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Oxygen Hospitality’s Welwood Hotel Draws Inspiration from Palm Springs’ History and Design

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Rebranding reveal with name and logo taps into pioneering spirit of city’s founding father and first hotelier, Dr. Welwood Murray

Palm Springs, CA (June 3, 2019) – Oxygen Hospitality’s new vision for the Ivy Palm Resort near downtown Palm Springs today began to emerge as property renovations officially commenced. Repositioning of the 100-room hotel also took a step forward with the announcement of the hotel’s new name, logo and identity: Welwood Hotel. Its name, Welwood Hotel, taps the rich history of this iconic city and from Palm Springs’ first hotelier and important philanthropic founders, Dr. Welwood Murray. The words ‘Wel’ also suggests wellness, an ever-growing lifestyle choice and ‘Wood’ describing the natural design elements within the hotel.

Renovations at the four building, two-story, 3-acre hotel include new guest rooms and suites, relocation of lobby and redesign of entrance with exterior circular entry, two remodeled pools with cabanas and new restaurant/bar concept. Guests will enter the newly designed hotel lobby and sit down to check-in with front desk associates at conversational tables. Reservations open November 2019. Renovations are scheduled for completion winter 2019.

Inspired by the pioneering spirit and vision that led Dr. Welwood Murray to plan an oasis and open the Palm Spring’s first hotel in 1886, Oxygen Hospitality presented the hotel concept to the Murray family.

Dr. Murray’s great grandson Philip Welwood Murray II said, “Our family was amazed when asked to have the Welwood name associated with a new generation hotel recognizing our great grandfather. Welwood Murray roots run deep in this area, especially Palm Springs, a city near and dear to our hearts. I personally have always dreamed of opening up a restaurant, and now, Oxygen Hospitality is opening up a hotel in our family’s honor.”

‘Powered by Oxygen’ brand. The rebranding heralds in the next step in Oxygen Hospitality’s strategic growth, building a brand of mid- to-upper scale hotels in excellent U.S. Sunbelt locations that embrace the local spirit of the city. Branded and independent hotels owned and managed within Oxygen Hospitality’s portfolio, such the Welwood Hotel, will earn the distinction and brand standard ‘Powered by Oxygen’. ‘Powered by Oxygen’ instills warmth and amenities of American hospitality and celebrate local influences for a first-class guest experience.

“The elevated rebranding of this Palm Springs hotel is our entre’ into the local hotel scene where guests will experience our brand of service and how we differentiate for loyalty and operational success,” said Yaron Ashkenazi, chief executive officer of Oxygen Hospitality.

Mid-century modern architecture redesign. The Welwood Hotel redesign is inspired by mid-twentieth century modernism architecture. Redesign is described as angular and artistic with colorful motif for the outside pool area ranging from royal blues, white and yellow. Guest room design offers a palette of clean, neutral white and cream colors — paired with shades of aqua and complemented with sleek, rich modern wood furnishings for a desert climate.

The architecture firm for the Welwood Hotel is MDR Architects, Inc. Hotel designer is Amsterdam-based SZ Design.

Visit www.welwoodhotel.com for renderings and to sign up for updates on the Welwood Hotel.

 

About Dr. Welwood Murray

Dr. Welwood Murray, a Scottish pioneer, horticulturist, philanthropist, and a founding father of Palm Springs. In 1876, Murray moved from Scotland to Banning, California in order to improve his health with the dry desert air. Ten years later in 1886, he purchased five acres of land in nearby Palm Valley (which would later become Palm Springs), and built the city’s first hotel, the Palm Springs Hotel. Murray planted 22 varieties of fruit trees and shrubs surrounding the hotel, creating a veritable oasis. Today, Dr. Murray’s name graces the city’s first cemetery, the Welwood Murray Library and Murray Canyon.

About Oxygen Hospitality Group

Oxygen Hospitality Group, Inc., is an owner-operator hospitality company that acquires, renovates and manages a portfolio of mid- to upper scale branded and independent hotel assets in the U.S. Sunbelt and other advantageous destinations. The Company works with accredited investors, Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) and family offices looking to direct invest in capital appreciation and income-producing hotel real estate projects. These assets undergo a ‘Revive and Thrive’ value creation turnaround strategy that includes proprietary software technology to drive bottom-line results and gain positive guest experience reviews for proven return-to-profitability management. Founded in 2017, Oxygen Hospitality is privately held and is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. For more information, please visit: http://www.oxygenhospitality.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy securities. Offers to sell or the solicitations of offers to buy securities may only be made through official offering documents that contain important information about risks, fees and expenses. Renderings, reservations and booking dates subject to change.

