A longtime San Diego hotel is preparing for a major reinvention as The Goldfinch Hotel, an upscale hospitality destination expected to open in early 2027 in the heart of Kearny Mesa. The project will transform the former Four Points by Sheraton at 8110 Aero Drive into a stylish new Marriott Tribute Portfolio property, complete with a speakeasy, destination restaurant, extensive gathering spaces and a refreshed nine-hole golf course.
The redevelopment is being spearheaded by California-based ALPS Group of Hotels, which acquired the hotel operation in 2023 and is undertaking an extensive overhaul of the sprawling property adjacent to Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport. Originally constructed in 1987, the existing hotel has been a fixture of the neighborhood for nearly four decades, serving business travelers, visitors and golfers in an area historically dominated by office buildings, industrial properties and commercial development.
Rather than simply modernizing the aging Sheraton, the developers are seeking to create an entirely new identity for the property, positioning The Goldfinch as both a hotel and a social destination for San Diego residents.
The transformation will include 223 redesigned guest rooms, a new restaurant, a cocktail-focused speakeasy, an upgraded swimming pool experience and more than 20,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space. The hotel's expansive grounds will also feature a nine-hole executive golf course, creating an unusual combination of boutique-style accommodations, nightlife, dining and recreational amenities in central San Diego.
"When we looked at this property, we didn't just see an opportunity to renovate a hotel," ALPS Group owner and operator Saahil Khandwala said in a statement announcing the redevelopment. "We saw an opportunity to tell the story of this neighborhood in a new way."
The property will join Marriott's Tribute Portfolio, a collection of independently styled hotels that emphasize distinctive design, individual character and experiences intended to reflect their surrounding communities.
One of the more intriguing elements of The Goldfinch redevelopment is the planned addition of a speakeasy-style bar, an increasingly popular hospitality concept that draws inspiration from the clandestine drinking establishments associated with America's Prohibition era.
Although the developers have not yet publicly revealed the speakeasy's name, cocktail menu, design details or entry concept, the planned venue could bring a new nightlife option to a part of San Diego better known for business parks, automobile dealerships and the restaurants lining nearby Convoy Street.
A signature restaurant is also planned as part of the hotel transformation, potentially creating a dining destination for both overnight guests and neighborhood residents. The restaurant's name, culinary direction, chef and opening schedule have not yet been announced.
The redesigned pool area is expected to offer another gathering space, while the property's extensive indoor and outdoor event facilities could attract everything from corporate functions and conferences to weddings, private parties and community events.
For Kearny Mesa, the project represents an effort to create a hospitality destination that appeals beyond the traditional business traveler. With the neighborhood continuing to add residential developments, restaurants and entertainment options, ALPS Group is betting that the area's changing demographics will support a more experience-driven hotel concept.
While the announcement of a nine-hole golf course has attracted considerable attention, golf is not actually new to the Aero Drive property. The former Four Points by Sheraton already featured a nine-hole executive golf course, marketed as Aero Links Executive Golf Course, and the hotel's existing Marriott listing continues to promote golf among its amenities. Golf Digest identifies a nine-hole public course at 8110 Aero Drive that opened in 1997 and was designed by David Smith, suggesting that golf has been part of the property's identity for nearly three decades.
The redevelopment therefore involves refurbishing an existing golf facility rather than constructing an entirely new course from scratch. According to city planning records associated with the hotel redevelopment, improvements to the golf course are among the projects contemplated under the property's long-term development plan.
The course's location beside Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport gives it a distinctive setting, with aircraft operations forming part of the surrounding landscape. Its executive format is generally geared toward shorter rounds than a traditional championship course, potentially appealing to casual golfers, hotel guests and local players looking for a convenient recreational outing. Specific details about the renovated course, including any changes to its layout, public access, green fees and reopening date, have not yet been released.
