Hyatt Hotels is rebranding Avia Napa and Avia Savannah to its luxury Andaz boutique brand in summer 2012. These two hotels, Andaz Napa and Andaz Savannah will bring the Andaz portfolio to eight hotels. Andaz Amsterdam will be the 9th Andaz and is also scheduled to open in summer 2012 on the Prinsengracht, the same city center canal as Starwood’s The Pulitzer Hotel.
Avia Napa and Avia Savannah were acquired in July 2011 along with Avia Long Beach, Avia The Woodlands Texas and 16 Hotel Sierra extended stay properties. In September 2011 these properties became part of Hyatt Gold Passport with the Avia upper upscale properties retaining their name. Hotel Sierra properties along with all Hyatt Summerfield Suites were rebranded as HYATT house in 2012.
Andaz Napa will have 141 rooms. This hotel is fairly new (2009) and located in downtown Napa. I visited the Avia Hotel in February 2011 and I found it to be the most interesting hotel in town if you wanted to be some place that had a happening vibe.
Napa, California
Napa, California as a town is a reflection of the mixed economy of northern California. The Napa Valley wine region is primarily north of the city of Napa. The city itself has some beautiful late 19th/early 20th century architecture with Victorian houses, lots of older trees and a small, older central business district that kind of reminds me of a Bruce Springsteen song the times I have walked the streets the past few years.
“Now Main Street’s whitewashed windows and vacant stores
Seems like there ain’t nobody wants to come down here no more”
– My Hometown, Bruce Springsteen
Downtown Napa has had many businesses go under in the past few years and the tough economy of the old town center has been apparent during my visits since 2009. Yet, there is also a vibrant restaurant and bar scene with new places and new buildings. The supposedly improving economy may just fill many of the older vacant store fronts and new construction complexes along the Napa River with new businesses.
Avia Napa was a real bright spot as a new hotel on First Street opened in July 2009.
Hyatt’s Avia Napa hotel will undergo some refurbishment with the primary change looking to be the lobby conversion into a lounge area. The bar seemed to be the focal point of the lobby when I was there last year with a lot of open space and not much seating.
I like the location of Hyatt’s Andaz Napa better than the Westin Verasa Napa which is on the other side of the river and not really near much of anything except the Napa Wine Train station. There are several restaurants and bars in the downtown area.
Avia Napa was the hotel I considered the best value in town when I was in Napa about a year ago. As Andaz Napa I expect the rates might climb quite a bit higher. Time will tell and the rebranding to Andaz Napa will happen during the peak season dates from July to October 2012.
Rates for Avia Napa this next week are under $200 per night. Last year I think they were around $150 per night this time of year on weekdays when the hotel was not yet a Hyatt. Napa hotels always have higher rates on weekends when tourism substantially picks up.
About Andaz Hotels
Andaz Hotels are currently in London, New York (2), West Hollywood, San Diego and Shanghai. Other Andaz properties in development are locations in the resort area of Papagayo, Costa Rica; Providenciales, Turks and Caicos in the Caribbean; Delhi, India; Sanya Sunny Bay, China (a rapidly developing beach resort area with all major luxury brands claiming a bit of beach); and Maui, Hawaii.
Hotel News Now published an article on the Andaz brand this past week that is an interesting read.
Hyatt Hotels press release on Avia to Andaz rebranding (March 8, 2012).
