San Francisco Suites
September 30,2021
Dear San Francisco Suites Owners,
The autumn is the most beautiful time of the year to visit San Francisco, as the light turns softer and more golden. San Franciscans insist that the weather in September and October is a reprieve from the fog drenched days of July and August and is our summertime.
On this last day of September, while looking out at the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay, I am reminded of the poem written by Lawrence Ferlinghetti, the Poet Laureate of San Francisco,
The Changing Light
The changing light at San Francisco
Is none of your East Coast light
None of your
pearly light of Paris
The light of San Francisco
is a sea light
An island light
And the light of fog
Blanketing the hills
Drifting in at night
Through the Golden Gate
To lie on the city at dawn
And then the halcyon late mornings
After the fog burns off
And the sun paints white houses
With the sea light of Greece
With sharp clean shadows
Making the town look like
It had just been painted
But the winds come up at four o’clock
Sweeping the hills
And then the veil of light of early evening
And then another scrim
When the new night fog
Floats in
And in that vale of light
The city drifts
Anchorless upon the ocean
I attended the SF Hotel Council seminar and listened to hospitality leaders from SF Travel sector discuss the current and future situation in San Francisco and further discussions as to how the hotel and tourism industry can stay resilient in order to keep current in this ever-changing business environment created by the pandemic.
San Francisco has been dependent on Asian and European travelers and this market has declined. For the next two years most tourism in SF will come from interstate.
It was suggested that hotels concentrate on the guest comfort, cleanliness, upgraded internet access, as most meetings will continue to be held on Zoom and activities which are unique to SF.
Initially during the early part of the pandemic crisis, hotels were instituting touchless service so that the guest would not be interacting will personnel. This turned out to be unsuccessful as most of us in the hospitality sector understand the importance of close guest contact and how essential it is for guests to be welcomed by familiar staff rather than a robot delivering your room service.
In all the areas discussed, I felt that the Suites excelled. From our enhanced cleaning protocols and Covid precautions, upgraded and complimentary internet access and to our proficient and welcoming staff, we have met the challenge of protecting our guests and staff while offering a sparkling clean environment where our owners can take refuge and enjoy life in San Francisco.
The Board and I offer our heartful appreciation to all the owners of the San Francisco Suites who reached out and helped me sell 20 parlors from the Fall Parlor Sale. Owners have expressed to me the important the Suites have played in their lives. One new owner explained how his family taught him as a child to behave like a “little gentleman at a hotel” and that now he wants to pass this experience on to his son. The owner who described how she got ready for her wedding day at the Suites and walked done the Pine street steps in her wedding dress. There have been quite a lot of quiet birthday and anniversaries celebrated at the Suites. One couple celebrated their first time out since the lockdown to come to the Suites and then celebrate their 53-year anniversary by having a glass of champagne and then off for dinner at Spruce.
If I have learned anything this year, I have learned the importance of being resilient and staying open to change and the importance of looking forward to the future and making plans. So now is the time to plan for the holidays at the Suites. We have been heavily booked since June, especially on the weekends. The beginning of October is Fleet Week and then Veterans Day in and Thanksgiving in November. December is open so book your time before you reserve your tickets to the Nutcracker Ballet at the War Memorial. The autumn wreathes are up in the lobby. If you arrive on Pine Street, you will see the elegant gate with the brass SFS logo, just push the door chime and the staff will buzz you in and hot cider with cinnamon will be served in the lobby in the afternoon. After you check in you might want to take a mug of cider up to the newly refreshed rooftop garden and relax and look at the city view from the gazebo.
Many restaurants are showing resilience by re opening with new décor and a more casual menu such as Nancy Oakes, iconic restaurant Boulevard on the Embarcadero or Tyler Florence, the owner of Wayward Tavern has just opened his new glamorous, waterfront, steak house with an outside patio at the Chase Center called Miller and Lux
The Van Gogh Immersive Art Exhibit has now been extended to Novenber7. After the show you could enjoy the famous roast chicken for lunch outside at the Zuni Café on Gough.
For an afternoon side trip, I suggest driving over the Golden Gate up to Petaluma and crossing thru the vineyards and eucalyptus forest to Tomales Bay and enjoy the fresh oysters on the half shell at Nick’s Cove outside on the patio. Continuing to the charming town of Point Reyes and turning back up to SF on the famous Pacific Coast Highway #1. Don’t forget to stop at Stinson Beach for a stroll or a swim in the ocean.
‘Revenge Travel’ is the new term to describe the urgency that people feel to get out and travel. California is the safest state to visit due to the high vaccination, low hospitalizations and Covid cases especially in San Francisco.
So please get vaccinated, bring your masks and start making plans so your memories continue at the San Francisco Suites.
The staff and I look forward to welcoming you back home.
Warmest wishes,
Cynthia Reid
General Manager
San Francisco Suites