpet, paint, lighting and a vinyl air wall used to section off space for up to 10 smaller meeting rooms. The 250-square-foot Merlot conference and Petit Verdot rooms, along with more compact event space, were also renovated.
Growth at this destination resort will continue with plans for developing the 9.5-acre parcel across the street from the resort.
"The third expansion, scheduled to break ground next year, will add 130 more guest rooms -- bringing our total to 450 rooms -- along with a wellness center, 10 wine-tasting rooms, marketplace and demonstration kitchen along with another ballroom and pool," Mr. Palmer added. "Forty-five of the new rooms will be luxury or ultra luxury suites."
In a few days, architects will arrive to reveal preliminary designs for the new project and how this addition will blend with the existing building motif.
The proposed marketplace will bring Napa Valley to resort guests by offering artisan cheeses, breads, meats, homemade soups, olive oil and other local products as well as souvenirs at a gift shop.
"We're having a great year, with ADR and occupancy rates well above those in Napa Valley and the national average," he said. "We are currently accepting group reservations from associations and corporations as far out as 2017."
Napa Valley hotel revenue has increased 62 percent since 2009, according to data provided by Visit Napa Valley. The average daily room rate, or ADR, in the valley in June was $293.77 and for the first half of the year was $248.50.
The occupancy rate in the valley was 75.4 percent in June, compared with 65.1 percent in the first six months.
Occupancy of 80 percent is about the highest rate a market can sustain, according to Clay Gregory, CEO of Visit Napa Valley.
Using a 30-passenger bus, The Meritage can shuttle guests to downtown Napa every day 4--10:30 p.m., so guests don't need to worry about driving and parking downtown.
Hotel guests are also transported to local wineries for dinners provided by The Meritage and the resort offers a Saturday wine tour to its guests.
"Only a few wineries have kitchens, their own chefs and culinary staff, consequently, we do a lot of off-site catering," Mr. Palmer said.
