The 112-room Marriot Residence Inn opened Wednesday, making it the largest hotel in San Marcos and a travel hub that city officials say will generate between $700,000 to $900,000 per year.
With its comfortable suites, heated pool and other amenities, the hotel "is designed for individuals that want to maintain their lifestyle while they're on the road," said sales director Vincent Stubbs.
The lobby, decorated in warm shades of teal and cinnamon, features flat-screen televisions, a billiards table and breakfast room that will offer a complimentary meal of eggs, bacon, potatoes and cereal every morning, Stubbs said. An outdoor patio centers around a fire pit and barbecue.
Each suite includes a bed, sitting area and kitchen appliances that allow meal preparation away from home. Larger suites also offer fireplaces and separate bedrooms, and hotel staff members will even stock guests' fridges through a grocery shopping service.
"We want to make guests feel at home and welcomed," Stubbs said.
Rhonda Johnson and her grandchildren made themselves at home Wednesday, reveling in the chance to be among the first guests.
"It's cool being the first one in the hotel," said Destiny Turner, 10, who joined her grandmother, brother and two friends in the pool.
"The boys were really impressed with the billiards," said Johnson, of Fallbrook, who said she regularly books "play dates" and "pajama parties" at Residence Inns with her friends and grandchildren. "They were just ecstatic that they could go in and play that."
Stubbs said the hotel expects to host vacationers visiting the Wild Animal Park and Legoland, as well as business travelers with institutions such as Camp Pendleton, Palomar College, Cal State San Marcos and private companies. Room rates, starting at $159 to $209, will fluctuate according to season, room availability and length of stay, he said.
"I'm excited to be one of the first guests, and they're pet friendly," said Charles McDonald, vice president of a Las Vegas industrial instrumentation firm who was staying at the hotel with his wife, Deanie, and dog Bailey.
The city projects that in the first year the hotel will generate $250,000 in transient occupancy taxes ---- a city surcharge on rooms ---- as well as $150,000 to $160,000 in tax increment, which is the additional percentage of property taxes the city receives for projects in its redevelopment area. In subsequent years the hotel taxes are projected to increase to about $375,000
In addition, San Marcos had originally sold the land to the developer, but agreed to buy it back and lease it to the company, resulting in land lease revenues to the city of $313,000 for the first three years and $390,000 after that, with intermittent, scheduled increases in later years, said development services director Charlie Schaffer.
"Cities that do well have diverse revenue streams," Schaffer said. "Our goal is to expand our hotel business so we'll have that additional revenue stream."
Schaffer said the city hopes to attract more hotel business, and is in negotiations for additional properties south of Interstate-78.
"We have ongoing discussions with a developer for another hotel, possibly two," Schaffer said.
Meanwhile, Residence Inn officials say they'll be working to attract new customers and repeat business.
"No hotel opens with a full house," said General Manager Josh Lujan. "It's all based on service."
Call staff writer Deborah Sullivan Brennan at 760-740-5420.
