SENA, the city’s first Marriott Autograph Collection hotel, is set to open in 2029 at the 100-acre OCVIBE entertainment district, bringing together Rockwell Group interiors, Southern California-inspired architecture and hospitality curated by Sage Hospitality Group.
ANAHEIM, Calif.— Anaheim is preparing to welcome a new hospitality destination that aims to bring luxury accommodations, celebrity-chef dining and immersive design together under one roof.
OCVIBE, the 100-acre mixed-use development surrounding Honda Center, has unveiled the design for SENA, a hotel expected to open in 2029 as Anaheim’s first property in Marriott International’s Autograph Collection portfolio.
With more than 300 rooms, interiors by acclaimed design firm Rockwell Group, architecture by WATG and a signature restaurant from internationally renowned chef José Andrés, SENA is being positioned as both a destination in its own right and a gateway to OCVIBE’s expanding sports, entertainment, dining and cultural offerings.
The hotel will be operated by Sage Hospitality Group, which will oversee guest services, restaurants, bars, meetings and events, and the overall hospitality experience.
The project reflects a broader transformation underway in Orange County, where developers are creating integrated destinations that combine accommodations, entertainment, dining, public spaces and residential living.
“Bringing together Marriott’s Autograph Collection, Rockwell Group, José Andrés Group, and Sage Hospitality Group gives us the opportunity to create a hotel experience unlike anything else in Orange County,” said Dan Young, executive director of development at OCVIBE.
A Hotel Designed to Change With the Day
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At SENA, design is intended to shape the guest experience from arrival through the evening.
Rockwell Group is leading the interior architecture, developing a sequence of spaces that contrasts light and shadow, polished surfaces and rich textures. The interiors are designed to evolve throughout the day, shifting from a bright, welcoming atmosphere to a more intimate and energetic setting after dark.
A circular lobby bar will serve as the hotel’s social centerpiece. Positioned to offer views of Honda Center, South Plaza and OCVIBE’s gathering spaces, it is designed to welcome hotel guests, entertainment visitors and local residents.
The hotel’s indoor-outdoor social spaces will extend beyond the lobby, with a pool bar, fire features, lush landscaping, cabanas and music-driven programming creating an environment intended for both daytime relaxation and evening gatherings.
David Rockwell, founder and president of Rockwell Group, said the design draws inspiration from Anaheim’s history of imagination and innovation.
The objective, he said, is to create spaces that heighten guests’ awareness of their surroundings while providing opportunities for people to gather and connect.
José Andrés Brings a New Culinary Destination to Anaheim
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One of SENA’s major attractions will be a signature restaurant from chef José Andrés, whose culinary ventures span multiple countries and dining concepts.
Located on the hotel’s ground floor, the restaurant will serve hotel guests, OCVIBE visitors and Anaheim residents, adding a new dining destination to the developing entertainment district.
Andrés expressed enthusiasm about bringing his culinary vision to the community, highlighting California’s ingredients, people and energy.
The restaurant will be complemented by an indoor-outdoor lobby bar overlooking South Plaza and Honda Center, as well as the poolside bar.
Together, these venues are designed to make dining and socializing an integral part of the hotel experience rather than activities reserved exclusively for overnight guests.
The culinary offering also supports OCVIBE’s wider ambition to create a destination that attracts visitors throughout the year, not only on game days or concert nights.
Architecture Inspired by Southern California
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WATG, which is responsible for the hotel’s architecture and landscape architecture, has drawn inspiration from the Santa Ana River, Orange County’s natural landscape and the region’s changing light.
The building’s façade is intended to respond visually to the sky and shifting daylight, while its terraced podium and luminous exterior will establish a distinct architectural presence alongside Honda Center.
The design seeks to balance the natural character of Southern California with the activity and scale of a major entertainment district.
Greg Villegas, managing principal of architecture at WATG, said the goal was to give SENA an identity of its own while connecting it to the character and energy of OCVIBE.
That approach extends to the landscaping and outdoor spaces, which are intended to connect the hotel with the district’s public plazas and pedestrian-oriented environment.
Independent Character With a Global Hospitality Network
SENA will join Marriott’s Autograph Collection, a portfolio of independently distinctive hotels connected through the company’s global hospitality network and Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program.
The collection emphasizes properties with individual identities, design-led experiences and a strong connection to their locations.
For SENA, that means combining a recognizable international hospitality platform with an experience rooted in Anaheim’s entertainment culture and Southern California setting.
Marriott International’s Noah Silverman, global development officer for the United States and Canada, said the hotel would be an addition to the Autograph Collection and contribute to Anaheim’s evolving destination offering.
Visit Anaheim President and CEO Mike Waterman also highlighted the project’s combination of hospitality, culinary and design elements, describing it as a reflection of the city’s continued evolution.
Sage Hospitality Group will bring its experience operating luxury, lifestyle, independent and soft-branded hotels to the project. Its role will encompass the full guest journey, from accommodations and dining to events and connections with the surrounding entertainment district.
Sage President and CEO Daniel del Olmo said the hotel would be designed as an extension of the community around it, with an emphasis on connection, culture and shared experiences.
OCVIBE: A New Entertainment District Taking Shape
SENA is a central component of OCVIBE, a privately funded, 100-acre development transforming the area surrounding Honda Center into a walkable, year-round destination.
When fully developed, the district is planned to feature 20 acres of parks and public spaces, three miles of connected walking trails, public art, more than 2,000 residences, over 35 dining experiences, office space and three entertainment venues.
The first phase, including a concert hall, market hall and office space, is expected to open in 2027. SENA is scheduled to follow in 2029.
The hotel is intended to give visitors a reason to extend their stay beyond a concert, sporting event or dinner, while creating another gathering place for residents and business travelers.
For Anaheim, the development represents an effort to broaden the city’s appeal through a more integrated mix of entertainment, dining, hospitality and public spaces.
With its combination of high-profile culinary talent, distinctive architecture and experience-driven hospitality, SENA aims to establish a new identity for hotel stays in Orange County — one in which the hotel is not simply a place to sleep, but part of the destination itself.
Hotel at a glance
- Name: SENA at OCVIBE
- Location: Anaheim, California, near Honda Center
- Expected opening: 2029
- Size: More than 300 rooms
- Hotel collection: Marriott Autograph Collection
- Interior design: Rockwell Group
- Architecture and landscape architecture: WATG
- Restaurant: Signature concept from chef José Andrés
- Hotel operator: Sage Hospitality Group
