Where the Ocean “Meets” the Shore

The famous Californian poet John Robinson Jeffers once called Big Sur, the majestic stretch of coastline located just a few miles south of Monterey, Calif., “The greatest meeting of land and sea.” In keeping with this theme, the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa will complete a stunning $6 million renovation of its meeting space this Saturday, transforming it into a visual representation of the epic struggle between the Pacific Ocean and Monterey Peninsula.

Set amid 22 acres of Monterey pines and coastal vegetation, the property’s meeting space is now a wonder to behold. Themed “Land, Edge, Sea,” each section of the 40,000-square-foot area represents a different aspect of the coast. For instance, the property’s Monterey Ballroom features a color palette filled with browns, golds and greens and a carpet with rhythmic, linear patterns, both of which were designed to evoke the agricultural fields of nearby Salinas (See the concept images below). The Monterey Conference Center continues this theme, with a carpet depicting a school of fish and rushing water splashing onto the shore. To cap off the experience, the space’s exterior wall has a number of fins molded into it to emulate a whale swimming across it.

“While the space is impressive in its own right, the neatest thing has been the excitement of the construction crew as they have worked on the project,” says David Lambert, the hotels director of sales. “They have a sense that they are actually creating something rather than just building it.”

Just in case these spaces aren’t enough to stoke your interest, the property also has an onsite restaurant, sports bar, spa racquet club and golf course. Best of all, it’s just a few minutes away from historic Cannery Row, made famous by John Steinbeck, and the fascinating Monterey Bay Aquarium.

So if you’re in the area this weekend, maybe taking a cruise down the coast and enjoying the sunshine, stop by the Hyatt Regency Monterey and take a look—you won’t be disappointed.