As the Monterey Conference Center renovation continues to make great progress, Portola Hotel & Spa is thrilled to announce the start of the construction on Portola Plaza. On April 25, 2016, the City of Monterey will be replacing the Portola Plaza driveway at the main entrance to the Portola Hotel & Spa and Monterey Conference Center with an extensive remodel slated for completion in early September 2016. Designed by the world renowned architects at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the sleek design of the driveway will complement the modern architectural elements being incorporated into the Monterey Conference Center renovation.
While the driveway is in the process of being replaced, the Portola Hotel & Spa’s front entrance will be temporarily closed. Access to the Portola Hotel & Spa will be through the hotel’s parking garage, located on the right hand side of Del Monte Avenue. Our guests’ experience throughout this renovation is very important to us and we have taken extra steps to ensure a smooth arrival process for each and every one. A check-in valet will be stationed to greet and direct all arriving guests, along with a garage attendant to answer any questions.
Portola Plaza is home to a bronze statue of Gaspar de Portola, a Spanish soldier and administrator in New Spain who became the founder and first governor of Alta California, which held Monterey as its capital. The statue, donated to the City of Monterey by King Juan Carlos I of Spain to honor the bicentennial of the US, was personally dedicated by King Juan Carlos I during his trip here in 1987. In the new design of Portola Plaza, the statue will remain an integral part of the plaza and will give visitors a better opportunity to capture a fantastic photo with a piece of Monterey history.