SENA Hotel to Open at OCVibe in 2029

OCVibe officials announced this month that SENA, a hotel brand within Marriott’s Autograph Collection, will join the 100-acre mixed-use development. The project is backed by Henry and Susan Samueli. SENA is the first of two hotels planned for the site.

The hotel will feature more than 300 rooms and is scheduled for completion in 2028, with an opening in 2029. It will occupy the south side of the Anaheim development at the corner of Katella Avenue and River Road, adjacent to the Honda Center. Sage Hospitality Group, based in Denver, will operate the property. The architecture firm WATG is responsible for the building design, which includes a reflective exterior and a terraced podium.

Rockwell Group will handle the interior design. Plans include a circular bar near the entrance and a lobby intended to shift atmospherically throughout the day. A signature restaurant from chef José Andrés will also be part of the hotel. Andrés currently operates concepts such as the Michelin-starred é and China Poblano at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

Dan Young, the executive director of development for OCVibe, stated that SENA will serve as a standalone destination and a gateway to the broader project. "SENA will be both a destination in its own right and a front door to everything OCVibe is becoming, a place where exceptional design, dining, hospitality, and live experiences come together," Young said.

SENA is expected to be Anaheim’s first entry in Marriott’s Autograph Collection. Orange County currently hosts two other properties in this collection: Lido House in Newport Beach and the Inn at the Mission San Juan Capistrano. In addition to the hotel, OCVibe plans to construct a pedestrian bridge over Katella Avenue. This structure aims to improve foot traffic between the Honda Center and the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center, or ARTIC.

Separately, Soul Community Planet is seeking investors to fund a proposed $75 million buyout of an institutional venture partner. The company, founded by Ken and Pam Cruse in 2018, has launched a crowdfunding offering to raise up to $2 million through the sale of Class B common stock. This initial raise will precede a larger securities offering or private placement to finance the acquisition.

If the transaction closes, Soul Community Planet will own five existing hotels and SCP Hospitality Manager LLC. This consolidation would place hotel ownership, brand licensing, and management under a single corporate structure. The company currently generates revenue by licensing its brand to nine hotels owned by affiliated entities, which operate under the names SCP WildFree, SCP Hotels, and By SCP. An additional SCP-branded hotel in Costa Rica operates under a separate licensing deal.