Black Meetings & Tourism - THE CLIFT ROYAL SONESTA HOTEL UNVEILS NEW BRAND CAMPAIGN: “WHERE HOSPITALITY IS LEGENDARY"

Industry Briefs
THE CLIFT ROYAL SONESTA HOTEL UNVEILS NEW BRAND CAMPAIGN: “WHERE HOSPITALITY IS LEGENDARY"
And Launches "Making History Fun Again" Speaker Series With Storied San Francisco Voices A San Francisco icon enters its next chapter as The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel announces its new brand promise: "Where Hospitality is Legendary." Rooted in more than a century of history, the campaign reintroduces The Clift Hotel and its famed Redwood Room as cultural landmarks that blend their storied past with modern sophistication, and continues to make history fun again. A Legacy of Innovation and Style Since opening its doors in 1915 to welcome guests of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, The Clift Hotel has stood as a beacon of hospitality in Union Square. Designed by renowned architect George Applegarth, the hotel quickly earned a reputation for elegance, grandeur, and innovation. Over the decades, The Clift Hotel became a cultural stage for artists, musicians, and celebrities. The iconic Redwood Room, paneled with wood carved from a single redwood tree, has hosted generations of San Francisco's tastemakers. Following a celebrated Philippe Starck redesign in 2001, the hotel once again redefined the city's design and nightlife scene. Today, The Clift Hotel blends modern luxury with historical character, offering guests a uniquely San Francisco experience. "Making History Fun Again" At the heart of the new campaign is a bold promise: to celebrate The Clift Hotel's past while engaging the city's community and visitors in dynamic new ways. Programming under the "Making History Fun Again" theme will showcase the hotel as both a gathering place and a storyteller. One such initiative is the speaker series, featuring historians, authors, and cultural voices who bring San Francisco's colorful past to life. Topics will range from the city's cocktail culture and LGBTQ+ history to its political legends and rock 'n' roll icons. These conversations offer guests a spirited way to connect with the stories that shaped San Francisco. The launch of this historically-inspired speaker series is on Friday, November 14, 2025 with the following story tellers: · Bill Baker, last living ex-con from Alcatraz and author of Alcatraz #1259; · Ruth Carlson, travel journalist and contributor to SFGate, KCBX (NPR affiliate), and The Cheese Professor. Books: Secret San Francisco; · Maria Lenhart, Award-winning travel writer and contributor to Skift, AAA Traveler, Meetings Media and 100+ others. Books: Secret Cape Cod and the Islands (Reedy Press) and upcoming Lost Treasures of San Francisco; and · Alec Scott, contributor to The New York Times, the Bold Italic, Guardian, Sunset, SF Chronicle, Sierra, Globe & Mail, Daily Beast, LA Times, San Francisco, and Wine Enthusiast. Books: Oldest San Francisco (Reedy Press) "For more than a century, The Clift Hotel has welcomed innovators, dreamers, and legends through its doors," comments Isabelle Matter, General Manager. "Our new campaign, 'Where Hospitality is Legendary,' pays tribute to that legacy while reintroducing The Clift Hotel as a vibrant hub for today's travelers. With initiatives like Making History Fun Again, we're not just sharing history, we're inviting guests to live it." About The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel Located at 495 Geary Street, The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel blends contemporary design with timeless character. Home to the legendary Redwood Room, the hotel has been a cultural fixture of San Francisco since 1915. Following a multimillion-dollar renovation, The Clift offers 372 stylish guest rooms and suites, a state-of-the-art event space, and an enduring commitment to hospitality that is - and always has been - legendary. "Did You Know?" fun facts about The Clift Hotel and its iconic Redwood Room About The Clift Hotel · Opened in 1915 to coincide with San Francisco's Panama-Pacific International Exposition, The Clift Hotel was designed to welcome a new era of global visitors. · At the time, The Clift Hotel was considered the largest and most modern hotel on the West Coast, boasting luxuries like private baths in every room (a rarity in the early 20th century). · The hotel was named after Frederick Clift, a San Francisco lawyer and real estate investor who envisioned the property as a premier destination for business and leisure travelers. · In 2001, The Clift Hotel underwent a bold redesign by Philippe Starck, blending avant-garde modernism with its classic architectural roots, cementing its reputation as both historic and cutting-edge. · Over its century-long history, The Clift Hotel has been a meeting ground for celebrities, artists, and political figures, weaving itself into San Francisco's cultural fabric. The Redwood Room · The Redwood Room is paneled entirely from a single redwood tree, one of the largest ever cut down in California. The massive panels give the lounge its distinctive warm, golden glow. · For decades, The Redwood Room has been known as a glamorous cocktail lounge, attracting Hollywood stars, musicians, and local luminaries. · In its 2001 redesign, Philippe Starck added sleek modern touches, including a glossy backlit bar and rotating digital art installations, blending history with modern artistry. · Legend has it The Redwood Room was once a favorite haunt for notorious bootleggers and socialites during Prohibition, giving it a reputation as both elegant and a little mischievous. · Today, The Redwood Room continues to be one of San Francisco's most celebrated nightlife destinations, where past and present seamlessly meet over a cocktail.

