SD TRAVEL LEISURE
Boutique Hotel Wins Int'l Design Award
Real Estate: $30M Monsaraz Hotel Debuts in Point Loma
Point Loma’s new Monsaraz Hotel has won an international award for its design, which is meant to reflect the Portuguese heritage of its neighborhood.
Cruising to Success
COVID-19 Pandemic Served to Build Adam Martindale’s Business
Perhaps no business sector was harder hit during the COVID-19 pandemic than the cruise and travel industry.
Jamul Casino Hires Veteran CIO
SDBJ Insider
Jamul Casino has hired Ram Patrachari as its new chief information officer. With more than two decades of IT and casino management experience, Patrachari is a sought-after gaming technology industry expert.
A Beachfront Renaissance in North County
TOURISM: ‘Smart’ Tourism Fuels Growth in Oceanside
After more than a decade of repair and rebuilding, Oceanside officials say their beachfront renaissance is finally shifting into high gear. And the city’s travel-based economy shows it – growing by nearly 70% in the past year even amid the pandemic.
Airspace Fueled for Global Expansion
LOGISTICS: $70M Round Grows AI
Carlsbad-based logistics tech company Airspace is fueled up and ready for takeoff. On May 25, the company announced it had landed a $70 million funding round to expand its global operations and sustainability goals.
Chapin Returns to The Op with New Directions
ENTERTAINMENT: Board Game Manufacturer Expands Into Digital, Television
Dane Chapin describes himself as a lifelong “serial entrepreneur.” So it came as no surprise when he stepped away from Usaopoly (The Op), a successful board game company he founded with his sisters in 1994, to pursue other business opportunities.
Film Studio Putting Rainbow on the Map
ENTERTAINMENT: Movie Making Comes to North County
A former caterer, David Biber, has built a film studio on a five-acre ranch – Hidden Oaks Ranch & Studio - in the North County community of Rainbow.
Vintage La Jolla Hotel Gets a Makeover
REAL ESTATE: Oceanic Enterprises Completes $4.5M Renovation
A La Jolla hotel has undergone a $4.5 million renovation by Oceanic Enterprises, giving it an art deco flavor along with a new name.
South County in Midst of Development Boom
REAL ESTATE: $1.35B Bayfront Project is Centerpiece
South County is in the midst of an economic boom that shows no signs of easing, although rising interest rates have caused a few jitters.
WestJet Restarts Nonstop Service to Vancouver
WestJet has resumed seasonal nonstop service between San Diego International Airport (SAN) and Vancouver, British Columbia's Vancouver International Airport (YVR).
Business Travel, Conventions Revving Back Up
TOURISM: Nearly 4M Passengers Fly into San Diego in Q1
While leisure travel has rebounded strongly in 2022, local tourism officials say business travel and convention business is also starting to perk up. But a full recovery may still be two to three years away.
Cross Street: Where Chicken Meets Beer in San Diego
RESTAURANTS: Business ‘A Labor of Love’ for Old Friends
Best friends going into the restaurant business together can be a recipe for disaster. But that has not been the case for Tommy Nguyen and Wilson To, co-founders of local restaurant Cross Street Chicken and Beer, which has three locations around San Diego.
French-Vietnamese Taste Combo Hooks Patrons at Kingfisher
RESTAURANTS: Phan Sisters Create Food Fusion
At first glance, it might seem odd that Kingfisher Cocktail Bar & Eatery, a restaurant that opened in January in Golden Hill, marries the culinary styles of two quite diverse countries, partnering ingredients favored by chefs from France and those from Vietnam.
San Diego Zoo Names New Executive Director
TOURISM: Erika Kohler, Former Interim ED, Gets Nod
As a child growing up in Macomb in west central Illinois, Erika Kohler was moved by the compassionate actions of a local man who was part of a second family to her.
Performance Center is ‘A Dream Come True’
DESIGN: Southwestern College Debuts New $66M Facility
Designed by Tucker Sadler Architects, a new $66 million Performing Arts Center at Southwestern College in Chula Vista took its cue from ancient Mayan cities, including its soaring roofline and giant sun glyph.
