Blowout : Wind Upstages Balloons, Fireworks at Warner Center Hotel Debut

The politicians’ speeches were the only things that weren’t windy Tuesday when a sudden change in the weather blew a carefully planned hotel opening off course in Woodland Hills.

Operators of the new 473-room Warner Center Marriott had invited about 750 San Fernando Valley business and community leaders to elaborate ceremonies marking the $70-million hotel’s formal opening.

But Santa Ana winds began blowing two hours before the opening and ripped angrily at a giant, heart-shaped balloon sculpture anchored to the side of the 17-story hotel.

Hotel officials took one look and quickly dropped their plans for an unusual daylight fireworks display that was supposed to have been the highlight of the festivities.

Then winds picked up. That forced officials to abandon plans to release 5,000 helium-filled balloons over the crowd during the ceremonies.

The gusts got worse, whipping between the hotel and a 14-story office building next door. For safety’s sake, officials scrapped the front-door ribbon cutting that was to have been staged by a trained crossbow archer.

The wind was now gusting at gale force. As guests began arriving, officials finally threw up their hands and canceled the parade of old-time cars that would have kicked off the outdoor ceremony.

The ceremony itself was moved into the hotel’s grand ballroom. Everyone got the word except the El Camino Real High School marching band, which was assembling a block away. Tightly clutching their Conquistador-styled hats, the musicians marched smartly to the front of the hotel--only to find the speakers’ platform empty and the crowd gone.

Inside, Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley told the ballroom audience that it was “always envisioned that the crown jewel of this area would be the development of a magnificent hotel.”

West Valley City Councilwoman Joy Picus told the crowd that she enjoys looking at the red Marriott sign on the hotel’s top floor when she takes nightly strolls near her Woodland Hills home. The sight of the sign “is almost enough to make up for not buying the sweet corn that used to grow here,” Picus said.

J. Willard Marriott Jr., board chairman of the Marriott Corp., invited Picus to accompany him to zoning hearings in other cities. “This is the first time that a city council member has ever said she likes the red Marriott sign,” he joked.

In short order, archer Hans Pantar armed his crossbow and asked those in the center of the ballroom to move to the side. Then he split apart a red ribbon suspended between two posts on the ballroom stage, and the hotel, which has actually been serving guests since Feb. 27, was officially opened.

It was the second time a ceremony at the hotel has not quite come off as planned. A delegation waiting last month for a limousine carrying the first guest--a company’s travel scheduler--was surprised by the arrival of a taxi carrying a businesswoman looking for a room.

When Tuesday’s indoor ceremony was over, waiters moved into the ballroom to serve lunch.

Outside, balloon company owner Neil Schwartz struggled to release his 5,000 balloons.

The El Camino Real High School band members were among the handful still outside who caught a glimpse as the balloons were quickly blown out of sight over the Ventura Freeway.

The moment was over all too quickly for 17-year-old trumpet player Chris Johnson.

“We blew all those balloons up,” Johnson said. “We worked from 8 last night to 12:30 this morning and from 7 this morning until 9. I got a blister from tying those things.”