THE HISTORIC SIR FRANCIS DRAKE HOTEL IN SAN FRANCISCO'S UNION SQUARE CELEBRATES 80 YEARS AS ONE OF THE CITY'S MOST REVERED AND CHERISHED INSTITUTIONS
SAN FRANCISCO— March 25, 2008 —The legendary Sir Francis Drake Hotel turns 80 years young this year, and like a good bottle of wine, proves that things only get better with age. The hotel, a Kimpton Hotel in San Francisco's Union Square, recently underwent a $20 million transformation, giving it a more contemporary look and feel that perfectly complements the traditional elements and original architecture of the property.
In honor of this historic milestone, the Sir Francis Drake Hotel will offer a variety of exciting and enticing programs and packages throughout the year, which are outlined below:
Roaring 20s Roll-Back Rate
To kick off the year-long celebration, the hotel will offer a Roaring 20s Roll-Back Rate to past guests who have original receipts dating back prior to 1958, in an effort to collect historical artifacts for a future display at the hotel. With rates ranging from $3.50 per night when the hotel opened to $40 for the best suite in the 40s, guests who have held onto these mementos will find extraordinary value in this special offering when during the month of April when the Sir Francis Drake will honor the rates on these original receipts.
Ruby Jubilee Treasure Hunt
The Sir Francis Drake will offer guests the chance to win a variety of fantastic prizes with the Ruby Jubilee Treasure Hunt. During the month of April, 80 faux ruby rings will be hidden throughout the hotel in guestrooms and public spaces alike. The 80 lucky guests who find the “jewels” will be able to redeem them at the front desk in exchange for gifts ranging from complimentary hotel stays to complimentary dinners at the adjacent Scala's Bistro to a real ruby ring.
Anniversary Themed Packages
In keeping with the milestone of this historic San Francisco hotel, anniversary themed packages will be rolled out throughout the year, including the Legends Package which offers a VIP tour of San Francisco's most revered historical landmarks.
Signature Cocktail at Bar Drake
A sophisticated and sleek new lobby bar — Bar Drake — debuted in 2007 which and has fast become a favorite gathering spot for guests and locals alike. Reminiscent of a speakeasy evoking the ambiance of another era, mixologists are on hand, providing expertly mixed cocktails which truly bring the craft of the cocktail to life. A unique bar menu is also offered for those looking for a light bite to eat. To commemorate the "Ruby Anniversary," acclaimed master mixologist Jacques Bezuindenhout has created the "Ruby Jubilee" – a special signature cocktail which will be offered throughout the year at Bar Drake, along with some exciting promotions.
Truly a legend in its own time, the Sir Francis Drake Hotel, which opened in 1928, has played host to a bevy of amazing people from all over the world including numerous Hollywood celebrities, heads of state, five U.S. presidents, professional athletes, and more. Since its opening, the hotel has been a favorite for visitors and locals alike, best known for its celebrated doormen dressed in their customary Beefeater uniforms, always ready to offer a smile and a helping hand.
History and the Future
Called the “last word in hotels,” by newspapers and "an ideal San Francisco Residence" in its own brochures when it launched in 1928, the Sir Francis Drake Hotel was state-of-the-art long before that catch phrase was even invented. The Texas-based Huckins-Newcomb Hotel Company, the hotel's builder-owners, had spared no expense when it came to the building. San Francisco architects and engineers, Weeks & Day, lavished its English Renaissance-style interior with exquisite handiwork, including vaulted gold-leaf ceilings, hand painted murals, graceful iron grills, a dramatic entryway staircase and an abundance of French and Italian marble, which is still the cornerstone of this majestic property.
Times have noticeably changed since the Sir Francis Drake's original inception and no expense has been spared to ensure that today's travelers are equipped with all of the modern amenities and services they need when they are on the road. A brand new business center was added in 2007 adjacent to the hotel lobby, and complimentary Wi-Fi Internet access is available throughout all areas of the property. The meeting space has also been completely renovated and outfitted with the latest state-of-the-art technology and audio visual capabilities, providing meeting and event planners with fantastic, modern San Francisco meeting facilities perfectly located within the city.
For guests looking for an exceptional dining experience, they need look no further than Scala's Bistro, located adjacent to the hotel lobby. A San Francisco favorite, the restaurant embarks diners on a culinary tour of Northern Italy and Southern France, highlighting fresh, hand-selected artisanal ingredients. And for guests and visitors looking to carry the revelry into the night, Harry Denton's Starlight Room, located on the 21st floor of the hotel, is the place to go, offering delicious cocktails, live entertainment and dancing.
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ABOUT SIR FRANCIS DRAKE HOTEL
The Sir Francis Drake Hotel continues to exude the sophistication, elegance and charm it did when it opened its doors in San Francisco's
Union Square in 1928. Celebrating its 80th anniversary this year, the legendary hotel has always been ahead of its time and continues this tradition,
keeping up with the latest trends in the industry and always offering the highest level of service possible. The Sir Francis Drake Hotel
is located at 450 Powell Street, San Francisco, California 94102. The property is a member of the Kimpton family of boutique hotels
and chef-driven destination restaurants. For information and reservations, visit www.sirfrancisdrake.com
or call (415) 392-7755 locally or (800) 227-5480 in the U.S.
ABOUT KIMPTON
San Francisco-based Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants is the first and leading collection of boutique hotels throughout the United States and Canada.
Founded by Bill Kimpton in 1981, privately held Kimpton offers services and design elements focused on care, comfort, style, flavor and fun. Every
Kimpton hotel reflects the energy, personality and pulse of its location, history and architectural style. Each property features personalized guest
services, comforting in-room amenities, specialty rooms and suites, and provides a range of exciting culinary experiences through affiliated top-rated
destination chef-driven restaurants. Kimpton takes pride in its commitment to social responsibility and leads the hospitality industry in ecological
practices through its innovative EarthCare programs. In addition, Kimpton demonstrates a unique dedication to its female guests with the Women InTouch
program, offering comfortable and safe environments, in-room fitness and wellness options as well as the company's unique "Forgot It, We've Got It"
honor bar, providing essentials that women travelers may have forgotten at home. Among the company's newest properties are the Hotel Palomar Arlington
at Waterview, which opened in November 2007. Additional projects are underway in Los Angeles, New York, Florida, Philadelphia and Virginia. For more
information, please visit www.KimptonHotels.com or call 1-800-KIMPTON.
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Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants
222 Kearny Street, Suite 200 | San Francisco, CA 94108
415.397.5572 | KimptonHotels.com |