The Inland Empire Business Journal (IEBJ) is the official business news publication of Southern California’s Inland Empire region - covering San Bernardino & Riverside Counties.

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Travel & Tourism

Ontario International Airport awarded $2.5 million from FAA to reduce emissions, increase sustainability

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Greening the Gateway: Ontario International Airport Secures $2.5 Million from FAA for Sustainability Enhancements

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded $2.5 million to Ontario International Airport’s (ONT) to further the popular Southern California gateway’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint.

The money is through FAA’s Voluntary Airport Low-Emission (VALE) Program and will be used to replace 22 Pre-Conditioned Air (PCA) units – external heating, cooling and dehumidifying devices that control temperatures and keep jetways and planes comfortable when aircraft are parked at the gate. The units are connected to airport electrical power sources, eliminating the need for parked aircraft to use on-board auxiliary power units, which require jet fuel.  

The VALE funding comes two weeks after ONT received $4 million in FAA funding for its runway rehabilitation program. 

“We are deeply appreciative to the FAA and to Congresswoman Norma Torres, who has played such a critical role in securing funding for ONT as we meet the needs of this dynamic region we serve. The VALE Program funding will allow us to replace older PCA units with state-of-the-art, high energy-efficient models that reduce emissions and improve air quality,” said Alan D. Wapner, President of the Ontario International Airport Authority Board of Commissioners. 

Since its return to local ownership in 2016, Ontario International has been a leader in promoting sustainable airport operations through its investment in energy-efficient infrastructure, the recycling of runway and construction materials, its fleet of zero-emission shuttle buses and its support of enhanced transit to and from the airport, among other things.

This year, ONT is on pace to exceed 7 million passengers, up 75% since 2016. ONT also ranks among the Top 10 cargo airports in the U.S.

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Passenger count will be 11% higher over Labor Day weekend at Ontario International Airport

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Popular Southern California gateway experiencing greater demand with added flights to popular destinations over summer

The summer travel rush at Ontario International Airport (ONT) will conclude over Labor Day weekend with passenger volume up 11% over the same long holiday weekend last year, officials announced. The expected increase exceeds the Transportation Security Administration‘s prediction of an 8.5% increase nationwide.

Based on current schedules, airlines are offering more than 130,000 seats on arriving and departing flights between Thursday, August 29, and Monday, September 2, with more than 105,000 passengers traveling through ONT.

The busiest travel day at ONT is expected to be Labor Day Monday, September 2, with some 23,500 passengers.

“As this summer illustrates once again, Ontario International has become the airport of choice for millions of Southern Californians who are drawn to us by our convenience, routes and a travel experience they won’t get anywhere else,” said Alan D. Wapner, president of the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA) Board of Commissioners.

Said Atif Elkadi, OIAA chief executive officer, “We have enjoyed a great run of summer travel and we expect to end it on a strong note. We forecast 2.1 million passengers for summer travel beginning Memorial Day weekend and we anticipate our Labor Day weekend passenger count will help us reach our mark.”

Labor Day
Wknd 2024
Estimated
Passengers
Versus
2023
Total
Seats
Versus
2023
105,39511 %130,4137.4 %
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Travel & Tourism

Ontario International Airport awarded $4 million in FAA grants for runway, taxiway improvements

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Southern California’s Ontario International Airport (ONT) will receive another $4 million from the Federal Aviation Administration to invest in infrastructure improvements at the aviation gateway of choice for millions of Southern Californians.

The FAA announced on August 9 that it is awarding a total of $636 million to airports across the country, under its 2024 Airport Improvement Program. ONT’s portion – $4,090,060 – will be used for its ongoing runway and taxiway rehabilitation projects.

“We are deeply grateful for our partnership with the FAA, along with the unwavering support of Congressional leaders in Washington, D.C., for providing the critical funding needed to enhance our runways, taxiways and infrastructure. Together, we are committed to creating the safest possible experience for our travelers and air carriers across the U.S.,” said Atif Elkadi, Chief Executive Officer of the Ontario International Airport Authority.

The funding comes as Ontario International continues to outperform the industry as a whole while serving one of the most dynamic economic and population centers in the United States. This year, ONT is on pace to exceed 7 million passengers, up 75% since its return to local ownership in 2016. ONT also ranks among the Top 10 cargo airports in the U.S.

Nationally, the Airport Improvement Program funds a variety of projects such planning, airport safety improvements, airport development and airport noise compatibility.

“This $636 million investment helps airports across the Nation sustain and improve critical infrastructure to advance the safest, most efficient airport system in the world,” said FAA Associate Administrator for Airports Shannetta R. Griffin.

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