By: ERIN MICHELLE NEWBERG
Jon Blanchard of BLVD Hospitality infuses old-school charm and bold personality into Santa Monica with his latest project, The Georgian Hotel. His soigné touch, evident throughout the property, results from a curated approach to aspirational living. Blanchard fills us in on what drives his creative mojo.
NIGHTCAP / Tuscan red wines are the way to go. There is nothing like sipping history with robust flavors that transport me back to this magical region.
COCKTAILS / The ‘Prima Donna’ at the Restaurant at The Georgian Hotel is my drink of choice because the spices all come together to make the best margarita I’ve ever had.
AREA / Montecito feels like home. I love the town, the scenery and the beach. Plus, The Miramar Hotel is the top. Venturing to Palm Springs
is another favorite for me, as I’ve visited the area since I was little. I love the history, the hotels and motels, and I got married at the Parker Hotel!
OFF DUTY / You can find me at the beach with my wife Louise and our two children, Hudson and Harlowe.
GETAWAYS / We travel to Italy and London. I love the food, so waking up to it there every day is my joy.
CULTURE / Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens… I love The Broad museum. FASHION / I love RRL by Ralph Lauren. It suits my style, which is very 1900s, and it allows me to channel my inner Western cowboy.
‘WOW’ PROJECT / citizenM in Downtown Los Angeles was relatively unprecedented, as it was the first modular construction high-rise in the city. We worked with local and state officials to engineer and permit 315 modular hotel rooms at 4th and Spring.
INSPIRATION / Walt Disney, as I love storytelling through real-life experiences. And Walt was the master at that. The journey he takes you on at his theme parks is top-class. The Georgian has many stories from her past and present. Seeing the smiles on people’s faces when they first walk into the hotel is incredible.
ART / Gallery 33 at The Georgian. I came up with the idea to share artists’ works inside the hotel. With the amount of foot traffic we receive here, I thought it would be great to showcase the work of well-known and upcoming artists for hundreds of people to see every day. So, we created a space called 33, honoring the year the property opened.