Kimpton's Hotel Emma to Open at Pearl

. June 23, 2014

June 23, 2014 - Pearl, San Antonio's top culinary and cultural destination, and Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants reveal the name of the four-star boutique hotel, slated to open in 2015, located in the 119-year-old renovated Pearl brewhouse. Hotel Emma is named in honor of Emma Koehler, wife of Pearl Brewery founder Otto Koehler, who kept the brewery afloat during prohibition after Otto's death and who helped launch the brewery into its most successful period.

“Emma is a towering figure in the Pearl history,” said Elizabeth Fauerso, chief marketing officer at Pearl. “She was reported to be a very ingenious woman who saved the brewery while other breweries where closing during prohibition. She converted brewery operations to work as a dry cleaner; make near beer, ice cream, and soda; and she kept the entire staff of the brewery employed during prohibition. At 12:01 a.m. on December 5, 1933, Pearl Brewery, under Emma's leadership, rolled out cases and kegs of beer to a thirsty public waiting nearby.”

Additionally, Kimpton is pleased to announce the hiring of General Manager Steven Andre, former general manager of Hutton Hotel in Nashville and Hotel Derek in Houston; and Director of Sales and Marketing Beth Smith, formerly of the Watermark Hotel & Spa, La Mansion del Rio Hotel, and Valencia Group in San Antonio. With over 30 years combined experience in the hospitality industry, Andre and Smith bring strategic leadership and expertise to Hotel Emma. Chef John Brand was brought on to the Hotel Emma team as executive chef and culinary director. Formerly of The Mokara, Omni La Mansion and Broadmoor, Chef Brand brings to Hotel Emma over 20 years of experience in the culinary industry.

“We are honored to be part of the team launching Hotel Emma at Pearl. Kimpton is a fantastic company, and we feel that the hotel is an incredible addition not only to Pearl but also to the city of San Antonio,” said Steven Andre, general manager at Hotel Emma.

At 146 rooms, Hotel Emma is a true boutique hotel with an authentic place on Pearl's culinary campus. The restaurant, bar, catering and in-room dining experience will enhance Pearl's reputation as a center of culinary discovery and position Hotel Emma as a chef-led culinary destination in its own right. Comfortable and unconventional, the hotel's architecture and interiors, designed by renowned firm Roman and Williams, embrace the extravagance of the iconic 19th century brewhouse as well as the shirtsleeve industrial aesthetic of the brewery's “back rooms.” The elegance of the visible history meets a new standard for South Texas luxury and unpretentious function. Infused with the flavor of San Antonio's cultures and history, Hotel Emma is ready to lead the city's culinary revolution.

San Francisco-based Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants was the first to bring the boutique hotel concept to America and boasts over 60 hotels and more than 70 restaurants in 26 cities.

For more information on Pearl, please visit www.atpearl.com.
To learn more about Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, please visitwww.kimptonhotels.com.

About Pearl

Pearl, located north of downtown San Antonio, provides a unique experience as a top culinary and cultural destination. The mixed-use space features retail, dining, picturesque green spaces and paseos, a riverside amphitheater, and the third campus of the Culinary Institute of America. As a former brewery operating from 1883 to 2001, Pearl reflects a vivid past while embracing the future with LEED-certified complexes mixed with historic architecture. For more information, please visit atpearl.com.

About Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants

San Francisco-based Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, a collection of boutique hotels and chef-driven restaurants in the US, is an acknowledged industry pioneer and was the first to bring the boutique hotel concept to America. In 1981, Bill Kimpton founded the company that today is well-known for making travelers feel welcomed and comfortable while away from home through authentic and unscripted customer care, stylish ambience and embodying a certain playfulness in its approach to programs and amenities. Adjacent to the hotels are locally-loved, top-rated, Kimpton restaurants. Kimpton leads the hospitality industry in ecological practices through its innovative EarthCare program that spans all hotels and restaurants. Market Metrix, a recognized authority and leader in feedback solutions, consistently ranks Kimpton above other hotel companies in luxury and upper upscale segments for customer satisfaction. Privately held Kimpton has been recognized by Fortune Magazine as a Best Company to Work four times. The company operates 58 hotels and 67 restaurants, bars and lounges in 24 cities. For more information visit www.KimptonHotels.com or call 1-800-KIMPTON.

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