After nearly four years as a Margaritaville property, one of Palm Springs’ most iconic hotels is reportedly set to return to its historic name. The 400-room hotel at 1600 North Indian Canyon Drive, which has operated as the Margaritaville Resort since 2020, is expected to soon reclaim its original title: The Riviera Hotel. This name change, which has yet to be officially confirmed, follows what appears to be a shift in ownership between Davidson Hospitality Group and IHG Hotels & Resorts.
The Riviera Hotel first opened its doors in November 1959, a project spearheaded by developers Irwin and Mark Schulman and brought to life by architect Homer A. Rissman. With its luxurious design inspired by Southern Europe, The Riviera quickly established itself as a glamorous retreat, drawing in celebrities such as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Elvis Presley. However, in the fall of 2020, the hotel was rebranded as the Margaritaville Resort, embracing a laid-back Caribbean theme synonymous with Jimmy Buffett’s brand.
The return to The Riviera branding is just the latest chapter in the hotel’s storied history. Since being sold to Holiday Inn in 1965, the property has undergone several ownership and branding changes, including periods as the Hilton Riviera and the Radisson Palm Springs Resort. The hotel faced financial difficulties leading to bankruptcy in the 1970s and again in the 1980s. It was closed in June 2006 and, after a significant renovation, reopened in 2008 as part of Starwood’s Tribute Portfolio. The hotel briefly closed again in March 2020 due to the pandemic before reopening under the Margaritaville brand later that year, marking the first such property on the West Coast.
While the rebranding back to The Riviera is highly anticipated, IHG has yet to formally announce its plans for the property’s long-term future. However, employees at the Margaritaville Resort have indicated that the Riviera name is expected to remain for the foreseeable future.
News of the potential return to the Riviera name was met with enthusiasm in the local community, with Gary Johns, president of the Palm Springs Preservation Foundation Board of Directors, sharing the update on social media over the weekend. Many residents and fans of the hotel welcomed the change, agreeing that the Margaritaville theme never quite captured the essence of the property’s storied past.
