Home2 Suites opens in Marina showcasing owner’s ‘wow factor’ vision

MARINA – Harvey Dadwal set out to build his second hotel in Marina “completely different” from anything else you can find on the Monterey Peninsula for the price, and by his estimation he succeeded.

Home2 Suites by Hilton is located at 225 10th St. in Marina, next to the Dadwal-owned Springhill Suites by Marriott, in the Dunes On Monterey Bay community.

The hotel had a soft opening about two months ago, then an impromptu bigger event in April.

Dadwal said there was a small grand opening that wasn’t planned but an opportunity to get it done quickly presented itself when the Flavor of Marina event was scheduled to take place in the grand lobby area and patio of the new hotel.

“We took advantage of it,” said Dadwal.

The two Dadwal-owned hotels in the Dunes reflect the continued growth fueling part of the revitalization of the city’s portion of what was once the Fort Ord Army base. The military installation closed in 1994 as part of the federal government’s Base Realignment and Closure action. Army land was then conveyed to surrounding jurisdictions including the city of Marina.

Dadwal is the president and CEO of Monterey Peninsula Hotels Group. He opened the Springhill Suites property nearly seven years ago and has said what he learned from his first project was knowledge applied in the design and execution of his second hotel venture, focusing on the “wow factor” of what he believes people want from their accommodations.

Guests are welcomed by an expansive lobby space and visitor common area that flows out to a spacious patio with ample seating and fire pits. Dadwal designed the interior of his hotel where people form their first impressions so that guests can see through from the front to the back, bringing the outside in.

“It’s an awesome feeling to have the hotel finally open,” said Dadwal, who added that it has been two years since he broke ground, his Home2 Suites by Hilton hotel turned out well, and he is “pretty satisfied” with the finished product. He noted that he would have liked for the driveway porch to be larger to make it more welcoming.

“They do come with a prototypical design, but I did a lot of the customization,” said Dadwal. “They were very good because when you upgrade, when you go to the next level, then they really appreciate that.”

The new hotel is a 64,000-square-foot, four-story, 93-room, all-suite hotel on a little more than two acres that started construction in April 2022 and opened in March.

“Everybody who comes here says ‘wow, it’s beautiful, we have never seen any Home2 Suites like that,’” he said.

Hilton was cooperative with Dadwal’s design upgrades such as his open concept lobby area with high ceilings and his use of El Dorado stone that closely resembles Carmel stone. The stonework complements columns in the lobby and patio as well as accenting the exterior.

Guests are welcomed by an expansive lobby space and visitor common area that flows out to a spacious patio with ample seating and fire pits. Dadwal designed the interior of his hotel where people form their first impressions so that guests can see through from the front to the back, bringing the outside in. (James Herrera/Monterey Herald)

But Dadwal is most proud of an element to his hotel that he did not incorporate into the design of his first hotel next door but would have liked to.

“I’m most proud of the rooms with balconies … the ocean views which we did not envision in the beginning,” said Dadwal. “I thought this property might not have an ocean view, but it does. It’s a beautiful ocean view from some of the rooms.”

Designing his hotel with balconies was his idea and has paid off, as those rooms bring in a premium price and are the most requested.

He said other aspects of his design that are not found in other Home2 Suites properties include the use of the stone, a larger swimming pool with jacuzzi and a bigger gym – both of which have windows with views outside – and higher ceilings throughout, including the guest rooms.

The patio area of the Home2 Suites is situated off the lobby and interior common area, and has seating and firepits for guests to enjoy. (James Herrera/Monterey Herald)

Other amenities include a meeting room, a laundry facility, kitchenettes in each room supplied with microwave, sink, dishwasher, full-size refrigerator and kitchenware to minimize waste. The Home2 Suites in Marina will also provide a countertop stove on request.

“I know the market here. I live here,” he said. “I know what people want.”

Dadwal said the feedback from the people the hotel has served has been very positive with many saying they will definitely return. He was surprised with the occupancy rates when he first opened – close to 40 guests – and they have continued to grow including selling out last weekend, and with Memorial Day weekend coming up, the Home2 Suites in Marina is on track to fill up again.

“It’s a home away from home,” he said.

A quick search online this week showed Home2 Suities in Marina offering rooms starting at $270 per night.

“We compete with the Monterey Peninsula market, it all depends on the other similar properties like Embassy Suites in Seaside or Hilton Garden Inn in Monterey,” said Dadwal. “I’m following how they’re doing.”

A quick search online showed rooms at the Embassy Suites in Seaside at $326 per night, and rooms at the Hilton Garden Inn in Monterey for $264 per night.

The Home2 Suites by Hilton hotel is next to the Springhill Suites by Marriott hotel in Marina. Both hotels are owned and operated by Monterey Peninsula Hotels Group headed by President and CEO Harvey Dadwal. (James Herrera/Monterey Herald)

But Dadwal is not resting on his laurels as he has the land and plans to build a three-hotel project on the area west of upper 2nd Avenue, north of Imjin Parkway and east of Highway 1 on a 9.5-acre parcel of land that was once part of CDEC Hill when it was serving the military.

The city of Marina entered into a development agreement with the Dadwal group in early 2022 for the development of the hotels.

“We’re going through the traffic study and when that is complete, we’ll start to design it,” said Dadwal.

The plan is to build a dual-brand Marriott of anywhere from five to seven stories, topped by a high-end, farm-to-table restaurant and bar, and a banquet facility. Dadwal said it would also include another hotel in the Hyatt family with all three comprising a resort facility of about 300 rooms, sharing a common reception area, amenities and connected by a bridge similar to the one between the downtown Monterey Marriott and the Monterey Conference Center.

The hallmark of the resort’s design would be the restaurant/bar/banquet hall top level that would provide indoor seating with views of the surrounding area and Monterey Bay, as well as heated outdoor seating affording the same views.

“I’m very excited about it,” said Dadwal. “I’m ready for the study to be completed and then to move on. It’s been almost a year now. It’s pretty close, maybe within the next six months and then break ground in 2025.”