Destination of the Week: The Portofino Hotel & Marina
Photo courtesy of The Portofino Hotel & Marina
As wellness continues to shape the way people travel, The Portofino Hotel & Marina is embracing the trend through a new partnership with Beauty at the Bay. In our latest Destination of the Week interview, General Manager Drew Berry shares how the collaboration enhances the guest experience, supports the local community, and complements the hotel's signature blend of coastal relaxation, experiential travel, and South Bay charm.
The Portofino Hotel & Marina has partnered with a local med spa to enhance the guest experience. How does this collaboration reflect your broader approach to wellness and community-driven hospitality?
Community-driven hospitality is exactly it. We’re continually investing in ways to support our local community—bringing experiences that they, too, can enjoy—while creating opportunities for our visiting guests to engage with our local neighborhood and all it has to offer. Wellness continues to rise as a priority category for travelers and me personally, so partnering with Beauty at the Bay felt like a natural extension of this philosophy. It brings value and exclusive experiences to community members right in our backyard, as well as our overnight guests.
Today’s travelers are increasingly seeking integrated wellness experiences. How have you seen guest expectations shift, and how does this new offering with Beauty at the Bay meet those evolving needs?
Integrating wellness experiences into leisure travel is a rising priority for travelers today. It’s also a growing and key part of the experience for groups, with wedding and bridal parties being a natural fit, but also corporate and business travelers seeking opportunities to unwind. We wanted to find a trusted local partner who could meet the wide range of wellness interests we’re seeing today—from straightforward relaxation like massage and facials to more advanced wellness therapies like IV hydration and infrared treatments. As an award-winning spa, located within walking distance from the hotel, with an incredible selection of treatments offered in a retreat like atmosphere, Beauty at the Bay was a fantastic partner for this.
From marine life sightings to dockside adventures, the hotel offers a strong sense of place. How do you balance laid-back beach culture with an elevated luxury experience?
Embracing that authentic beach culture is part of what makes a stay at The Portofino so special. We don’t shy away from being playful while bringing fantastic amenities to our guests. For example, we have a taps wall in our Living Room lounge that allows guests to self-pour from an array of local craft beers, wines, and a housemade margarita. The margarita is a signature recipe from our bartender, and it’s incredible! We host “Tappy Hour” every day there from 2-5pm, we do live music and trivia nights, or you can sip a fireside cocktail along the water at BALEENkitchen. It’s all part of offering our guests an engaging, vibrant — or relaxing if that’s their wish — stay that represents the best of what the South Bay has to offer.
With services tailored to bridal parties and special events, how does the partnership expand your appeal as a destination for weddings and celebratory travel?
We’re lucky to have such an extraordinary location right along the water, with wonderful year-round weather, waterfront ballrooms and dining venues, even a captained catamaran that can take your party for a sunset cruise. Building this partnership with Beauty at the Bay adds another layer of ease and excitement for our wedding guests. They can easily integrate pre-event appointments for the bridal parties or post-event recovery and relaxation with a trusted local partner.
As boutique coastal hotels continue to evolve, where do you see the intersection of wellness, beauty, and experiential travel heading, and how will The Portofino bring this to life
Hospitality providers can misstep by trying to do too many disparate things at once. Today’s travelers are seeking authenticity and destinations they can trust—particularly the guest who is choosing a boutique hotel. I believe we will continue to see travelers who want to genuinely understand what makes a particular destination special, what can they enjoy here that is singular to this place, and who is doing those things really well in the region. As their hotel, you are their go-to expert for guiding them to these experiences, whether it’s an amenity you offer in-house or a trusted partner you introduce them to.
