Expected to open in Spring 2009, the 138-room AVIA hotel will be the newest addition to The Pike at Rainbow Harbor. Ground will be broken shortly on the project, which will feature a rooftop pool and be located at the corner of Bay St. and Chestnut Ave.
It is the city’s newest venture in an effort to further advancement of downtown Long Beach’s entertainment and retail center.
“The announcement by LodgeWorks that they will build one of their newest AVIA boutique hotels in Long Beach is great news for our city,” Mayor Bob Foster said.
“We have worked hard to make our city a premiere convention and visitor destination. Over the past decade, over $1 billion has been invested in retail, commercial and residential development in our downtown and waterfront. The opening of a new AVIA property shows that LodgeWorks is confident that Long Beach will continue to grow and prosper as a visitor destination.”
The AVIA will feature an interior tree sculpture that replicates a mini-forest, wall coverings that mimic the play of light and shadows, and indoor lounges with retractable walls. In-room luxuries will include spa-inspired bathrooms, high-definition flat-screen televisions and iPOD connections.
“This new hotel is a testament to the vibrancy and appeal of Long Beach,” said Councilmember Suja Lowenthal, whose Second District includes the Pike at Rainbow Harbor. “Business and vacation travelers now have one more reason to come and enjoy all the amenities that Long Beach has to offer.”
“The addition of an AVIA boutique hotel in downtown Long Beach will be a major asset for our city’s convention and meetings market as well as for our business and leisure travelers,” said Steve Goodling, President and CEO of the Long Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. “The AVIA brand will provide a new element in our hotel mix in the downtown area, providing our conventioneers and visitors with a wider range of accommodation choices.”