San Francisco Destination Spots

At the Four Seasons San Francisco, request an Executive Suite in the “26 series” block which have corner rooms with views facing west and south towards SBC ballpark and the Bay. The most premium accommodations at the hotel, which is managed by Stan Bromley, are the Presidential and San Francisco Suites, and the Deluxe One-Bedroom Suites. They’re all ideal for entertaining, thanks to spacious living areas, full bars and an extra powder room for guests.

luxta2


Spa services are provided by Sports Club/LA
, a public, 100,000-square-foot sports and fitness complex that’s accessible from the hotel guest room floors. Insider secret: Give your clients the advantage by requesting Jesus Revas ahead of time for a massage. Contact Spa Director Samantha Martin (415-633-3990).

Head Concierge Bonita Jessel can customize wine country tours and get clients access to museums after hours. Special Services Manager Randy Persion (415-633-3430) is the liaison for travel agents with VIPs.

On Saturday mornings, Lisa Herrenbruck takes five guests ($175 each) to the Ferry Building Farmers Market to shop, then back to the Four Seasons for a three-course lunch.

Insider secret for families: On the third Sunday of every month, the nearby San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (www.sfmoma.org; 151 Third Street) has a hands-on art studio directed by guest artists. Kids can draw, make collages and enjoy other activities.

St. Regis makes its debut in San Francisco this July in the Yerba Buena neighborhood. Elias Assaly, who opened the W San Francisco, is the general manager of the hotel, whose room offerings include 59 suites. All rooms will have butler service, plasma-screen TVs and WiFi. The spa will have 10 treatment rooms.

Campton Place Hotel on Union Square is an intimate, European-style property managed by Paul Zuest. Since guest rooms run on the smaller side, families are advised to book Deluxe King Guest Rooms and Executive Suites. For the best views of Union Square book a corner King Room on a higher floor (we suggest 1201, 1401, 1501 or Executive Suite 1601). To book the one-bedroom Luxury Suite (full living room, formal dining room and den), which takes up the entire top floor, you must call 800-235-4300.

luxta1


Because the hotel’s restaurant is popular with the locals, agents are advised to prebook for holidays or special occasions, such as Mother’s Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve and Day.


At the Mandarin Oriental, San Francisco, we suggest the Golden Gate Mandarin King Rooms. They’ve got three large windows with views of either the city or the Bay, but the real treat is found in the bathrooms, which have picture windows looking out onto the city. Note: Agents can request packing and unpacking services for their clients.
Families will prefer the luxurious Oriental Suite on the 38th floor, which can have two other rooms added to it. Booking this suite, the best in the house, requires a direct phone call to the hotel. General Manager Sal Abaunza also welcomes direct contact, as does Chief Concierge Charisse Fazzari. Insider secret: Town Car transportation within the immediate downtown area is complimentary. 

Robert Spinrad, chief concierge at the Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco, has done everything from arranging gay marriages at City Hall to planning wine dinners in Napa. This highly acclaimed hotel is also home to The Dining Room, a destination unto itself, with five Mobil stars.

For the best views at this hotel, which sits atop Nob Hill, request rooms in the California Wing. For larger rooms, request the Stockton Street Wing. Hint for families: Book a Club Executive Suite with a connecting double-bedded room. The access to the hotel’s Club Level works well for children and adults if only for the continental breakfast and other food presentations throughout the day, which include fresh fruit and freshly baked cookies in the evening. The cozy spa here has three treatment rooms. Reserve the popular Anti-Stress aromatherapy body treatment or the Deep Tissue Massage through Spa Director Elise Berkowitz.

Gary Murakami (415-364-3476), director of transient sales, is the best contact for travel agents; however, General Manager Edward Mady’s office is another valuable contact.

The Park Hyatt San Francisco is close to San Francisco Bay and across from the Embarcadero Center. For the best views of the water, book a Bayview Park Room on floors 15 through 24. Families traveling together will likely prefer a two-
or three-bedroom suite, but if they’re sold out (there are only five), request connecting Deluxe Rooms, which have views of the city. A soft-goods renovation, which promises to wrap up in May, will add Hyatt’s new “Grand Bed” pillowtop mattresses.

Private butlers are not automatically provided, but Head Concierge Michael Dunlap (415-392-1234, ext. 51), a member of Les Clefs d’Or, will arrange the service on request. There’s no spa here, but Dunlap can offer several nearby referrals and will have in-room exercise equipment delivered on request. The hotel’s clubby Park Grill restaurant is a favored spot for power breakfasts and lunches, so advise accordingly.
Guests can explore nearby Chinatown and North Beach solo or use the hotel’s complimentary Town Car service, which also goes to Union Square (we like Chanel and Tiffany & Co. for shopping; watch for Bloomingdale’s to open next year).
General Manager Walter Brindell (415-296-2900) likes to ensure that clients enjoy a special stay. For VIP client arrangements, contact Individual Sales Managers Laurie Harms (415-296-2925) and Jodi Demko (415-296-2921).

Have a client with a stopover in SFO’s International Terminal? XpressSpa has debuted a large facility that’s open seven days a week. Services include sinus and stress relief, head massage, full body massages and salon services.