Beyond the redesigned rooms and planned nightlife venues, The Goldfinch redevelopment is connected to a significant long-term agreement involving publicly owned land. Although ALPS Group acquired the hotel business in 2023, the nearly 20-acre property itself is owned by the City of San Diego and forms part of the Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport property.
On January 21, 2026, the San Diego City Council approved a new 50-year percentage lease with Alps Hospitality, Inc. for approximately 19.27 acres at 8110 Aero Drive. The agreement replaced an existing lease that had been scheduled to expire in April 2052, extending the developer's long-term control of the property in exchange for a commitment to substantial improvements.
The arrangement is significant because it links the private hotel redevelopment to the management of city-owned airport real estate, with the property's continued operation generating lease revenue under a percentage-based agreement.
A signature restaurant is also planned as part of the hotel transformation, potentially creating a dining destination for both overnight guests and neighborhood residents. The restaurant's name, culinary direction, chef and opening schedule have not yet been announced.
The redesigned pool area is expected to offer another gathering space, while the property's extensive indoor and outdoor event facilities could attract everything from corporate functions and conferences to weddings, private parties and community events.
For Kearny Mesa, the project represents an effort to create a hospitality destination that appeals beyond the traditional business traveler. With the neighborhood continuing to add residential developments, restaurants and entertainment options, ALPS Group is betting that the area's changing demographics will support a more experience-driven hotel concept.
While the announcement of a nine-hole golf course has attracted considerable attention, golf is not actually new to the Aero Drive property. The former Four Points by Sheraton already featured a nine-hole executive golf course, marketed as Aero Links Executive Golf Course, and the hotel's existing Marriott listing continues to promote golf among its amenities. Golf Digest identifies a nine-hole public course at 8110 Aero Drive that opened in 1997 and was designed by David Smith, suggesting that golf has been part of the property's identity for nearly three decades.
The redevelopment therefore involves refurbishing an existing golf facility rather than constructing an entirely new course from scratch. According to city planning records associated with the hotel redevelopment, improvements to the golf course are among the projects contemplated under the property's long-term development plan.
The course's location beside Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport gives it a distinctive setting, with aircraft operations forming part of the surrounding landscape. Its executive format is generally geared toward shorter rounds than a traditional championship course, potentially appealing to casual golfers, hotel guests and local players looking for a convenient recreational outing. Specific details about the renovated course, including any changes to its layout, public access, green fees and reopening date, have not yet been released.
Beyond the redesigned rooms and planned nightlife venues, The Goldfinch redevelopment is connected to a significant long-term agreement involving publicly owned land. Although ALPS Group acquired the hotel business in 2023, the nearly 20-acre property itself is owned by the City of San Diego and forms part of the Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport property.
On January 21, 2026, the San Diego City Council approved a new 50-year percentage lease with Alps Hospitality, Inc. for approximately 19.27 acres at 8110 Aero Drive. The agreement replaced an existing lease that had been scheduled to expire in April 2052, extending the developer's long-term control of the property in exchange for a commitment to substantial improvements.
The arrangement is significant because it links the private hotel redevelopment to the management of city-owned airport real estate, with the property's continued operation generating lease revenue under a percentage-based agreement.
State environmental documents describe a broad improvement program that includes renovations to hotel rooms and interior spaces, updated landscaping, exterior painting, golf course refurbishment and other maintenance and replacement work.
The project also includes plans for solar energy infrastructure.
Under the city-approved arrangement, Alps Hospitality received consent for a 34-year sublease with 8110 Aero Solar, LLC, to install and operate solar panels on approximately two acres of land and on the hotel's rooftop.
The solar installation would add an energy component to the redevelopment, supplementing the planned hospitality upgrades with new infrastructure across portions of the property's parking areas and roof.
The city determined that the approved work qualified for exemptions under the California Environmental Quality Act, citing provisions covering existing facilities, replacement or reconstruction, minor land alterations and accessory structures.
The lease and environmental approvals provide a clearer picture of the project's scale: The Goldfinch is not merely receiving new furnishings and a different sign, but undergoing a broader renovation supported by a long-term agreement with the city.
