Think Green

The Santa Barbara Inn is dedicated to an eco-friendly environment, with programs in place for recycling, water conservation, and energy efficiency, including: 

• Water and energy-efficient equipment installed during the renovation 
• Glass, paper, cardboard, and plastic recycling program in place throughout the hotel 
• Charging stations for electric vehicles
• Member of Santa Barbara Car Free, offering incentives to car-free guests 
• Recycled bricks from 100-year-old street used throughout hotel exterior 

Santa Barbara Inn Reopens to Rave Reviews after Two Year Renovation

Newly-renovated resort along the ocean reopens July, 2016 
SANTA BARBARA, CA - Santa Barbara’s popular waterfront now features a beautiful, newly-renovated beachside resort,  as the Santa Barbara Inn reopened to the public in July, 2016. The 55-year old boutique resort underwent a complete restoration, beginning in late 2013. 

The Santa Barbara Inn features 70 spacious guest rooms and suites, most with views of the Pacific, while others face the majestic Santa Ynez Mountains. Five fixture bathrooms, 400+ square foot rooms and 700+ square foot suites with Jacuzzi tubs are but a few of the features offered at the resort. 

Guest amenities include complimentary use of the resort’s fitness center, pool, and whirlpool spa. In the guest room, high definition 42” and 55” flat-screen televisions with movie channels, hardwire and wireless internet access are all provided complimentary. 

Two premier living room-bedroom suites are the Penthouse and Anacapa. The Penthouse (760 sq. ft.) sits above it all on the resort’s fourth floor, with a wrap-around deck so guests can take in the views of nearby Montecito to the southeast to historic Stearns Wharf to the southwest. The Anacapa (1120 sq. ft.) has three decks, perfect for gazing out to the bucolic Channel Islands. These two luxury suites have poster beds, Jacuzzi tubs, and panoramic ocean views. 

Owners Mimi and Richard Gunner selected the color palates and furnishings for each room and suite. The two-color schemes for the guest rooms are cucumber with Devonshire cream furnishings, and honey, with tobacco furnishings. The rooms and suites exude a warm, residential feel. 

Teaming up with the Santa Barbara Inn is legendary restaurateur Larry Mindel and Owner/Chef Peter McNee of Sausalito’s Poggio Trattoria. They are operating the Inn’s Italian-inspired Convivo Restaurant and Bar. Convivo, (Latin, meaning to come together and feast) offers fresh seafood, house-made pasta, wood-fired pizza, and more. Convivo will attract overnight guests and locals alike to a restaurant of 70 seats indoors and 70 seats outdoors, overlooking the Pacific. Cocktails, an extensive wine list, and microbrews on tap will be offered at Convivo’s lively bar. 

For corporate meetings and social functions, the Inn’s Montecito Room seats up to 80 guests comfortably. For multiple meetings, this room is divisible by two. 

Santa Barbara Inn guests have miles of white-sand beaches at their doorstep. Also within walking distance is historic Stearns Wharf for dining and shopping, the Santa Barbara Zoo, a multitude of water sports at the marina and whale watching year-round. Wine tasting is available at the nearby Urban Wine Trail, a collection of Santa Ynez Valley vintners’ who’ve brought their award-winning wines to tasting rooms along the waterfront. Picturesque Santa Barbara is one of “The Most Beautiful Towns in America” according to Conde Nast Traveler (January 2016) and voted “Best Beach Town” by Sunset Magazine (May, 2015). 

Thinking Green:The hotel and restaurant staff and management are committed to eco-friendly practices. The hotel and restaurant recycle over 50% of the total waste, including glass, plastic, paper and cardboard. Water conservation is vital in this area that has faced drought conditions for years. 

“Our guests appreciate our water conservation throughout the hotel,” explained Ed Galsterer, General Manager. “If they can re-use their guest room towel, we ask them to hang it on the hook and our guests don’t mind at all. In fact, they’re complimentary of our environmental concerns.” 

All of the beautiful brick pavers seen at the entrance, around the pool and restaurant’s outdoor decks have been recycled from a 100-year old street recently unearthed in Iowa. 

Santa Barbara Car Free’s 

Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) is pleased to announce that its Santa Barbara Car Free program has found a new home: Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) / Traffic Solutions. APCD founded this program more than 20 years ago, encouraging car-free travel to and from the area to help reduce pollution from passenger cars. The program’s success was made possible by the early and lasting support of many travel industry & hospitality businesses and organizations and has received several awards, including a National Clean Air Excellence Award from the U.S. EPA.

SBCAG/Traffic Solutions was an early partner and champion of the program and the program’s goals align with those of Traffic Solutions: promoting alternative transportation options and cleaner air for all, residents and visitors alike.

Guests that travel by Amtrak and show their ticket at check in and mention “Car Free” program receive 15% off midweek and 10% off on weekend room rates at the Santa Barbara Inn.

 For more information, visit the Car Free website:  https://www.santabarbaracarfree.org/