W Marriott, part of Marriott International, and Aimbridge Hospitality have announced plans for a dramatic transformation of its Dana Point resort property, which will debut as The Ocean Cliffs at Dana Point, a JW Marriott Resort.
The full-scale evolution will introduce an expansive resort pool, an expanded multi-acre event lawn, enhanced ballroom and meeting facilities, including a new 6,000-square-foot ballroom, a reimagined arrival experience, a signature chef-driven restaurant, and elevated resort amenities.
The property tapped global hospitality design firms HKS and ROAM to reinterpret its classic design with a contemporary, yet luxurious aesthetic rooted in Dana Point’s history, painted cottages, historic Lantern District, and surf culture.
The resort’s arrival and public spaces will be expanded to showcase ocean views and deepen the property’s connection to its bluff-meets-sea setting. The entry drive and porte cochere have been refined to create a welcoming threshold that signals relaxed luxury and a strong sense of place along the coast. The lobby will flow through dining spaces and onto an ocean view deck while pre-function meeting areas will be reimagined as indoor-outdoor environments to enhance flexibility for gatherings.
The resort will reimagine its event lawn to be expanded and relocated adjacent to its Richard Henry Dana Ballroom, anchoring the guest experience with the ability to welcome larger groups and multiple simultaneous events.
The resort’s new central pool will serve as a focal point of the guest experience with refreshed lounge areas and ocean views. Drawing inspiration from Southern California’s coastal landscape, the design will create an atmosphere that is both vibrant and restorative.
Standout aesthetic elements woven throughout the property mirror the charm of California’s coastal cottages, from classic millwork to thoughtfully curated art pieces and ocean curiosities peppered throughout the resort and honouring its maritime character.
The resort’s 371 guest rooms will be refreshed to reflect the property’s reimagined design vision, drawing inspiration from Dana Point’s coastal heritage and relaxed seaside character. As a cherished destination for multigenerational travel, the resort will continue to offer its recently renovated family pool area, cabana rentals.
“Laguna Cliffs is designed as a love letter to Dana Point — to the ships that once traced
its horizon, the lanterns that glowed like stars along the shore, the creeks that wandered toward
the sea, and the waves that taught the coastline how to move,” said Deanne Teeter, Principal at HKS.
“Each story became a thread in the design, woven into spaces that reveal themselves slowly: a
glimmer of nautical memory, the warmth of a coastal cottage, the ease of endless summer light.
Together, they create an experience that could exist nowhere else — a resort journey shaped by
the poetry, spirit, and salt air of the California coast.”