The original hotel opened in 1987, when Kearny Mesa was firmly established as one of San Diego's principal commercial and employment centers.
Situated between several major freeways and near Montgomery Field, now known as Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport, the property offered a central location for business travelers and visitors who wanted convenient access to different parts of San Diego.
The hotel operated for decades under the Sheraton-associated Four Points brand, featuring guest rooms, conference and banquet facilities, a swimming pool, on-site dining and the executive golf course.
Its existing atrium-style architecture and landscaped grounds distinguished the property from many conventional roadside business hotels, while its substantial acreage provided an unusual amount of outdoor space for a centrally located urban hotel.
As the property aged, however, the hospitality market changed. Travelers increasingly sought hotels with distinctive design, memorable dining options and social spaces that could attract guests and locals alike.
ALPS Group's redevelopment seeks to reposition the property within that evolving market while preserving its existing hotel footprint and taking advantage of the unusually large site.
Founded in 2000, ALPS Group of Hotels is a California-based hospitality investment, development and management company led by Khandwala. Its portfolio includes other Southern California hospitality properties, and the company has previously undertaken hotel renovations in the San Diego region, including a Holiday Inn Express & Suites property in Carlsbad.
The Goldfinch represents a particularly ambitious repositioning because it combines a full hotel redesign with the introduction of new food, beverage and nightlife concepts.
Kearny Mesa's Ongoing Transformation
The hotel's reinvention comes amid a broader transformation of Kearny Mesa, a neighborhood long associated with industrial buildings, auto dealerships, commercial offices and the vibrant Asian dining establishments of the Convoy District.
While the area remains a major employment and commercial center, new multifamily residential developments are gradually bringing more residents into a neighborhood historically oriented around the workday.
That shift is changing expectations for local dining, recreation and entertainment, creating opportunities for businesses that can serve both the daytime workforce and a growing residential population.
Khandwala has identified the neighborhood's changing character as one of the reasons ALPS Group saw potential in the former Sheraton property.
"By drawing inspiration from Kearny Mesa's history and heritage, we're creating a place that feels rooted here and gives both neighbors and travelers a reason to return," Khandwala said.
The hotel's proximity to Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport also offers an opportunity to incorporate aviation-inspired design and storytelling, although the complete design concept has not yet been publicly detailed.
The hotel's official website already embraces an aviation theme, presenting its forthcoming debut with boarding-pass-style imagery and the phrase "Landing Soon."
For nearby residents, the most consequential elements may ultimately be the restaurant, speakeasy and golf course rather than the hotel rooms themselves. If the food and beverage venues welcome outside visitors, the property could become another destination in an area that has increasingly attracted diners and nightlife patrons from throughout San Diego.
Construction and renovation work are underway, with The Goldfinch Hotel currently targeting an early 2027 opening. The property's official website confirms a 2027 debut, although a specific opening date has not been announced.
Room rates, reservation availability, restaurant details, speakeasy information and golf course pricing have not yet been released publicly.
When completed, the project will introduce a newly reimagined Marriott-affiliated hotel to Kearny Mesa while giving an existing hospitality property a second life after nearly four decades.
With a cocktail speakeasy, new restaurant, revamped swimming pool, substantial event facilities and an executive golf course all planned for the same location, The Goldfinch could become one of the more unusual hotel destinations in central San Diego.
The Goldfinch Hotel is being developed at 8110 Aero Drive in San Diego's Kearny Mesa neighborhood. For more information and future opening announcements, visit TheGoldfinchHotel.com.
Originally published on October 12, 2026.
The project also includes plans for solar energy infrastructure.
Under the city-approved arrangement, Alps Hospitality received consent for a 34-year sublease with 8110 Aero Solar, LLC, to install and operate solar panels on approximately two acres of land and on the hotel's rooftop.
The solar installation would add an energy component to the redevelopment, supplementing the planned hospitality upgrades with new infrastructure across portions of the property's parking areas and roof.