Industry Briefs

THE CLIFT ROYAL SONESTA HOTEL UNVEILS NEW BRAND CAMPAIGN: “WHERE HOSPITALITY IS LEGENDARY"

And Launches "Making History Fun Again"

Speaker Series With Storied San Francisco Voices

A San Francisco icon enters its next chapter as The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel announces its new brand promise: "Where Hospitality is Legendary." Rooted in more than a century of history, the campaign reintroduces The Clift Hotel and its famed Redwood Room as cultural landmarks that blend their storied past with modern sophistication, and continues to make history fun again.

A Legacy of Innovation and Style

Since opening its doors in 1915 to welcome guests of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, The Clift Hotel has stood as a beacon of hospitality in Union Square. Designed by renowned architect George Applegarth, the hotel quickly earned a reputation for elegance, grandeur, and innovation.

Over the decades, The Clift Hotel became a cultural stage for artists, musicians, and celebrities. The iconic Redwood Room, paneled with wood carved from a single redwood tree, has hosted generations of San Francisco's tastemakers. Following a celebrated Philippe Starck redesign in 2001, the hotel once again redefined the city's design and nightlife scene.

Today, The Clift Hotel blends modern luxury with historical character, offering guests a uniquely San Francisco experience.

"Making History Fun Again"

At the heart of the new campaign is a bold promise: to celebrate The Clift Hotel's past while engaging the city's community and visitors in dynamic new ways. Programming under the "Making History Fun Again" theme will showcase the hotel as both a gathering place and a storyteller.

One such initiative is the speaker series, featuring historians, authors, and cultural voices who bring San Francisco's colorful past to life. Topics will range from the city's cocktail culture and LGBTQ+ history to its political legends and rock 'n' roll icons. These conversations offer guests a spirited way to connect with the stories that shaped San Francisco.

The launch of this historically-inspired speaker series is on Friday, November 14, 2025 with the following story tellers:

· Bill Baker, last living ex-con from Alcatraz and author of Alcatraz #1259;

· Ruth Carlson, travel journalist and contributor to SFGate, KCBX (NPR affiliate), and The Cheese Professor. Books: Secret San Francisco;

· Maria Lenhart, Award-winning travel writer and contributor to Skift, AAA Traveler, Meetings Media and 100+ others. Books: Secret Cape Cod and the Islands (Reedy Press) and upcoming Lost Treasures of San Francisco; and

· Alec Scott, contributor to The New York Times, the Bold Italic, Guardian, Sunset, SF Chronicle, Sierra, Globe & Mail, Daily Beast, LA Times, San Francisco, and Wine Enthusiast. Books: Oldest San Francisco (Reedy Press)

"For more than a century, The Clift Hotel has welcomed innovators, dreamers, and legends through its doors," comments Isabelle Matter, General Manager. "Our new campaign, 'Where Hospitality is Legendary,' pays tribute to that legacy while reintroducing The Clift Hotel as a vibrant hub for today's travelers. With initiatives like Making History Fun Again, we're not just sharing history, we're inviting guests to live it."

About The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel

Located at 495 Geary Street, The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel blends contemporary design with timeless character. Home to the legendary Redwood Room, the hotel has been a cultural fixture of San Francisco since 1915. Following a multimillion-dollar renovation, The Clift offers 372 stylish guest rooms and suites, a state-of-the-art event space, and an enduring commitment to hospitality that is - and always has been - legendary.

"Did You Know?"

fun facts about The Clift Hotel and its iconic Redwood Room

About The Clift Hotel

· Opened in 1915 to coincide with San Francisco's Panama-Pacific International Exposition, The Clift Hotel was designed to welcome a new era of global visitors.

· At the time, The Clift Hotel was considered the largest and most modern hotel on the West Coast, boasting luxuries like private baths in every room (a rarity in the early 20th century).

· The hotel was named after Frederick Clift, a San Francisco lawyer and real estate investor who envisioned the property as a premier destination for business and leisure travelers.

· In 2001, The Clift Hotel underwent a bold redesign by Philippe Starck, blending avant-garde modernism with its classic architectural roots, cementing its reputation as both historic and cutting-edge.

· Over its century-long history, The Clift Hotel has been a meeting ground for celebrities, artists, and political figures, weaving itself into San Francisco's cultural fabric.

The Redwood Room

· The Redwood Room is paneled entirely from a single redwood tree, one of the largest ever cut down in California. The massive panels give the lounge its distinctive warm, golden glow.

· For decades, The Redwood Room has been known as a glamorous cocktail lounge, attracting Hollywood stars, musicians, and local luminaries.

· In its 2001 redesign, Philippe Starck added sleek modern touches, including a glossy backlit bar and rotating digital art installations, blending history with modern artistry.

· Legend has it The Redwood Room was once a favorite haunt for notorious bootleggers and socialites during Prohibition, giving it a reputation as both elegant and a little mischievous.

· Today, The Redwood Room continues to be one of San Francisco's most celebrated nightlife destinations, where past and present seamlessly meet over a cocktail.