To spot the JW Marriott San Francisco Union Square, look for a tall, reddish-brown brick building with rows of arched windows and a striking blue-and-glass canopy stretching over the sidewalk in front of you.
Now, as you stand here, imagine stepping into a world where hotels change names more often than people change socks! The JW Marriott didn’t always carry this glitzy title. Back in 1987, John Portman - yes, the architect known for bold designs - opened these impressive doors as The Portman. Picture the grand opening, flashes of cameras and the echoes of excited voices. But just three years later, the Tokyu Corporation from Japan swooped in and renamed it The Pan Pacific, adding their own dash of international flair. By 2003, it changed hands again - this time sold to Oxford Lodging for a cool $45 million. If hotels could talk, I bet this one would have some prime gossip!
Crank up the suspense: In just a few years, it flipped to Ashford Hospitality Trust for $95 million, quickly rebranded yet again under the JW Marriott banner. Finally, ownership pinballed between Thayer and Chesapeake, before joining the Park Hotels & Resorts family. Through all its name changes and new owners, what stays the same? It’s always right here, welcoming travelers with luxury and style-and if you listen closely, maybe you can almost hear a valet’s cheerful greeting as guests arrive. Who knows, maybe its next chapter is just waiting around the corner!
