Regent Santa Monica Beach is now open, heralding the iconic brand’s comeback to the Americas

Andrea Thompson

ByAndrea Thompson

October 17, 2024

The legendary Regent brand returns to the shores of the United States with the opening of Regent Santa Monica Beach. This elegant beachfront resort cements the reimagined Regent brand and the beauty of contrast by combining the glamour of Los Angeles with the splendour of the coast.

Regent Santa Monica Beach, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ luxury and lifestyle portfolio, reintroduces the legendary Regent name to Los Angeles and becomes the brand’s first flagship property within the Americas. Originally located in Beverly Hills, and famously known as the setting for the film “Pretty Woman,” Regent returns along one of the nation’s most celebrated beaches and just steps from the famed Santa Monica Pier.

The destination resort will deliver inspired stays through a blend of timeless elegance and modern luxury and is poised to usher in a new era of extraordinary experiences. Regent Santa Monica Beach will set a new standard with its luxuriously spacious guestrooms — with base rooms starting at a generous 720 square feet — and suites, inviting public spaces, spectacular restaurants, and an elevated pool deck overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

The design direction is helmed by Chantell Walsh of Strategic Hotels & Resorts, alongside lauded design firms. Regarded as one of the world’s most innovative design firms, AvroKO’s San Francisco studio looked to luxury fashion and the ocean’s natural beauty to inspire its meticulous and thoughtful design including framed views and distinct personal havens for Regent Santa Monica Beach. Found throughout the resort’s public spaces are creative details reflecting boat sails, yachts journeying in the Mediterranean, and sandy textures found in the endless natural beauty of the ocean. Accompanying such details are framed brass arch ways, brass detailing, yacht-style flooring, and green hues coupled with gold- and cream-colored accents to create a bright and airy ambiance.

Award-winning interior studio Wimberly Interiors designed the resort’s guestrooms and suites with a sense of serenity, incorporating the soothing hues of the Pacific Ocean. Its design of the on-site Guerlain Wellness Spa blends a coastal California aesthetic with Mediterranean elegance, exemplifying a marriage between the spa’s location and Guerlain’s French origins.

Designed unlike any other meeting spaces in the marketplace, the special events venues feature warm wood tones, marquetry overlaid, and floral motifs creating a unique elegance in each meeting space. Specialty spaces, notably the Jacaranda Ballroom, bring forward thoughtful design elements creating an ideal backdrop for memorable gatherings. Exquisitely appointed and boasting 6,100 sq. ft. of interior space, and an additional 3,000 sq. ft. foyer, this hall allows guests to indulge in the splendour of their dream celebration, while The Atelier positions itself as the ideal getting ready room for weddings and events.

The resort has 167 guestrooms and suites, with most offering panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, Santa Monica Beach, and its namesake pier. Upon arrival, guests can relax with a beverage from the room’s complimentary Refreshment Gallery, featuring beverages and snacks curated ahead of arrival according to a guest’s personal tastes. Regent Santa Monica Beach features the brand’s signature purposefully designed personal havens that nestle naturally within private and common areas to inspire indulgent intimate moments. Spa-like bathrooms, complete with a soaking tub, walk-in rain shower, and Perricone MD products, invite guests to decompress. In-room features include a designated dining and work station, a Bose speaker, Dyson hairdryer, plugs, and chargers near each bedside.

The show-stopping signature Santa Monica Presidential Suite boasts an unprecedented 3,200 square feet of opulently designed living space, including separate living, dining, and game rooms, alongside panoramic ocean views. Equally impressive, the Oceanfront Atrium Two-Story Two-Bedroom Suite spans 2,180 square feet across the second and third floors, offering direct ocean vistas. This suite boasts separate living and dining areas, king beds in both bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, a luxurious soaking tub, rain showers, a bidet, and other refined touches, ensuring a seamless blend of comfort and sophistication.

Resort guests may personalize their stays with the assistance of a Regent Santa Monica Beach Regent Experience Manager. A Regent brand hallmark, the Regent Experience Manager is a single, designated point of contact from pre-arrival to departure to assist in curating all aspects of a guest’s stay based on individual preferences and requests.