New Hotel May Join Marriott Hotel Collection

The hotel to replace the Seacoast Inn may be part of Marriott Autograph Collection hotels, a worldwide chain of independently owned hotels, said Allison Rolfe with Pacifica Companies.

"We are looking at some exciting opportunities in your market, but nothing has been finalized at this time," said Marriott spokeswoman Catherine Leitner in an email.

In the United States, the Autograph Collection includes hotels in destinations like Miami Beach, Las Vegas, New Orleans and New York City.

Internationally, the Autograph Collection includes a hotel in the British Virgin Island and Brazil as well as in cities in Europe like Madrid in Spain, Prague in the Czech Republic and Rome and Venice in Italy.

The hotel to replace the Seacoast Inn is expected to open in October or November, Lusardi Construction superintendent Lance Reiman said.

A chef to cook for a ground floor restaurant has not yet been chosen, but award winning chef Jack Fisher of Imperial Beach is among finalists, Rolfe said.

Currently Fisher works as a pastry chef at NINE-TEN Restaurant in La Jolla. Fisher won awards in 2009 and 2010 when he was named the best chocolatier and pastry chef in San Diego. He also ran for mayor of Imperial Beach in 2010.

Christine LaPaulsky, who owns on Seacoast Drive, may operate a spa in the hotel as well.

"The reaity is I don't think we'll get super into that until probably around July," Rolfe said.

Hiring employees for the new hotel will begin about three months before the hotel is expected to open its doors in November.

The Seacoast Inn has been part of the IB seashore since the 1960s and was demolished in fall 2010.

The Imperial Beach Redevelopment Agency contributed $7 million to the $29 million project.