EL SEGUNDO HERALD March 12, 2020 Page 3
2019’s Best of the Best winners was a mix of former winners
and new winners. This week’s issue features:
Best of the Best – Beauty Salon
Eriss Salon
220 Richmond St.
El Segundo, CA 90245
310-322-1857
Best of the Best – Realtor (Male)
Bill Ruane
402 Main St.
El Segundo, CA 90245
310-877-2374
220 Richmond Street
El Segundo, Ca 90245
The AC Hotel was Made for the Community
By Chase Maser
Photo Taken by Ariel Romeo Davis
Driving down Maple Ave. across PCH,
you can see a giant “AC” on the side of a
modern building soaring over the others.
Tucked into a sea of trendy offices and
fresh architecture, the new location of AC
Hotels—which opened in July of 2019—is
the latest edition of the South Bay’s push
toward a metropolitan future.
At first, one might think that another hotel
amidst the countless others near LAX is the
last thing the town needs. However, with a
mission to bolster the public with new amenities
and an attractive nightlife, The AC Hotel
was made for El Segundo—it was made for
the community.
Hector Martinez, AC Hotel’s Director of
Sales and Marketing, proudly shares that he
grew up in the South Bay. The owners grew
up in the South Bay—it’s something unique
that he can work for and be a part of.
“We really want to immerse ourselves in
the community,” says Martinez, and unlike
typical hotels that only cater to guests, AC
offers amenities to everyone in the area.
For instance, their “AC Lounge,” on the
ground floor offers a luxurious happy hour
everyday from 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm that
anyone—guests and residents alike—can
take advantage of. Each morning in the “AC
Kitchen” next to the lounge, the hotel offers
a full breakfast spread that anyone can enjoy
for under $20 per person—fresh dough
is flown in from France and baked daily.
On Sundays, they offer free yoga classes,
courtesy of Manduka Yoga, between 8:30
am and 9:30 am. For workers on-the-go,
they feature several turnkey media salons
with free wi-fi and meetings rooms that rent
by the hour or day. If anyone’s in need of
a banquet hall for a birthday celebration or
retirement party, “The Aviation Room” fits a
sizable crowd and comes with a full banquet
menu to help with catering.
Primarily, “it’s a place where travelers
can feel like locals and locals can enjoy an
eclectic, new experience that represents their
neighborhood,” says Martinez.
After all, the Welcome Group Inc.—who
manages the AC Hotel and other Marriott
affiliates under their portfolio—has their headquarters
at 222 N. PCH. It’s an El Segundo
company with a passion for creating a oneof
a-kind experience in their own backyard.
Borrowing inspiration from the bustling
business district, tech crowds and nearby
LAX, the AC Hotel even has an aviationthemed
aesthetic throughout the premises.
From the lobby to the rooms themselves,
everything is akin to a Boeing 757 with sharp
lines and smooth curves to give guests the
feeling of being in the air once they arrive.
Ceilings jet out like airplane wings, lights in
the rooms line the walls and give the illusion
of a runway guiding you to relaxation.
“The experience is meant to support the
modern traveler,” says Ahmed Elassy, the
hotel’s General Manager who has spent the
past 20 years in the hospitality industry.
“But along with that priority, it’s important
to provide a respite for the hardworking,
growing community.”
That’s where Flora—the rooftop bar at the
AC Hotel—makes a huge impact.
According to Chris Adams, the owner of
Ellis Adams Group who created the concept
of Flora, his goal was “to create an environment
that felt like an unpretentious escape.”
Best of the Best – Painting
One Way Paint & Design
El Segundo, CA 90245
310-499-3354
See AC Hotel, page 9