The Steward, a Tribute Portfolio Marriott Hotel, set to debut in Santa Barbara, offers a secret hideaway between the ocean and mountains in California’s stunning central coast. The 87 all-suite boutique hotel will serve as a much-needed escape for travelers.

Rooted in the region’s rich history, the new hotel sits on nearly 5 acres of lavish land, originally purchased in the late 1860s by pioneer horticulturist Joseph Sexton, on which he built his family estate. The Steward finds inspiration from Sexton’s desire to care for the land, with plans to feature a variety of green initiatives, including no single-use plastics, staff uniforms made with sustainable and vegan materials, refillable water bottles and water stations throughout the property, a partnership with the local farm for food composting, and informational talks with local eco-friendly groups.

The sustainable features continue within the hotel’s signature restaurant, Terra. Meaning “of Earth,” Terra incorporates locally sourced ingredients into seasonally driven menus drawing inspiration from California and the Mediterranean. Some menu highlights include the avocado toast, based on one of the first recorded recipes for avocado toast, found in a journal the team found on-site from the 1930s; a botanical blooming tea service and organic mocktails in partnership with DrinkTilden; and pre-packed picnic kits, perfect for dining around the breathtaking grounds or neighboring beaches and mountains.

“As caretakers of this incredible property – and of our guests – the hotel’s ownership group dreamed up this concept, where we could create a natural retreat for guests to connect to the magic of the land, its history, and truly escape from their everyday lives,” said Danielle Granillo, vice president of brand marketing, Twin Bridges Hospitality, Asset Management. “There is a certain mystique to this property – our botanical gardens and forest offer the most serene sense of arrival. The land holds a special meaning and significance to our team and I’m incredibly proud that we are prioritizing our planet through our sustainability practices. From our intentional design to our surprising and inspired guest programming, everything we do will be centered around being the best stewards possible and allowing guests toexperience the natural beauty of the Central Coast without ever leaving the property.”