Set on its own slice of Harbor Island paradise less than 10 minutes from the San Diego International Airport (SAN), the newly renovated Sheraton San Diego Resort played host to MPI Southern California Chapter’s (MPISCC) [WE]Con this year, giving attendees the opportunity to experience the reimagined property that’s been known as “The Heart of the Harbor” since 1972.
“It was the first large hotel in San Diego built on Harbor Island,” said Ian Pullan, senior vice president, operations at Peregrine Hospitality, the management company for Sheraton San Diego Resort. “We purchased the hotel at the end of 2019, and more recently, I’ve found myself tearing up to see how this hotel has transformed since then.”
Sheraton San Diego Resort’s $110 million renovation project has been a long and laborious one that started when Peregrine Hospitality purchased the property in 2019 but was delayed less than a year later due to the pandemic. The resort’s meeting space didn’t complete renovations and reopen until 2022, and the rest of the Marina Tower followed throughout 2023 and 2024. This year, Sheraton San Diego Resort welcomes guests to a brand-new experience.
“The Sheraton brand is about being the hub of the community,” Pullan said. “But when you layer that with our position as ‘The Heart of the Harbor,’ with our proximity to the airport, with the quality of our teams who worked through renovating this hotel from top to bottom, it also becomes about how we can be the meeting planner’s address in San Diego.
“It was one of those exciting opportunities where we could start with a blank slate, and we could take our time to do it right,” Pullan added.
The 1,065-room resort underwent a total transformation—the first it’s really seen since it opened—that upgraded all 604 guest rooms in its Marina Tower, reimagined all 130,000 square feet of meeting space, opened the lobby on both the west and east ends to create an arrival experience that immediately connects guests to the water, and introduced new restaurant concepts that include Rumorosa, with Baja-inspired cuisine and creative cocktails, and Brewery X, a SoCal brew pub with harbor views, bar bites and a laid-back vibe.
“We’re now going through a $7 million process at the Bay Tower, transforming and renovating those 346 guest rooms, developing a new restaurant, a beautiful new fitness center, renovating all the meeting space with new carpet, new wall vinyl, some new technology,” said Sean Clancy, vice president and general manager of Sheraton San Diego Resort. “We are enhancing and revitalizing the lobby and spending about $1.5 million on the outdoor spaces, including a third pool that will have a new pool deck and bar, and that will all be done this year.”
The tangible results of the renovation so far have been rewarding and exciting, but for both Pullan and Clancy—and many meeting planners who’ve hosted groups at Sheraton San Diego Resort since it’s renovation ramped back up three years ago—the most rewarding result of all has been the way the renovation has strengthened the resort’s team and has taken high-quality service to an even higher level.
“One of the things we are most proud of here is how we were able to get 600 people on the same page about the fact that we wanted, through a process of transformation, to reinvest ourselves—and it wasn’t that there was anything wrong with our old selves, but we had the opportunity to improve our service, to reposition the hotel to be able to cater to groups that previously were not considering Sheraton San Diego Resort,” Clancy said. “Getting everyone on the same page, making sure they saw what we were doing, was key to that reinvention, and they were all excited and ready for reinvention because they knew, ‘We’ve got this as a team.’
“This is where we wanted to be,” Clancy continued. “It’s been really rewarding for the team, for myself, to be able to make this happen.”
[Related: Experiential Education Powers MPI Southern California Chapter's Annual [WE]Con Event]
Planner Perspectives: Stories from Sheraton San Diego Resort
As the “Heart of the Harbor,” and one of the first hotels in San Diego to serve as a home for conferences and conventions, Sheraton San Diego Resort has more than 50 years of stories to share of successful meetings and events that’ve happened inside its doors since 1972.
The property continued to welcome groups throughout its multi-year, $110 million renovation project, working with planners to ensure seamless events despite the dust. Here’s what three planners had to say about their experiences via testimonials shared with the Sheraton San Diego Resort team.
Diana Clemmensen
Senior Direction, Global Learning & Development, BCD Meetings & Events
“Every team member made the experience wonderful for us! ...You each seemed to anticipate our every concern and for any new issue or question; you were each responsive, friendly and kind. Your commitment to exceptional service is obvious…
Additionally, the hotel and meeting space is simply stunning. Congratulations on a renovation that makes your hotel seem brand new, and still has the valuable benefit of location, location, location. Close to the airport, expansive marina views, walking path to the city center. Perfect for our attendees. They loved it.”
Lara Diamond Phillips
Manager, Partnerships & Strategic Events, Sharp HealthCare
“My company has held our annual women’s health and wellness conference at the Sheraton San Diego Resort for almost 15 years. We utilize the beautiful Eventide Pavilion for our general sessions, which includes a served luncheon for 750 people, and have had a great experience doing so. The space comfortably accommodates our group, and the view of the bay is stunning…We look forward to coming back year after year.”
Kayla Cassem
Project Manager, BCD Meetings & Events
“I recently had the pleasure of hosting a meeting at the Sheraton San Diego Resort, and I couldn’t have been more impressed with the experience. The location is unbeatable—just a short distance from the airport yet close to the vibrant restaurant districts like Gaslamp and Little Italy. It was incredibly convenient for our attendees to go out on dine-arounds.
The resort's meeting space is expansive and well-designed, ensuring that nothing feels too far away. Despite its size, everything was easily accessible, and the layout allowed for seamless transitions throughout our event. It was clear that every detail was thoughtfully considered to create a productive and comfortable environment for groups.
One of the highlights of the property is the recently renovated Marina Tower, which is absolutely stunning. The modern updates have transformed the space, offering a sleek, contemporary design that adds a touch of elegance to any event. Our guests were also impressed by the beautifully appointed guest rooms, which were clean, modern and perfect for relaxing after a busy day of meetings.
The staff at the Sheraton San Diego Resort were exceptional throughout our event. From start to finish, they were knowledgeable, attentive and always available to ensure everything ran smoothly. Their level of service truly made the event stand out.
Overall, the Sheraton San Diego Resort is a top-tier choice for hosting any meeting or event. With a prime location, impressive meeting facilities and a dedicated staff, it offers everything you need for a successful and enjoyable experience. I highly recommend it and look forward to hosting future events here!”
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