Oxnard Hilton Switches Affiliation to Radisson

For nearly 25 years, countless tourists and business travelers have included the Oxnard Hilton Inn as a stop on their itinerary. But now that 1999 is underway, a layover at the Hilton no longer will be an option.

The hotel will remain, but the name will change.

Sunstone Hotel Investors of San Clemente, the real estate investment trust that owns the Hilton, transferred the inn from a Hilton franchise to a franchise of the Radisson hotel chain as of Jan. 1. The contract with Hilton expired Dec. 31.

Along with the name change, Sunstone Hotel Investors has begun a $4-million renovation of the inn. An earthquake retrofit, as well as upgraded guest rooms, restaurant, lounges and other public spaces, is scheduled to be completed by April.

“We approached Radisson and said we have this hotel, it’s currently a Hilton, we’re renovating it--what would we have to do to [join] Radisson,” said Jim Streit, general manager of the establishment. “Looking at the reputation of different hotel companies and the location of other Radissons in the area, it became obvious we were interested in Radisson.”

Radisson operates about 370 hotels worldwide, including one in Simi Valley. The Residence Inn by Marriott at River Ridge in Oxnard, also owned by Sunstone, formerly was a Radisson.

Sunstone Hotel Investors owns 57 hotels nationwide, including establishments representing the Marriott, Hilton and Holiday Inn chains. The new Radisson hotel, which the trust purchased last April from Westbrook Partners for $9.3 million, is currently the trust’s only Radisson franchise.

By affiliating with Radisson, the hotel is linked with the chain’s reservation service and with the Carlson Travel network. Streit said this should add up to increases in both tourist and business travel customers.

“Radisson’s reservation system, its 800 number, is considered one of the best in the country,” Streit said. “They work very closely with a lot of different national companies and travel organizations. And we’re halfway between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, so it’s an ideal location for traveling businessmen.”