Press Releases

CARMEL, Calif.-The Carmel Business Association will be hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday, September 17, 2003 to announce the completion of the Carmel Tradewinds Inn's $4-million renovation. This boutique hotel, located on Mission Street at Third Avenue, is one of only a couple of inns in Carmel still under its original family ownership and is operated by the founders' daughter Susan Catlin Stilwell.

Members of the Carmel Chamber of Commerce and Carmel Mayor Sue McCloud will attend the ceremony, which is open to the public. The event is from 5-7 p.m. in the Inn's newly redesigned courtyard that features Carmel stone, a stream with waterfalls and fish, a fire pit and a meditation garden with stone fountains and artifacts.

The Tradewinds has undergone a two-year renovation that took a bold step back in time to reflect the exotic ambiance and serene tranquility of Stilwell's father's original design that was inspired by the years he lived in Japan.

When the Carmel Tradewinds Inn originally opened its doors, it was billed as an "outstanding example of the radical change in the concept of hotel building," by Game and Gossip magazine, and was a favorite of celebrities such as Bing Crosby and golfing great Johnny Miller, who brought their families there to enjoy the Inn's peaceful, secluded atmosphere.

"The Inn was always ahead of its time with lavishly proportioned rooms and strong Asian influences," Stillwell said. "My father had lived in Japan for many years and loved the earthly elements used in Japanese art and architecture.

With this renovation, we have introduced elements of fire and water, fusing Asian design influences and creating a tranquil retreat with exceptional modern-day amenities."

Stillwell called on the talents of famed interior designer Charles Gruwell, who designed the Four Seasons Las Vegas, the Mandalay Bay Hotel and the Sorrento Hotel in Seattle (featured in Architectural Digest - Sept 2003)

"We want to attract guests who have an appreciation for fine things," Stilwell said, "everything from the linens, the solid wood furniture, the silk fabrics, the art by local artists, the lighting at night on the statues in the courtyard, the stream, and all the little hidden secrets they can discover in the lush gardens."

For more information, call 624-2522 or visit the website, www.carmeltradewinds.com.