The Hilton at One Park Boulevard

The Hilton at One Park Boulevard

Tuesday, 11 March 2008

The Hilton's 30-story hotel opening in November along the Port of San Diego's waterfront has a new name and address - the Hilton San Diego Bayfront hotel at One Park Boulevard. The name of the deluxe hotel and new address were announced at a topping off celebration Friday, Jan. 25, 2007. Michael Bixler, chairman of the Board of Port Commissioners and one of the dignitaries participating in the ceremony, said the 1,200-rooom hotel will boost the number of hotel rooms in downtown San Diego. "This hotel is really going to put us on the map for conventions and I look forward to its grand opening later on this year," he said.

The Hilton broke ground for the $348 million project two years ago. With its opening in November, Carol Wallace, president and CEO of the San Diego Convention Center Corporation, said there will be more than 11,000 hotels rooms within walking distance of the Convention Center. The Hilton's new home is next to the Convention Center, across from the Padres Petco Park.

Sal Giametta, the vice president of community relations for the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau, called the topping off a significant milestone. "The Hilton is the latest and greatest contribution to a world-class destination."

In his remarks, Port Chairman Bixler noted the project has encountered obstacles. To make the waterfront property environmentally safe, the Port spent roughly $36 million cleaning up the site that once was home to Campbell Shipyards. Demonstrating its commitment to the environment, the Port added a 1.5-acre eelgrass bed that is a critical refuge for wildlife.

The Hilton will include several key features, such as $2 million in public art and a 4.3-acre park and promenade that eventually will link to Seaport Village.

Significantly, the city and Port of San Diego will receive millions of dollars in revenue from the Hilton. The hotel is expected to generate between $10 million and $12 million annually in Transit Occupancy Tax revenue for the city and roughly $3 million annually for the Port. Bixler said the hotel, which is located on Port property, will provide jobs for about 1,000 and the Port's contribution to the project demonstrates how it serves as an economic engine for the region.

Already, the hotel has booked several conventions, including those for three major labor unions - the International Association of Firefighters, the National Education Association, and the International Laborers' Union.

On Friday, the day of the topping out ceremony, the Hilton opened the reservations system for the Hilton San Diego Bayfront.