It’s not as rare as snow in Palm Springs, but it just might feel like it — somebody finished a hotel project in the city.
Driving the news: Drift Palm Springs, a 30-unit, 84-room hotel built from the ground up at 284 South Indian Canyon Dr., will open in mid-March, according to General Manager Paul Patino, who conducted a tour of the property Thursday.
Looking back: Ground was broken on the project four-and-a-half years ago, but it didn’t really start to take shape until last year. That’s when it first caught the attention of locals as steel beams were lifted into place.
- Unlike some of the stalled hotel projects in the city, Drift wasn’t hampered by the pandemic or lack of financing. In fact, Patino said, the pandemic offered owner Phil Bates an opportunity to fine-tune his plans.
Zoom in: Drift, which has two other locations and another coming after Palm Springs opens, is purposely built to appeal to those looking to stay in an Airbnb, Patino said. There are up to four bedrooms in each unit and full kitchens, living rooms, and other features often found in vacation rental properties.
- Like boutique properties that are popular throughout the city, you can expect to find unique touches and an “elevated” approach to design.
- A restaurant — Maleza — will also serve “eclectic and elevated Baja cuisine.”
But wait: Patino is no stranger to the desert. The Palm Desert High School grad previously managed food and beverage at the Ace Hotel and was general manager at Saguaro Hotel before heading to Alaska for the past two years.
- Patino said he and Bates have a strong interest in giving back to the local community and will explore opportunities to do just that.
