7 big hotel projects are boosting SLO County’s lodging scene. See the latest

Hotels across San Luis Obispo County are undergoing a wave of transformation, with major renovations recently completed, new beachfront and extended-stay properties on the horizon and ambitious new developments awaiting approval.

Here’s a roundup of seven hotel projects reshaping the local lodging landscape.

Newly renovated hotels in SLO County

• Atascadero’s nearly century-old Carlton Hotel reopened April 8 after sweeping renovations by the Patel family, who acquired it in 2023 and reimagined the historic landmark with a modern vintage aesthetic featuring lavender, green and honey color schemes that nod to the area’s lavender farms and rolling pastures. The 63-room hotel has joined the Marriott Tribute Portfolio and includes a new restaurant called Mabel and an on-site gin distillery.

• The Courtyard by Marriott San Luis Obispo celebrated its grand reopening April 22 after a yearlong, $6 million overhaul of all 135 guest rooms, six meeting spaces, the lobby, bar and on-site bistro, according to The Tribune. Owner Dilraj Bhadare of Billa Management, which acquired the hotel in late 2023, said the upgrades went “above and beyond” Marriott’s standards.

2 beachside hotels slated to open this summer

• The 54-suite Avila Beach House is set to open in late July following a $9 million renovation of the former Avila Lighthouse Suites at 550 Front St., a Peregrine Hospitality representative told The Tribune. The oceanfront property will blend East Coast nautical influences with California Central Coast style, featuring one- and two-bedroom suites with living rooms and outdoor patios.

• Peregrine Hospitality has invested more than $50 million across San Luis Obispo County properties, including plans to launch the new Pacific Point Resort in July by combining the Pismo Lighthouse Suites and Shore Cliff Hotel into one oceanfront property. Spread across 12 acres, the resort will feature 170 accommodations, two pools and a sweeping sun deck.

Several lodging projects underway in North County

• Allegretto Vineyard Resort in Paso Robles is planning a major expansion that includes a new spa hotel, restaurant and conference center on a 10.8-acre parcel adjacent to its current property. The project will add 93 hotel rooms and 171,888 square feet to the resort, increasing the total room count from 171 to 264. The Paso Robles City Council unanimously approved the expansion plans at its March 17 meeting, with owner Douglas Ayres estimating about two years of construction per section.

• Outward Development LLC has proposed building “Outward,” a 107-unit modern cabin hotel on a 25-acre lot at 2727 Buena Vista Drive in Paso Robles, across from Allegretto Vineyard Resort, with accommodations ranging from weekend to 30-day stays. Plans include a 7,000-square-foot lodge with a swimming pool, gym, five fire pits and a wood-fired pizza food truck, with Planning Commission review expected in late August or early September.

• The 128-room Marriott Residence Inn on Vine Street near Highway 46 West in Paso Robles is now anticipated to open by late 2026 or early 2027 after multiple delays, regional director John Blem of Excel Hotel Group said. The extended-stay hotel, which broke ground in late 2023, will feature full kitchens, complimentary breakfast and a lobby bar showcasing local wineries.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.