Month: December 2021

Travel & Leisure

Most Read of 2021: Hotel Laguna happenings, oil spill fallout, and toll road fire

A year into the pandemic, Laguna Beach celebrated reopenings and confronted some setbacks in 2021. Community members eagerly read about Hotel Laguna reopening the doors to its first floor and art festivals restarting after a year off because of COVID-19. The Independent also delivered timely, essential updates on the Orange County oil spill and firefighters efforts’ to contain a June brush fire that could have spread quickly. Here’s a round-up of several of our most-read stories from the past year.

Hotel Laguna Partially Reopens

Mayor Bob Whalen used a pair of giant scissors to cut a ribbon at Hotel Laguna’s

Travel & Leisure

Clearwater Beach has a new crypto-themed restaurant with “Dogedog” hot dogs

By Sharita J. Wilson 3 weeks ago

The hanging art inside a new bistro on Clearwater Beach depicts rocket ships, bitcoin symbols, quotes from Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos and colorful illustrations of the dog meme from dogecoin.

The unique decor has a purpose, said Ricardo Varona. It’s meant to get customers talking about cryptocurrencies, or digital money on a decentralized platform called the blockchain, said Varona, the owner of Crypto Street Restaurant.

The restaurant on the ground level of the Residence Inn by Marriott hotel at 309 Coronado Drive had its grand opening earlier this month. It occupies a space formerly held by Cousins Maine Lobster.

Travel & Leisure

BRAEMAR HOTELS & RESORTS ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT TO ACQUIRE DORADO BEACH, A RITZ-CARLTON RESERVE

By Sharita J. Wilson 3 weeks ago

DALLAS, Dec. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ —

Acquisition Highlights:

Ultra-luxury 96-key resort located within a 1,900-acre exclusive residential development.
The Company will issue six million shares of common stock of the Company (“Common Stock”), $104 million of cash, and assume a $54 million loan to fund the acquisition.
Revenue per available room (RevPAR) of $1,129 for the 12 months ended November 30, 2021.
Numerous world-class amenities both within the resort as well as the surrounding development.
The acquisition also includes income from 14 luxury residences adjacent to the hotel currently participating in a rental management