It took $20 million to restore the historic Hayes Mansion hotel and conference center in East San Jose.
But owners say renovating the 214-room luxury hotel at 200 Edenvale Avenue in Edenvale was worth every penny, the Silicon Valley Business Journal reported.
Built in 1905 and once owned by the city of San Jose, the 41,000-square-foot Hayes Mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The refurbished mansion is now a part of Hilton’s Curio Collection of more than 140 luxury resorts worldwide.
“The hotel has been reimagined and transports visitors back to the rich history of the Hayes Mansion estate with a twist of modern flair,” Jeff Carpenter, the hotel’s general manager, said in a statement.
The Mission Revival landmark, designed by George Page, is owned by JMA Ventures, based in San Francisco, which paid $27.8 million for it in February 2019. Built in the shape of a Maltese cross, it contains exotic woods, imported marble and stained glass windows.
The hotel mansion, operated by Texas-based Aimbridge Hospitality, has 24 conference rooms ranging from 190 to 6,600 square feet. The 6-acre property has an East Lawn of more than 20,400 square feet that can host up to 1,500 people.
The hotel contains a 24-hour fitness center, heated outdoor pool and a whirlpool.
As part of its renovation, the mansion’s reception area was redecorated and its guest rooms upgraded for wireless internet access.
The hotel also has a new Palm and Ember restaurant, with a 160-seat dining room that opens to an outdoor terrace. Garden seating can hold another 40 diners.
The city of San Jose bought the Hayes Mansion property in 1984, then sold it because of millions of dollars in annual losses.
— Dana Bartholomew