THE LUXURY BOUTIQUE HOTEL BY BLVD IS SET TO UNVEIL ITS RESTORATION IN
JANUARY 2023
[Los Angeles, California | November 2022] – Bre Smith and Amber Arbucci
have been appointed as Director of Operations, and Culture and Guest
Relations Lead, respectively at The Georgian; the soon-to-reopen
historic hotel located on Ocean Avenue.
Set to unveil in January 2023, The Georgian has been a fixture of the
Southern California coastline since it first opened in 1933 under the
leadership of the renowned female hotelier, Rosamond Borde. Seeing
several iterations over the years, regular guests to the hotel and
historic restaurant, the Red Griffin (and later The Georgian Room),
ranged from Hollywood stars Charlie Chaplin, Clark Gable, and Marilyn
Monroe to the First Mother Rose Kennedy.
Bre Smith joins the team at The Georgian with over 15 years of
experience in hospitality and management, placing a special focus on
art, creativity, service, and the overall guest experience. Bre has
played an integral role in over eight hotel openings from conception to
launch and has assisted in the transition of an additional four hotels
and six restaurants. Her hospitality journey includes roles at elite
properties including the Beverly Hilton, the Ambassador Chicago, the
Hollywood Roosevelt, Soho House Chicago, the Triumph Hotel in New York,
and several Ritz-Carlton hotels across the globe. In addition to her
extensive industry background, Bre is a gifted, self-taught painter with
a number of exhibitions under her belt. Her work as a hospitality
executive is informed by her artistry. She views hospitality as a
creative expression in the way that she creates memorable experiences
for guests.
_”The history of the best hotels in the world is built from the vision
and passion of the people working behind the scenes. We are delighted to
have Bre join us at The Georgian as we set out to launch the next era of
this iconic property. Her rich hospitality experience and deep
background in arts and culture will add to both our classic hospitality
heritage as well as our culture of creativity for years to come,_” said
Jon Blanchard, Founder of BLVD.
Amber Arbucci is a celebrated artist, angel investor, philanthropist,
and former top fashion model. Arbucci developed early roots in the high
fashion industry as a model, where she was exposed to the industry’s
finest artists, photographers, and tastemakers. During this period, she
developed an interest in photography and began her career as an artist
in 2006. Her work has been exhibited at Art Basel, Avant Gallery in
Miami and NYC, Opera Gallery in Soho, and in her own Astor Place
gallery. Arbucci’s art is as intimate and sensitive as it is daring, and
her admirers include United Nations Ambassadors, Elon Musk, and former
US Presidents. Arbucci’s expertise in the arts and philanthropic
endeavors will be put to excellent use in cultivating The Georgian’s
community and guest relationships as the property transforms into a
cultural hotspot in the heart of Santa Monica.
“_Amber’s unique lived experiences as an artist, philanthropist, and
investor is everything The Georgian needs as we continue to establish
our hotel as a center for culture and community in Santa Monica and
beyond. Amber approaches every project that she is a part of with the
beauty, boldness, and discipline that is needed at The Georgian. Her
dedication to culture and craft will make her a fundamental element in
providing meaningful experiences for our guests_.” shares Nicolo
Rusconi, President of the BLVD Companies.
A full-service real estate and hotel development company, BLVD alongside
ESI Ventures acquired the landmark hotel in August 2020 with the intent
to restore one of Los Angeles’ most recognizable and photogenic hotels
to its former glory. The next chapter for The Georgian will see a
restoration of the 84 guest rooms and 28 suites, alongside new and
refreshed offerings including the famous ocean-view Sunset Terrace,
Dining Room, and Sunset Bar. In addition to The Library and gymnasium,
The Georgian will also be home to two private meeting and dining spaces,
The Gallery and The Writer’s Room. The Gallery will showcase an evolving
curation of work by international artists on a quarterly basis.
BLVD and ESI Ventures are proud to work with renowned international
design firm, Fettle [3]; local architect, HLW [4]; California General
contract, BCCI [5]; and numerous other industry-leading design,
development, and hospitality firms on the historic restoration of The
Georgian.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/
ABOUT THE GEORGIAN
Steps away from the Santa Monica Pier, The Georgian first opened in 1933
and became one of Los Angeles’ most iconic hotels. Under the development
of BLVD in partnership with ESI Ventures, The Georgian will re-launch in
Q4 of 2022, offering a rare glimpse into Old Hollywood and nostalgic
California history, with interiors by London and Los Angeles-based
boutique design firm, Fettle. The Georgian will offer 84 guest rooms,
including 28 suites. The property will also offer an oceanview terrace
restaurant and lobby bar; a basement speakeasy restaurant and bar; in
addition to a gym, gallery space, and a library.
www.georgianhotel.com [8]
ABOUT BLVD
Founded by Jon Blanchard and Nicolo Rusconi, BLVD is a full-service real
estate and hotel development company focusing on the practical
Imagineering of hospitality and the revitalization of underserved and
overlooked markets across the country. Placing hospitality at the
foundation of every development, BLVD Hospitality believes that any
development across any use can be programmed, designed, and built in a
way that elicits warmth, passion, and inspiration. With over $500M in
developed real estate, BLVD has made a lasting impact on the communities
where it has focused its efforts.
blvdhospitality.com [9]