The city determined that the approved work qualified for exemptions under the California Environmental Quality Act, citing provisions covering existing facilities, replacement or reconstruction, minor land alterations and accessory structures.
The lease and environmental approvals provide a clearer picture of the project's scale: The Goldfinch is not merely receiving new furnishings and a different sign, but undergoing a broader renovation supported by a long-term agreement with the city.
The original hotel opened in 1987, when Kearny Mesa was firmly established as one of San Diego's principal commercial and employment centers.
Situated between several major freeways and near Montgomery Field, now known as Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport, the property offered a central location for business travelers and visitors who wanted convenient access to different parts of San Diego.
The hotel operated for decades under the Sheraton-associated Four Points brand, featuring guest rooms, conference and banquet facilities, a swimming pool, on-site dining and the executive golf course.
Its existing atrium-style architecture and landscaped grounds distinguished the property from many conventional roadside business hotels, while its substantial acreage provided an unusual amount of outdoor space for a centrally located urban hotel.
As the property aged, however, the hospitality market changed. Travelers increasingly sought hotels with distinctive design, memorable dining options and social spaces that could attract guests and locals alike.
ALPS Group's redevelopment seeks to reposition the property within that evolving market while preserving its existing hotel footprint and taking advantage of the unusually large site.
Founded in 2000, ALPS Group of Hotels is a California-based hospitality investment, development and management company led by Khandwala. Its portfolio includes other Southern California hospitality properties, and the company has previously undertaken hotel renovations in the San Diego region, including a Holiday Inn Express & Suites property in Carlsbad.
The Goldfinch represents a particularly ambitious repositioning because it combines a full hotel redesign with the introduction of new food, beverage and nightlife concepts.
Kearny Mesa's Ongoing Transformation
The hotel's reinvention comes amid a broader transformation of Kearny Mesa, a neighborhood long associated with industrial buildings, auto dealerships, commercial offices and the vibrant Asian dining establishments of the Convoy District.
While the area remains a major employment and commercial center, new multifamily residential developments are gradually bringing more residents into a neighborhood historically oriented around the workday.
That shift is changing expectations for local dining, recreation and entertainment, creating opportunities for businesses that can serve both the daytime workforce and a growing residential population.
Khandwala has identified the neighborhood's changing character as one of the reasons ALPS Group saw potential in the former Sheraton property.
"By drawing inspiration from Kearny Mesa's history and heritage, we're creating a place that feels rooted here and gives both neighbors and travelers a reason to return," Khandwala said.
The hotel's proximity to Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport also offers an opportunity to incorporate aviation-inspired design and storytelling, although the complete design concept has not yet been publicly detailed.
The hotel's official website already embraces an aviation theme, presenting its forthcoming debut with boarding-pass-style imagery and the phrase "Landing Soon."
For nearby residents, the most consequential elements may ultimately be the restaurant, speakeasy and golf course rather than the hotel rooms themselves. If the food and beverage venues welcome outside visitors, the property could become another destination in an area that has increasingly attracted diners and nightlife patrons from throughout San Diego.
Construction and renovation work are underway, with The Goldfinch Hotel currently targeting an early 2027 opening. The property's official website confirms a 2027 debut, although a specific opening date has not been announced.
Room rates, reservation availability, restaurant details, speakeasy information and golf course pricing have not yet been released publicly.
When completed, the project will introduce a newly reimagined Marriott-affiliated hotel to Kearny Mesa while giving an existing hospitality property a second life after nearly four decades.
With a cocktail speakeasy, new restaurant, revamped swimming pool, substantial event facilities and an executive golf course all planned for the same location, The Goldfinch could become one of the more unusual hotel destinations in central San Diego.
The Goldfinch Hotel is being developed at 8110 Aero Drive in San Diego's Kearny Mesa neighborhood. For more information and future opening announcements, visit TheGoldfinchHotel.com.
Originally published on October 12, 2026.
