KSL intends to invest across the collection, providing guests a greater suite of amenities and more ways to engage with the local communities.
Fine five
The quintet is located midway between Los Angeles and San Francisco and comprises Avila Lighthouse Suites in Avila Beach; Pismo Lighthouse Suites and Shore Cliff Hotel in Pismo Beach; and Paso Robles Inn and The Piccolo in Paso Robles.Â
The five properties comprise 346 total rooms, including the 54 oceanfront, all suite Avila Lighthouse Suites, the 70 oceanfront newly-renovated all suite Pismo Lighthouse Suites, 100 oceanfront room Shore Cliff Hotel perched 90 ft above the Pacific Ocean, The Piccolo, a newly-constructed 24 room intimate property in downtown Paso Robles, and the 98 room Paso Robles Inn first established in 1889.
New management
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, and independent management company KSL Resorts will operate each of the hotels.
With the addition of these five properties, KSL Resorts now operates six sites in California’s Central Coast. The company took over the management of the oceanfront Vespera Resort on Pismo Beach, an Autograph Collection resort, in 2021.
Perfect fit
Scott Dalecio, president and CEO for KSL Resorts, said: “As we continue our strategic growth along the Central Coast of California, building upon our recent success in Pismo Beach, we are thrilled to welcome the Martin Resorts portfolio to KSL Resorts. We look forward to continuing the exceptional level of service and hospitality these hotels are so well known for and stewarding the legacy that Martin Resorts has built over the last 23 years.”
He reported that the operator will focus on programming and activation strategies for each property, leveraging their distinct character and personalities: “The Martin Resorts properties all glide perfectly into our portfolio. Like many of the other world-class resorts in our collection, each of these welcoming properties has much to offer its guests from proximity to hiking trails to ocean views to access to the area’s top wineries.”
Family passion
Since 2005 Noreen Martin has led Martin Resorts, founded by her late husband Tom Martin in 1999, as president and CEO. She commented: “The Martin Resorts Collection has been the passion of my family for over two decades and finding the right partner to carry on our dedication to our local environment and community has been a priority for us. KSL shares our values and our commitment to providing guests with unforgettable and enduring experiences that reflect each resort’s unique qualities. We are confident the firm is the right owner to nurture and enhance the attributes and traditions that have set the Martin Resorts Collection apart.”
On the new management company, she added: “KSL Resorts shares our passion for this region and our continued commitment to this beautiful community and is the very best partner to take these much-loved hotels to even higher levels of excellence,” she said. Martin will remain close to the portfolio as a member of the KSL Resorts’ advisory board.
Mike Mohapp, partner at KSL Capital Partners, added: “We could not be more proud to be given the opportunity to continue on the traditions of Martin Resorts and its founding family. More than 20 years ago, they created a spirit of hospitality to enrich the lives of their employees, guests, and the San Luis Obispo County community. We intend to fulfil the mission of the Martin family, and we look forward to building on this legacy through investments in these wonderful properties.”
